Re: Best location for spark gap

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

Original poster: "robert & june heidlebaugh by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <rheidlebaugh-at-desertgate-dot-com>

Weazle gave a good answer, but the question is not clear. In a TC the
primary is a series circuit of a, spark gap, coil, and a capacitor each
conected with heavy gauge wire of short lengths to provide a high current
path. The power supply, ie NST,is connected across or parallel to the spark
gap to protect the power source fron the high voltage swings of the coil and
capacitor. These resonant voltage swings may be well over 2x the input
voltage and can break down your transformer insulation. The voltage across
the spark gap is less than the supply voltage because the spark is shorting
out the voltage when it fires. In an AC tesla coil the inductance of your
transformer protects the transformer. In a DC Tesla coil a series choke coil
or resistor is required to provide protection.
   Robert H
-- 


 > From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Date: Sat, 04 Jan 2003 20:17:05 -0700
 > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Subject: Re: Best location for spark gap
 > Resent-From: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Resent-Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 20:19:23 -0700
 >
 > Original poster: "J. B. Weazle McCreath by way of Terry Fritz
 > <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <weazle-at-hurontel.on.ca>
 >
 >
 > At 05:49 PM 04/01/03 -0700, you wrote:
 >
 >> Original poster: "Nir Wingarten by way of Terry Fritz
 > <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <nirzvi-at-yahoo-dot-com>
 >>
 >> Hi all
 >>
 >> I've just finished 'studying' some old TC plans and
 >> noticed the spark gap's location is diffrent in every
 >> one(usually before or after capacitors), the question
 >> rasied is which location is better?
 >>
 >> Yours truelly
 >> Nir(NOT NEAR) Weingarten
 >>
 >
 > Hello Nir,
 >
 > I believe you'll find that the thinking of today is to put
 > the gap across the power source, be it a MOT, NST, PDT, or
 > other type of transformer.  It offers some protection from
 > any "spikes" that may want to find their way back into the
 > power source from the primary tank circuit.
 >
 > 73, Weazle, VE3EAR/VE3WZL
 > G-1#1214
 >
 > Listening: 147.030+ and 442.075+
 > E-mail:    weazle-at-hurontel.on.ca
 > or ve3ear-at-rac.ca
 > Web site:  http://www.hurontel.on.ca/~weazle
 >
 >