Re: RQ gap spacing theory question

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Barton B. Anderson by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <tesla123-at-pacbell-dot-net>

Hi Ed -

That's interesting Ed. Maybe there is something on the pipe from the
manufacturing process.
However, on the piping I used, I had sanded down, so if there was something
on the surface, it
was taken off, and yet, the black carbonizing still occured. There may be
more factors to the
cause such as the performance of the gap, the power levels being used, and
gap spacing which
may at work.

Take care,
--
Barton B. Anderson
http://www.classictesla-dot-com

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Ed Phillips by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<evp-at-pacbell-dot-net>
>
> Tesla list wrote:
> >
> > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> <Esondrmn-at-aol-dot-com>
> >
> > In a message dated 12/6/01 7:07:17 AM Pacific Standard Time,
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > writes:
> >
> > >
> > > > I can tell you for certain that my 1st coil, which used 9 tubes, had
> > > > variations from gap to gap. Yes, they were close, but not what
you'd call
> > > > micrometer level. And it worked just fine...until after two-three
hours,
> > > the
> > > > oxide built up and reduced the 24" spark to 2 inches.
> > > >
> > > > Safety First.
> > > >
> > > > Ted
>
> > >
> > > Am I the only one that does not have oxide / fouling problems with >> >
> RQ/TCBOR
> > > style gaps?  I have two of these that are about 5 years old.  They
>
> >
> > .  I can see that the pipe sections have been hot and somewhat discolored,
> > slightly bluish color in the discharge area.  I have never had to clean
these
> > gaps.  I normally run them at 12 kv 60 ma but have run as high as 12 kv
> 120 ma
> > through them.
> >
> > Ed Sonderman
>
>         For several years I have been using a 6-section gap make of 1" pipe
> couplings with a 12 kV, 60 ma transformer.  When I first operated it I
> had experience similar to Ted's, although not quite so severe.  I took
> the gap apart and found that, in addition to the expected oxide layer,
> there was some sort of black surface crust over it.  In spite of the
> fact I'd cleaned the things before initial assembly, it looked as of
> there was some coating on the surface which has burned and caused the
> trouble. Stuck the couplings on a wooden mandrel, cleaned them
> thoroughly with #400 carborundum paper, and reassembled the thing.  Has
> worked fine ever since; although there is a blue/black oxide layer on
> the gaps, it is thin and seems to have no affect on performance.  Coil
> uses an 0.012 ufd capacitor and throws 24 to 30 inch "sparks" from a
> thumbtack stuck to the side of the 3" x 14" OD dryer duct toroid.
>
> Ed