Re: Mirror Ball as VDG Sphere?

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

Original poster: "Steven Ward by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <srward16-at-hotmail-dot-com>

One of those things would make a great VDG sphere.  I used a 12" globe with 
foil tape on it, with a 5" hole in the bottom.  I had no problems with 
corona leakage.  It didnt give as long sparks as my salad bowl bt still gave 
about 15".  The sphere made the arcs really hurt, and left welts!  I bet if 
i had the 18" sphere, it would be great!! I bet i could get some massive 
sparks.  Too bad there isnt any "lawn toroids" that would sell for under 
$100.

Steve Ward


>From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: Re: Mirror Ball as VDG Sphere?
>Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 08:04:32 -0600
>
>Original poster: "davep by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" 
><davep-at-quik-dot-com>
>
> > I got this link from this list awhile back:
>
> > http://www.waterscapesweb-dot-com/orbs.html
>
> > I was eye-balling the stainless steel "mirror balls"
> > as possible TC discharge terminals, but I've had mixed
> > results using spherical terminals. The sphere doesn't
> > seem to shade the top turns the way a toroid does, and
> > the breakout goes any which way, including back to the
> > base of the secondary! Plus, it causes problems with
> > breakout from the top turns. Anybody getting good
> > results with spheres?
>
> > Now what about a VDG terminal?
>
>	What KIND of VdG terminal?
>	All manner of terminals have been used:
>		Spherical
>		modified spherical with curved re-entry,
>		'donut' (Torus)
>		'drum' with spherical top and curved
>		'half toroid' bottom.
>
>
> > I was thinking I could hire a machinist to bore a nice
>
> >round hole in one of these
>
>	Lawn Balls?
>
> > and have myself a professional-looking VDG sphere.
>
> > However, I anticipate trouble with corona
> > leakage at the rim of the entry hole, since it would
> > not be beveled inward.
>
>	Yep.  I would expect problems.  Professional
>	VDG spheres have carefully crafted reentrant
>	radius surfaces.
>
>	best
>	dwp
>
>...the net of a million lies...
>	Vernor Vinge
>There are Many Web Sites which Say Many Things.
>	-me