Re: Strike Balls

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

Original poster: "cd by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <vbprg1-at-hotmail-dot-com>

I recently built and ran my first tesla coil
I had originally a broken circle for a strike rail
During the first full power testing with a torus
I had multiple strange things occur
1. I had a very thick very powerfull spark jump from the strike rail to the
outer turn of the primary. I imediately shut down power and cut the supports
for the last part of the strike rail and then bent the thing way out of
circle and cacked the last 6 inches total off at a right angle
 I tried to destroy the things symetry still not sure it worked.Overall
there was no heat build up in the rail to indicate inductance in the strike
ring itself.

2. after commensing testing  I noticed several sparks jump accross the outer
turns of the primary, but no further jumps from the strike rail.

I think my problem lies in the fact that I built a rather massive primary
20 turns of 1/4inch copper tubing and now its tapped or tuned around the 9th
turn. That leaves 11 turns of coil hanging out there. More than enough coil
to drive a big secondary....

IS is possible that these 11 turns of extra primary are generating a second
induction field, creating a charge that jumps across the outer turns, or
even accounting for the very powerfull looking spark that jumped from/to the
strike rail????

Overall my strike rail has not made me happy....
though im not ready to remove it as of yet...and if I did would 8 balls
offset 45 degrees really present a better path to ground than the primary?
The lightning has to like it not me....

What about 2x 170 degree strike rails both grounded?

If I were to cut a few turns off my primary how many should i cut down?

Chris Dowdy
"Pictures didnt come out" maybe next run...

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 10:17 PM
Subject: Strike Rails swapped for Strike Balls --- the proverbial brass type


> Original poster: "D.C. Cox by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<DR.RESONANCE-at-next-wave-dot-net>
>
>
>
> Instead of a strike "ring" consider using 3-5 strike "balls".  As an
> example, ust 4 grounded 1/2" dia. brass cabinet knob balls placed at 90
> degree points around and outside of the primary and usually about 1"
higher
> than the primary.  It works great and does offer some protection to the
> primary from secondary streamer strikes.  A primary strike doesn't always
> but could conceivably overvolt your expensive caps and blow them.  It only
> has to happen once to give you a "bad hair day".
>
> Best regards,
>
> Dr. Resonance
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 7:12 PM
> Subject: Re: Strike Rail question
>
>
> > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> <Mddeming-at-aol-dot-com>
> >
> > In a message dated 7/11/02 7:48:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > writes:
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Steve Ward,
> > > PS, this was mostly an attempt to save my rear(lol), but really i want
> to
> > > understand more about what strike rings are REALLY good for. And Matt,
> this
> > > is not directed to you in any way, sorry if it sounds like it is.
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Steve,
> > No fence taken  ;-)))))
> > A primary strike will also dump mucho RF HV spikes back into your cap,
> filter,
> > transformer, and possibly power lines. It may not kill it (or you) the
> first
> > time or the twelfth time, or the twentieth time, but like smoking or
> dipping
> > snuff, it's a stress the system doesn't really need.
> > Matt D.
> >
> >
> >
>