Re: Spark gap not firing

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

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

Hi Ralph, Michael, All, 

Tesla list wrote: 
>
> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
> <Parpp807-at-aol-dot-com> 
>
> In a message dated 2/2/01 10:44:55 PM Central Standard Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>
> writes: 
>
> <<  I now have it wired in series with the primary coil, which is made 
>  from 1/4" refrigerator tubing and consits of 6 turns at 1/2" spacing with a 
> 6" 
>  inner diameter.  I have a calculated inductance of 10 - 11 microhenries I 
>  believe (dont recall the exact number) It is also wired in series with the 
>  capacitor.  The transf >> 
>
> Hi Michael, 
> It sounds here as if you have the coil wired wrong. connect the capacitor in 
> parallel 
> with the NST.

This is not right. The RSG should be in parallel with the NST. The cap should
be in series with the primary. It will work as you suggested, but you will put
the transformer at risk. Having the cap parallel with the transformer will
cause the transformer to feel the full RF of each bang. By placing the RSG
parallel with the transformer, the RF seen at the transfomer is greatly
reduced. I beleive Greg L. stated the a reduction by a factor of 10:1. 

As far as Michael's problem, it may possibly be on which side of the cap the
RSG is connected. If the RSG is connected between the primary and cap then he
will get nothing. The RSG should be connected between the cap and NST. (this is
just a possibility). 

Take care, 
Bart 
>
> Then connect one side of the cap to one side of the primary. 
> the other side of the capacitor goes to the SG, and the other side of the SG 
> goes to the other side of the primary. Again: the cap is in parallel with the
>
> NST, and the SG is in series with the primary. 
> The 0.0056 uF calculation sounds about right and should give you something if
>
> you connect things correctly. I would want to try something 
> a little larger than 0.01uF. Since you built the cap are you sure you have 
> 0.0056? 
> Try to get a MMC as soon as you can. There is a lot of info in the Tesla 
> archives and on the various Tesla links. Study the books by John Couture. 
> Stay safe. 
>
> Cheers, 
> Ralph Zekelman