Re: Over-coupled or under-insulated?

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

Original poster: "tmoore by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <tmoorezz-at-adelphia-dot-net>

Chris,

     What kind of transformer are you using to power you coil? What is the
output voltage and output power of your transformer?  How many coats of
polyurethane did you apply? How long did you allow the last coat to dry
before powering it up again, and did you let the polyurethane thicken before
applying? What type of capacitor are you using and what are the values? What
kind of spark gap do you have and how wide is it set at? On my mini 2" tesla
coil I used to get a lot of racing sparks, that is until I closed my spark
gap slightly.  It made a world of difference the racing sparks stop, it also
affected spark length but it only got shorter by a few inches. When you
close you spark gap so that you don't get any more racing arcs you will be
able to lower your primary all the way down and that should greatly increase
spark length. Id say lower you secondary down until the bottom of the
windings is even with the horizontal plane of your primary and, start by
closing your spark gap to about 0.125" and slightly increase the spacing
till you start getting racing arcs, then slightly decrease and then till it
stops and then leave it set at that spacing, also sand down you electrodes,
all the crap on the surface can greatly affect performance. I hope I can
help you out.

Nolan Moore

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 5:32 PM
Subject: Re: Over-coupled or under-insulated?


 > Original poster: "Chris Roberts by way of Terry Fritz
<teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <quezacotl_14000000000000-at-yahoo-dot-com>
 >
 >
 > I'm not sure, but I may have just found my problem. While on John Freau's
 > website
 >
 >
<http://hometown.aol-dot-com/futuret/page5.html>http://hometown.aol-dot-com/futuret/
page5.html
 >
 >
 > I read that a lower bps coil will require a larger, taller secondary and
 > toroid to handle the larger bang size to prevent racing sparks (!!!!) and
 > premature breakout from the toroid. Having a LTR primary capacitor and a
 > semi-wide static spark gap, I would imagine that I have a low bps, but
high
 > bang size each time the gap fires. (If I am missing something somebody
 > please let me know) My secondary is quite short ( 6 inch diameter, 24
 > inches tall, 3.84 H/D aspect with 22 gauge wire) so I suspect this might
be
 > the culprit. Am I correct on this? If so, the only real options would be
to
 > keep the coil undercoupled (which would mean a wimpy coil =/ ) or wind a
 > much taller secondary (I'm thinking something like 31.25 inches tall, for
a
 > H/D aspect of 5?) Any ideas on this? I want to make sure I have the right
 > clue about this before I start trying things =D
 >
 >
 > -Chris
 >
 >
 >