RE: TC Sparks and Arcs (Was - High Voltage Snubber caps

["Christopher Boden" <chrisboden-at-hotmail-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

1.What are the definitions and differences  between sparks, arcs, streamers,
corona, etc.

2.Is a 54 inch arc possible?

John Couture

1. That depends a LOT on who you ask as there is no real standard on a lot 
of those. Here at the Group we have a loose system for the ones that vary 
like this...

Spark: A small discharge of 0 to 1" that lasts less than a second.

Arc: A discharge that lasts more than a second and is less than 1 meter in 
length.

Bolt: A large discharge longer than 1 meter.

Streamer: The dancing output of a coil, or other discharge with similar 
behaivour.

Leader: The small discharge seen coming from grounded objects NOT attached 
to the coil trying to meet with the output of a coil.

Corona has 2 accepted worldwide uses in language.
1. The purple coloured glow seen around just about anything at high voltage. 
(make a SW cap in a mason jar, THAT'S corona). If you slowly power up your 
coil, just before breakout, the purple glow, that's corona. It's usually 
common with a faint hissing sound and a sweet smell. The smell is Nitrogen 
Oxides and is toxic in high quantity.

2. A mid-ranged brand of central american beer that is pale in colour and 
served with a wedge of lime. It boasts the slogan "La Cervesa Mas Fina" and 
is the most common bottle type for Beer Bottle Caps (most likely because of 
it's name). The bottles work well in caps, the Group has used over 50 
bottles in Tesla Service for the past year with only 1 bottle failing under 
power.



Christopher A. Boden Geek#1
President / Founder
The Geek Group
www.geekgroup-dot-org
Because the Geek shall inherit the Earth!

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