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

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

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Esondrmn-at-aol-dot-com>

In a message dated 11/4/02 6:25:49 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:


>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.


I have strike rails on both of my coils.  Just seems like a good idea to 
me.  I have had many arcs to both.  My larger coil, 6.0" running at 7 kva, 
is mounted on a wooden cabinet with casters on the bottom.  I have 
galvanized steel sheeting wraped around the lower part of the cabinet and 
it is connected to RF ground.  I have had many heavy power arcs to this 
shield.  Again, just seems like a good idea.  I really don't like the idea 
of these arcs hitting my caps or the rotary gap motor.

Ed Sonderman