Re: Strange behavior

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

Original poster: "Gregory Hunter by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <ghunter31014-at-yahoo-dot-com>

Hi Weazle,

As soon as I read your description of the problem, my
first thought was "his spark gap is overheating". 
Check for hot spots on your gap electrodes.  You might
have to switch to another gap design to clear up the
trouble.

I can also suggest a quick diagnostic.  Put a sharp
breakout point such as a thumbtack on the toroid.  If
the sparks from the point start out full-size at
first, then gradually shrink in length over a minute's
firing time, then spark gap heating is indicated.  If
the sparks still cut off suddenly, without even a
corona brush at the point, then it probably is not
spark gap heating.

Good luck with it,

Greg
http://hot-streamer-dot-com/greg

--- Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:
> Original poster: "J. B. Weazle McCreath by way of
> Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> <weazle-at-hurontel.on.ca>
> 
> 
> Hello Coilers,
> 
> While running my coil earlier this evening I had a
> strange occurance
> that I'd like to have explained to me.  After about
> a full minute of
> firing, the streamers just stopped like a swich had
> been thrown, but
> the gap continued to fire.  I shut down for about
> five seconds, then
> fired up again and the streamers where back as
> before for about the
> same time interval and then they stopped again.
> 
> Switching everything off and taking the shorting
> sticks to all of the
> hot spots, I began looking for a probable cause. 
> The MMC showed not
> even the slightest bit of heating on any of the 96
> caps, all of the
> primary and secondary connections where secure, and
> as I said before,
> the gap continued to fire even when the streamers
> stopped, so I ruled
> out a problem with it or the power source.  Ideas
> anyone?
> 
> Here's the coil details:
> 
> Power:  10/70 OBIT stack with PFC
> Cap:    0.0258 uF. -at- 25 KV MMC
> Gap:    7 segment RQ/TCBOR with suction quench
> Prim:   14 turn 1/4" tube, 20 degree inv. cone
>         tapped at turn 7
> Sec:    4" x 22" 800 turns of no. 22
> Toroid: 16" x 4" over 11" x 4" flex duct, 24 pF.
> 
> Normal streamers are 3 or 4 simultaneous of 30 to 36
> inches.
> 
> 
> 73, Weazle, VE3EAR/VE3WZL
> 
> Listening: 147.030+ and 442.075+
> E-mail:    weazle-at-hurontel.on.ca
>            or ve3ear-at-rac.ca
> Web site:  www.hurontel.on.ca/~weazle
> 
> 
> 


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