Solid State Gap

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

Original poster: "Terry Fritz" <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>

Hi All,

I was able to get a little basic SSgap testing done tonight.  I was able to
switch 20 amps (the most the low voltage power supply could do in 500uS)
with a fiber optically coupled IGBT.  The waveforms were rock solid and
everything looked great.  I think I'll use a 12 volt regulated drive just
to get more stability and IGBT drive voltage.  If I don't have enough drive
in the real SSgap, it would be "bad".  I ended up going to super cheap
fiber optics which actually worked better.  Probably Jameco is the source
for these.  The fancy Panasonic optics just got too expensive and were not
working right...  All is looking real good.  However, these gaps will not
be "cheap" :-((  The IGBT is $13 in 100 quantities and it would take about
$15 of parts per 1000 volt 180 amp module on top of that.  A SSgap for a
15/60 NST system may end up at $1200!!  But it would be super cool!! :-))
A picture of the testing tonight is at:

http://hot-streamer-dot-com/temp/SStest.jpg

The basic circuit has changed a little but the idea is at:

http://hot-streamer-dot-com/TeslaCoils/MyCoils/SolidStateCoil/

Sorry, just a bunch of JPG schematic and stuff files at this time...

Much time and pain left before this becomes a practical but expensive
disruptive coil gap :-))  No saying what will happen when it gets driven up
a few kV above ground and "real" destructive energy is available. :-))
However, I have a good feeling about this stuff...

The science goes on...

Cheers,

	Terry