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

["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>

I once thought that the strike rail was not needed.  That was until it 
caused my transformer to arc over to the primary on the transformer.  That 
happened a few times before I installed a rail.  But then at the teslathon, 
the transformer arced over anyway (which was a surprise because it had not 
happened for several weeks before then).  But i later found out that it was 
because my transformers were below the primary, and the cores were subject 
to some major RF fields.  But i think that im still a believer in the 
strike rail.  But i think i may need more an entire strike cage around my 
entire base.  Sometimes the arc will go beyond the strike rail, and hit the 
spark gap, even though, it should just hit the ground!  Im guessing that 
the arc to the spark gap is just as bad as to the primary.  In either case, 
the safety fires.  I personally will recomend a strike rail until you have 
really gotten an understanding of your coil.  BTW, i dont think strike 
rails are needed on smaller (under 720watt) coils.  None of my small coils 
had them, and i got loads of primary arcs with no side effects.

Steve Ward.






>From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: Re: 3/4, 1/4, or 3/4 copper tubing? Is a Strike Rail needed?
>Date: Mon, 04 Nov 2002 08:15:30 -0700
>
>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
> >
> >