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

["John H. Couture" <couturejh-at-worldnet.att-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

Christopher -

There are standard definitions and they can be found in science and
engineering texts. A feeble attempt at definitions is found in my Tesla Coil
Construction Guide. Using standard definitions avoids confusion and
misunderstanding when discussing technical subjects. I agree there are
variations for some definitions. For example all beer bottles do not have
the same capacitance.

John Couture

--------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2000 11:03 AM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: RE: TC Sparks and Arcs (Was - High Voltage Snubber caps


Original poster: "Christopher Boden" <chrisboden-at-hotmail-dot-com>


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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