RE: 'true" spark length was Re: Desktop Bipolar Coil

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

Original poster: "Stephen Conner by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <steve-at-scopeboy-dot-com>

At 11:40 05/07/03 -0600, you wrote:
>Original poster: "John H. Couture by way of Terry Fritz 
><teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <couturejh-at-mgte-dot-com>
>
>
>
>Steve -
>
>As you are using controlled sparks I will be very interested in your tests.
>How will you be measuring the watts input?

When I said controlled sparks I meant that I would be measuring the spark 
between a breakout point and a grounded point, rather than just letting it 
rip and trying to guesstimate how long the streamers are :) I'm not sure if 
this is what is meant by controlled spark: Dr. Resonance described some 
sort of dowels and nails arrangement, whereas if I understood correctly, 
you meant a spark between a breakout point and a grounded point that are 
close enough together that it connects on (almost) every break.

Originally I would have measured the watts input by measuring the DC link 
voltage and bps, and assuming a constant charging efficiency. But I suppose 
I could measure the link current too. The voltage and current stay very 
stable on the OLTC so I should just be able to write the figures down and 
multiply them together afterwards :)

Steve C.