Re: Magnifier topload size?

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

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

Now... let's start theorizing about why this might be so..
Ideas:
1) Smoother surface allows the toroid to reach a higher voltage before the
leader starts. Higher voltage=more energy=longer leader jump
2) Thicker conductive layer in toroid reduces resistance and inductance of
the toroid discharge path for that all important high speed growth of the
leader.

Off hand, I'd think #1 would be a better bet for a 10-20% change..

How to test it:
1) Get that TC with a spun toroid tuned up for max length
2) deliberately add small amounts of irregularities and see what happens to
the spark length. I'd start with just sticking a piece of smooth copper foil
or aluminum tape on the toroid, then start doing things like making wrinkles
in the tape.

One might (?) need to retune or, more likely, change coupling for max
sparklength.. If the voltage goes higher, more energy has to transfer into
topload, which may require a different coupling factor.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2003 4:19 PM
Subject: RE: Magnifier topload size?


 > Original poster: "Jeff W. Parisse by way of Terry Fritz
<teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jparisse-at-teslacoil-dot-com>
 >
 > Ed,
 >
 >
 >  > When you say "better", did you A/B spark lengths at the same
 >  > power level?
 >
 > Yes, we A/B'd a homemade toroid (truck inner tube with fabric belts to
 > keep the radius uniform all covered in AL duct tape (smooth as I could
 > get it)) and a (almost) exact same size spun AL toroid. Nothing else
 > changed.
 >
 > In the spun toroid the breakout was largely confined to one
 > streamer/power arc and was about 1' to 1.5' longer (6'-8' overall).
 > Power input around but under 10kVA. No change in Fsec.
 >
 > Jeff Parisse - kVA
 >
 >