Re: I've lost my k. Can someone help me find it?

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

Original poster: "Daniel Barrett by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <dbarrett1-at-austin.rr-dot-com>

> Implying then, that if you improve the insulation of the secondary, you
can
> raise k.

    Sounds like the next step is to slap on more Saran wrap and see if I can
rock it up a bit higher...

> I think that racing sparks indicate that the peak voltage on the secondary
> is rising too high, implying that the load from the developing streamers
> isn't enough to keep the voltage down, as charge flows into the
> topload.  If you had a bigger secondary, and better insulation, then the
> voltage can get higher, which should increase the current flow into the
> streamer (assuming it is limited by either R or L).

    Does this also suggest that a bigger topload is needed ?
    I ask because "on one hand" a larger torroid should decrease the Z seen
looking up from, say, 6" up the coil where the breakouts form, which should
(??) load the coil more.
     But "on the other hand" if the top voltage is a function of Cs/Cp then
a larger topload should decrease the available voltage...

> Higher k (without "bad effects" like racing sparks) implies faster power
> transfer to the streamer/spark, which has to be a net good, right?

    It sounds good on paper, but I always seem to get bit whenever I try to
maximimize any given parameter into the ground. Guess it's all a fine
balancing act...
db