Re: Definitions of High Voltage

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

Original poster: "Brett Miller by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <brmtesla-at-yahoo-dot-com>

--- Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:
> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz
> <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Kidd6488-at-aol-dot-com>
> 
> As
> per North's paper (High Voltage Insulation, pg1),
> any voltage below
> approximately 340V will not discharge through
> air, regardless of spacing or barometric pressure
> 
> what about 120 VAC? ever unplug sumthing while its
> still on? Those are the 
> same sparks you get from 12kV...

I think I wasn't really simple enough in my last
email. 
The point I was trying to get across is that the
distance an arc can begin to form between two
conductors is a function of voltage.  The distance an
arc can be pulled after it forms is a function of
current.  A jacobs ladder is a good
analogy/demonstration of this.  The voltage determines
how close the rails can be at the bottom of the "V". 
The current determines of wide the "V" is spread at
the top.

A 12kv NST for example, will readily break down the
air across a gap of say, 1/4".  But with 120v you have
to actually pull apart two conductors which are
already in contact, such as in your example above. 
That's why a single Microwave Oven Transformer makes a
poor power supply for a jacob's ladder...the voltage
is too low for it to start the arc at the bottom.  But
with 4 in series....watch out!

-Brett

> ---------------------------------------
> Jonathon Reinhart
> hot-streamer-dot-com/jonathon
> 
> 
> 




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