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More topload troubles



Finally, the garage is dry!

After about 2 months of standing water in the garage, it finally dried
out and I was able to run my coil again.  Originally, it was a 15/30
with 6 beer bottles, 4"X16" #24 secondary with 3"X12" (center to center)
toroid.  With this and a single spark gap i could get 18+inches, and it
was in tune for about one whole turn of the primary.

Enter new transformers, fans, and beer bottles, and cables.  All else
the same, I am now using a 12/60 transformer, with the possibility of
adding another, 18 beer bottles, and the same gap, only with a fan
across it, and the wires in the tank now have better connections. 
Before, i had bolts sticking thru the base, then a washer, wrapped the
end of some GTO around the bolt, another washer and then a nut.  Now,
the ends of the wires are terminated in a flattened section of copper
pipe (1"x1") with a hole drilled in it to put the bolt thru.  

Results:    ARRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!  With topload, there is a section of the
primary about three inches wide where I can tap and pull an arc 3" long
to ground.  Yes, i did say three whole inches.  No sparks to air.  With
no topload, there was a six inch section of the primary where I could
get it to pseudo tune, and get 6 " arcs to ground, 3" to air.  Does
anyone have any ideas on this?  I just don't know!  A tried every
quarter inch of about a turn on each side of where I could pull some
arcs, but nothing!  with the 12/60 I would have expected at least an
extra inch, but instead I lost a foot!  If you can't come up with
anything, Ill try again tomorrow.

Thanks,

Jason