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Re: Advanced Spark Gap Technology
Hi Gary,all
I tried something like this using old hard disk platters. I used mica from
the local microwave shop. The stuff they use to repair the window at the
end of the waveguide. It is about .020" thick. The thing didn't work very
well as the arc tended to stay in one place . I think it might have worked
if
I had tried blowing more air across it. I think I will try again using your
method and making the washers out of the mica I have left over.
cheers
bob golding
> >I have been experementing with spark gaps. I made several paper funnels
to
> >reduce the area of a box fan and increase the air velocity. I reduced a
4"
> >box fan down to 3", 2", 1.75", 1.5" and I checked the air velocity with
the
> >air flow meter that I borrowed from work.
>
> Which one worked the best?
>
> >I built a spark gap using 10 flat copper plates 2" x 2" each. The
copper
> >plates are made from roofing flashing from the lumber yard. I cut the
> >plates with tin snips and filed the edges smooth. I clamped all the
plates
> >together in a stack and drilled a .150 diameter hole threw the entire
stack
> >of plates in each corner. 4 places.
> >
> >I flattened each copper plate by placing it between 2 blocks of steel 1"
> >thick 2" square and hitting it with a 2 pound hammer.
> >
> >I used 2 paper punches to punch out some .006 mil polyethylene flat
washers
> >with a .150 diameter hole in the center. 4 washers in a stack gives me
a
> >.024 space between each plate. I put spacers on all 4 corners. Its all
held
> >together with 4 plastic screws with plastic hex nuts on each corner.
> >
> >The finished spark gap is about 1/2" thick 2" square with a wire
soldered on
> >each outside plate. The spark gap is taped to the end of a paper funnel
and
> >the funnel is taped to the end of a box fan.
> >
> >I ran this for about 20 minutes on a 750 watt coil and it works better
than
> >my RQ gap with the same box fan. The flat copper plates act like a
radiator
> >and keep the spark gap cool. The air tends to blow most of the sparks
to
> >the back half of copper plates.
> >
> >Its small, compact and easy to build. I think it would be easier to
build
> >if the plates were made out of thicker metal so they won't need to be
> >flattened. Some 1/16" aluminum plates will probably work fine. Wires
can
> >be attached to stake on terminals and put under the head of the plactic
> >screw on one plate and another terminal under the hex nut on the other
plate.
>
> I've thought about building gaps like this a lot, especially after
reading
> old articles about building quenched gaps and stuff like that, but I
never
> could think of a spacer that wouldn't end up either conducting, getting a
> carbon track, or breaking from heat-stress. The old designs used mica as
> the spacer. But shoot, even if it *did* track, it would be so easy to
fix...:)
> I think I'll give this a shot. Could you describe the fan/funnel/gap
setup
> a little more?
> Thanks,
> Dan
>
> >Gary Weaver
>
>
>
>