[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: Air Variable cap

Hi Chris,
             As I recall you suggested a very similar idea about 6 months ago 
- then the list pointed out that it would weigh several tons and occupy the 
space of several sheds.  This time it would be even bulkier because the 
plates would have to move, not to mention the servo assitance involved in 
shifting that much metal to vary the capacitance.

Regards
Nick Field


In a message dated 30/12/99 08:52:38 GMT Standard Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com 
writes:

<< Original Poster: "christopher boden" <chrisboden-at-hotmail-dot-com> 
 
 Has anyone ever thought of making an air-variable cap for TC use?
 The size would be the only downside and for our facility it's not an issue. 
 Other than that I think the positive effects would be incredible.
 
 No insulation to breakdown, just a BANG and your fine.
 
 You could presicely tune it to the coil and be free to experiment to a much 
 greater degree.
 
 NO OIL TO MESS WITH!
 
 
 How lossy would this be? If the plates were 12X12" what would the number 
 required be to max it out at 1Mfd at 80Kv? What would the spaceing be? I 
 figure that would be bigger than I could ever need and I only want to have 
 to build one of these giants.. :)
 
 Alright....other than size....why is this a dumb idea? I have seen an Air 
 cored cap made with sheets of copper and wirenuts and it wasn't too big and 
 the site said it worked rather well and wasn't nearly as lossy as SW caps.
 
 Basically the idea here is to build an indestrucable cap that we can use 
 with any coil we build and be free to experiment with. The design idea is to 
 mount a large amout of 12X12" copper...possibly steel....thin plates in a 
 Lexan form and have another array of them held in place with UHMW rods and 
 either make them pivot on one corner or lift them up and down into the other 
 array.
 
 The only problem I can see is vibration causeing the plates to possibly 
 touch or at least arc out....and this thing will make a hell of a 
 racket....but that's not a big deal in this hobby anyway :)
 
 Have fun guys....
 
 Chris Boden
 The Geek Group
  >>