Re: Does anyone recognize this problem? Solved?!

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

Original poster: "Harold Weiss" <hweiss-at-new.rr-dot-com> 

Hi Robert,

When I get strike rail hits they only last 1-2 sec at most, and usually only
once every 30 sec to a minute, if it hits at all during a run.  Currently
the 6" is 3" shy of the 4:1 ratio, with about 620 turns of #20.  The longest
photographed streamer has been 54" at 12/120 power.

David E Weiss

 > Original poster: "Robert Hanford" <pomnept-at-comcast-dot-net>
 >
 > Hello all!
 > Thanks for all of your replies.  They were all very helpful.  I have been
 > able to run my coil 3 brief times since fixing what I believe and hope was
 > the problem.  John (fireba8104-at-yahoo-dot-com) suggested that the inner turn of
 > the primary might be connected to ground.  I did indeed have a brass bolt
 > attached to my wooden cabinet connected to RF ground.  The inner turn of
my
 > primary also contacted my wooden cabinet.  After I put a plastic tube
around
 > my brass bolt, the problem seems to have disappeared!  The next logical
step
 > would be to insulate the inner turn of the primary but this is a bit more
of
 > an engineering problem.  The coil still has strike rail hits but they seem
 > to be more normal.  I would like to know how often people get strike rail
 > hits and for how long a duration.
 >
 > Sincerely,
 > Robert Hanford
 >
 >
 > ----- Original Message -----
 > From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2003 6:06 PM
 > Subject: Re: Does anyone recognize this problem? Tried again!
 >
 >
 >  > Original poster: "Robert Hanford" <pomnept-at-comcast-dot-net>
 >  >
 >  > Hi all, thanks for your replies. After reading them, the first thing I
did
 >  > was check the inside of the 2ndary form.There were some burn marks and
I
 >  > sandpapered them out . Next I tried retuning, and I think my original
 >  > mistake was to set the spark gap so tiny that at 30% the breakout point
 > was
 >  > a tiny fizzle. Widening the spark gap slightly produced a much more
 > visible
 >  > output. I think Dr. R. had a recommended distance for 30% power- I'll
have
 >  > to look it up...  Then it worked great again but after a short time the
 >  > toroid again started bombarding the strike rail, then the secondary! :
^
 >  > (    I'll examine it AGAIN tomorrow or tonight if I'm in good graces w/
 >  > wife.Thanks anyone for any further ideas!
 >  > ----- Original Message -----
 >  >
 >  >
 >
 >
 >