Re: Better Spark Gaps

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

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

I think most of the loss in a spark gap is not related to the length of
gap, but the mere existence of a gap at all, and the few tens of volts
"cathode drop".  Multiple gaps == more loss.

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<Goinbonkers-at-aol-dot-com>
> 
> Hi all,
>    Just wondering.   Would a couple of very closely spaced gaps(think quench
> gaps) in series with a triggered gap allow a smaller gap spacing for the
actual
> triggered gap?   would it improve the efficiency?'
> Mike
> 
> >
> > I was kinda thinking along the lines of a triggerd gap, but with a
> > magnetic quenching a little later to allow for ringdown and a little
> > closer spacing.  I was thinking about doing this in a vacuum, with
> > several gaps in parallel, and a large plate area for more current,
> > esp. needed in a vacuum.  Don't know how well the vacuum thing would
> > work though, just annoying to contruct, seal, etc.
> >
> > Sean