reducing spark gap losses?

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

Original poster: "Laurence Davis by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <meknar-at-hotmail-dot-com>

A few days ago there was a post about a clever trick (can't remember
their name...) using smaller diameter litz wire for the secondary and 
increasing the number of turns on the primary.  Which then reduces spark gap 
losses.  Also having the added affect of more turns on the primary and 
reduced voltage differential between each turn (from one of terry's 
experiments) allowing for a tighter spaced primary.  (is that even 
desirable?)

anyway... i ramble.
Question: compare single point static gap to multipoint gap.  i would like 
to assume that multipoint gaps loose less energy. would i be correct?

a related question.  I have a vacuum gap, single point.  when vacuum is not 
running and gap is relatively small: the gap runs well between lets say 
30-50%, but over that, it behaves like it is 'strained,' and spark output 
diminishes by upto half.  return the variac back down to the 30-50% mark and 
it returns to normal operation.  would this be caused by the gap not being 
quenched or perhaps something else?

i will probably make a 4 point vacuum gap to test that the multi point gap 
will function better. the gap im using now is probably overkill as I'm using 
1" diameter contacts with multiple holes drilled in them.

larry d.



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