Re: 3/4, 1/4, or 3/4 copper tubing? Is a Strike Rail needed?

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

Original poster: "Terry Blake by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <tb3-at-att-dot-net>

Hi Adam,

I have not used a strike rail yet, but I am thinking about it.  I have not
had anything bad happen, but when my primary gets hit, it tends to fire the
safety gaps.  That bugs me for two reasons;

1) I have to back off the power to quench the gap
      (maybe I should use one of those horn gaps).
2) There is clearly a surge going to my transformer. That makes me worry.

Here is my HUGE coil primary taking a hit.
http://tb3.phpwebhosting-dot-com/tesla/hugecoil/powerup2/P6280028.jpg

Here are the filters and safty gaps.
http://tb3.phpwebhosting-dot-com/tesla/hugecoil/powerup2/P6290024.jpg

Here is all about my HUGE coil.
http://www.tb3-dot-com/tesla/hugecoil/hugecoil.html

I guess if you have protection for your transformers, it may not be a
problem.  But it is relatively easy to add this protection.  My real concern
is when I take a hit to my secondary.  That really hurts.

What do other people have to say about the strike rail?

Terry Blake
Coiling in Chicago.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 2:35 PM
Subject: Re: 3/4, 1/4, or 3/4 copper tubing?


 > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<dhmccauley-at-spacecatlighting-dot-com>
 >
 >  > I am in the process of building my new coil, but wondering if I should
use
 >  > 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4 inch copper tubing for my primary. My power supply
will
 > be
 >  > 2 12/60 nst's (1440W). Also, what size tubing should I use for my spark
 > rail?
 >  > Thanks
 >  > Adam
 >
 >
 > You'll get a lot of different opinions on this, but 1/4" copper tubing
 > should be just fine.  I run two (2) 15kV/60mA NSTs using only a
 > 1/4" copper tubing and it barely gets warm even during long run periods.
 >
 > Strike rail???  A strike is good for looks.  Functionally, its basically
 > worthless in my opinion.   In my experience, the same people claiming you
 > need
 > a ground system consisting of six hundred, geometrically spaced, 20 foot
 > rods in the earth are the same people who are going to tell you you need
 > a strike rail.
 >
 > Heck, my grounding system now is just tying my braided rf ground lead with
a
 > single loose-fitting overhand knot around my gas line going into my house.
 > Works great!!!!
 >
 > Dan
 >
 >