Re: Ground ring experiment

["Metlicka Marc" <mystuffs-at-orwell-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

john, terry all,


Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>
>
> Hi John,
>
>         The wire is so skinny it is basically like a resistor and can't
wast power
> to the full extent possible with a shorted strick rail.  If you really want
> to see power loss, try foil tape or somhow directly connect the tubing.
> Then the rail will really be able to eat power ;-))

this leads into the question i had asked a while back. if the strike ring
is grounded,
then this induced current would be wasted and never make it to the
secondary, wouldn't
it? i mean i see the need for strike to primary protection, but wow. with
the use that
many have done with plexy. sheets for protection, maybe this is a better
way? although
i've wondered about the charge breaking out towards the secondary from the
edge of the
plexy. sheet?
marc

>
>
> Cheers,
>
>         Terry
>
> At 07:10 AM 10/5/2000 -0500, you wrote:
> >
> >Hello
> >
> >I did a little experiment two nights ago.  To some of you this might be
> >common knowledge but it was new to me and rather interesting.  On my
> >coil (http://communities.msn-dot-com/WeaselsTeslaCoil/) I use a stock 15/30
> >NST with almost 15 turns of 1/4" refrigeration tubing and a 5/8" split
> >grounded ring a few inches above the primary.  I don't run for any
> >extended periods of time.  Under 1 minute runs though maybe 1 minute on
> >20 seconds of 1 minute on again, etc.  The primary stays cool as a
> >cucumber and my caps just start to feel slightly warm to the touch.
> >Anyhow I digress.  After I completed the coil I sent Terry a scanned
> >picture of it and he had asked if the ground ring was split since that
> >area was blocked in the picture by the secondary.  He said if it isn't
> >it would affect the coil.  As I said it is split but my curiosity
> >finally got to me.  I decided to take one of those 12" or so jumper
> >wires with alligator clips on each end that are maybe #22awg stranded
> >wire or something to reconnect the split ends of the ground ring.
> >Normally I get pretty steady 34" sparks into free air.  After shorting
> >the ring I lost about 2" - 3" of arc length.  I did not try retuning
> >anything.  I just didn't expect that to increase the ouput length.  Any
> >how after about 90 - 120 seconds of total run time I took off the jumper
> >wire and it was VERY hot.  I didn't expect that much current to flow though
> >it.  Last night i connected a 40 watt incadescent bulb in between these
> >bulbs and had it lit dimly.  Just some interesting (at least to me)
> >observations I thought I would share with the group.
> >
> >Happy experimenting!
> >John M.
> >
> >