Re: Vacuum/blast gap

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

Original poster: "Jonathan Peakall by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jpeakall-at-madlabs.info>

Steve,

Cut a slot somewhere, and cover as much of it as you need with tape. Holes
can make a nasty squealing noise. Funny that you went back to the RQ gap, my
experience was the opposite. I never got decent performance from the RQ (my
implementation, I am sure) but the sucker gap improved performance a lot. I
wonder if it is all about the vac pressure, or if there are other reason,
because I get *better* performance at lower vac, but not *terrible* at
higher vac. I would say 10-20% inprovement. One thing I have found is that
sucker gaps don't work well with a smaller PSU, like an OBIT, IC or small
NST. I get better results from a multi style gap at those power levels. What
PSU are you using?

You can see my sucker gap at: http://madlabs.info/index.php?x=spark_gaps.jsp

HTH,

Jonathan Peakall

----- Original Message -----
From: Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2002 8:41 PM
Subject: Re: Vacuum/blast gap


> Original poster: "Steven Ward by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<srward16-at-hotmail-dot-com>
>
> I was running full vacuum.  Maybe thats my problem.  How do you suppose i
> can make it leak?  Drill some holes??  The vacuum does seem a bit strong.
> Unfortunately, i ditched that gap already( i could make it again in about
20
> minutes...).  I went with the RQ but with a elaborate design with the vac
> motor.  Im using the motors blowing & sucking power!  I have yet to run it
> again with this new gap.  We will see...
>
> Steve Ward.
>
>
> >From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> >To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> >Subject: Re: Vacuum/blast gap
> >Date: Sun, 15 Sep 2002 19:29:56 -0600
> >
> >Original poster: "Jonathan Peakall by way of Terry Fritz
> ><twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jpeakall-at-madlabs.info>
> >
> >Steve,
> >
> >Are you running the gap at full  vacuum? I found my Lau type gap worked
> >best
> >when I limited input voltage to the vac motor to around 40V. I have heard
> >of
> >others just letting the vac system "leak" to lower pressure without a
> >variac.
> >
> >HTH,
> >
> >Jonathan Peakall
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> >To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> >Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2002 3:01 PM
> >Subject: RE: Vacuum/blast gap
> >
> >
> > > Original poster: "Dave Hartwick by way of Terry Fritz
> ><twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <ddhartwick-at-earthlink-dot-net>
> > >
> > > I use a similar gap, but the air is blown through and into the gap
> >instead
> > > of being sucked out.
> > > It blows away my RQ/TCBOR gap, particularly at higher power levels.
> > >
> > > You could try blowing instead of sucking, but Gary's original
> >configuration
> > > seems to be an excellent gap. It is a mystery.
> > >
> > >
> > > Original poster: "Steven Ward by way of Terry Fritz
> ><twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> > > <srward16-at-hotmail-dot-com>
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > I recently attempted to reproduce Gary Lau's sucker gap.  I bought the
> >same
> > > vacuum motor.  My meter claims 3A for the motor, yet Gary claims about
> > > 10A?!?!  Thats not what im getting at.  My problem is that this gaps
> >stinks!
> > >   Of course, i could have made it differently, but it doesnt perform
> >nearly
> > > as well as me RQ gap.  Though, i must say, it makes the coolest noises
> >when
> > > you turn off the coil, and you hear all kinds of pitched wistling from
> >the
> > > motor.  It sounds real sci-fi, like a major shut down.  Im running
with
> >a
> > > 15/120 PSU.  Im wondering it anyone has used this type of gap, but
with
> >air
> > > blowing outward??  So basically, i need some ideas, or
reccomendations,
> >on
> > > what i should do.  Sould i keep the RQ and put the vac motor on it??
Or
> > > should i make the single gap, but blow out the arc, rather than suck
it
> >up?
> > > All opinions are wanted.  Thanks,
> > >
> > > Steve Ward.
> > >
> > >