Re: Spark Leader? was Re: Can I touch my Tesla ?

["Barton B. Anderson" <tesla123-at-pacbell-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

Hi Brian, 

I have a photo (really old, first light I think) of what might be a leader.
Would you mind if I send it to you for review? I thought it might be leader (a
long one eminating from the base of the secondary). It's kind of odd. It may be
a streamer, but it does have a different appearance than any of the other
streamers. 

BTW, are photo's of you Southern Cal Teslathon coming in yet? 

Thanks, 
Bart 

Tesla list wrote: 
>
> Original poster: "Basura, Brian" <brian.basura-at-unistudios-dot-com> 
>
> Bart/all, 
>
> I have a picture of a spark leader somewhere (I'll try and find it). 
>
> To see and photograph it yourself take a grounded rod and attach a pointed 
> wire to it. Slowly turn up the power on your coil and you will see the 
> leader forming. 
>
> I also tape a clear light bulb to the ground rod. The leader will start 
> inside the bulb much sooner than with just the point. As power is increased 
> the leader will grow from the outside surface of the glass and head towards 
> the toroid. 
>
> Regards, 
> Brian B. 
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Tesla list [<mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com] 
> Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 11:38 AM 
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com 
> Subject: Spark Leader? was Re: Can I touch my Tesla ? 
>
> Original poster: "Barton B. Anderson" <tesla123-at-pacbell-dot-net> 
>
> Hi Malcolm, All, 
>
> <snip> 
> Have 
> you ever seen a spark leader coming from objects to a TC? It would be 
> interesting to see a photo of a TC spark leader. Anyone ever captured one on 
> film? I would expect these to exist even for our coils. 
>
> Bart 
>
> Tesla list wrote: 
> > 
> > Original poster: "Malcolm Watts" <M.J.Watts-at-massey.ac.nz> 
> > 
> > Hi Chris, 
> > 
> > On 25 Jul 00, at 12:01, Tesla list wrote: 
> > 
> > > Original poster: "Christopher Boden" <chrisboden-at-hotmail-dot-com> 
> > > 
> > > Watch closely (preferably in total darkness) and you will see 
> > > streamers eminateing FROM the tips of the tree if it's close 
> > > enough. 
> > > 
> > > Could someone explain this phenomena? It happens with held objects as 
> well. 
> > 
> > 
> > The obvious question is why shouldn't it happen? There is a 
> > strong electric field in the vicinity which induces opposite 
> > charge on surrounding objects and the concentration of charge 
> > on those objects will be at the most pointed parts (for want 
> > of better wording). This is observed routinely in 
> > thunderstorms. Obviously the induction is AC in the case of a 
> > Tesla Coil but the situation is otherwise similar. I see this 
> > all the time when running coils. As a streamer from the coil 
> > approaches one of these points the emission from the point 
> > will increase which wil encourage the TC streamer to connect 
> > with the object. 
> > 
> > Regards, 
> > Malcolm 
> > <snip>