Re: ...And then there was silence.

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

Original poster: "Malcolm Watts by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <m.j.watts-at-massey.ac.nz>

Hi Matt,
        Measuring capacitors with a volt or two and running them at 
kV's are two different things. I don't think your tests are 
definitive.

Regards,
Malcolm

On 15 May 2002, at 7:03, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Matt Woody Meyer by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <meyerml-at-stolaf.edu>
> 
> I got it running again... had some problems before which turned out to be a
> shorted capacitor (ah, the troubles with homebuilt caps!) and the spark gap
> wasn't working correctly.  I also changed my large toroid to the small
> toroid.  All told, tonight during my final night of testing before my big
> symposium, I was able to get 36" arcs (a guy in my class bet me a pint of
> beer for every 3" I was able to get... that's 12 beers!)
> 
> So, while taking pictures after tuning, something happened, and as of now I
> am not sure what it was.  Everything was working very well, and then, the
> gap stopped firing suddenly (just happened right away, didn't "ramp down"),
> and I heard the transformers "sizzling".  I am using a RQ style gap (like
> the one on Vince's website: http://www.teslafx-dot-com) with a small piece of
> wood between the two end electrodes (to prevent arcing between them.  I am
> at this point very desperate for any answers.  I have so far ruled out the
> following:
> -NST's are working correctly
> -Wiring is correct
> -Capacitors failed continuity test (good thing- they're not shorted again).
>   (will measure capacitance tomorrow morning to verify these aren't the
> problem)
> -NST Protection should be working
> -Spark Gap has no faults in it.
> 
> My setup is:
> 15kV 60ma & 15kV 30ma transformers, in parallel
> Terry's NST protection filter
> RQ style gap (see http://www.teslafx-dot-com)
> 2 capacitors, in parallel for total capacitance of .034uF
> 11 turn primary, .375" copper tubing
> 8x32 secondary, 22AWG magnet wire
> smaller toroid (don't have dimensions)
> All grounding done directly to earth with two grounding rods.
> 
> Any suggestions would help me VERY much, as my presentation is at 2:00 on
> Wed (CDT) and the firing is at 9:00pm CDT Wed. as well.
> 
> Many thanks,
> ><>Matt
> 
> ps: please e-mail me directly, so as not to clog up the list with answers.
> :)
> meyerml-at-stolaf.edu
> 
> >
> 
> 
>