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RE: DC power on Tesla Secondary - Nasty Arcs



Original poster: "Lau, Gary" <gary.lau-at-hp-dot-com> 

The caps were .01uF/100KV each, and I think the transformer for the base 
supply was an OBIT, 10KV/23mA, doubled, delivering roughly 20KV DC.

But as Brian pointed out, I have to wonder if DC or even a doubler is 
necessary?  Seems if you powered the base with AC right off a MOT, once the 
streamer is formed by the usual process, all one needs is a hefty (albeit 
LETHAL) AC supply to light up that streamer.  The timing between the static 
gap-governed normal secondary process and the synchronous AC applied to the 
base may provide some interesting interplay.

Gary Lau
MA, USA




Original poster: Bert Hickman <bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-net>

Hi Dan,

That gentleman was Lou Balint, a very experienced and knowledgeable East
Coast coiler. Lou connected two Fair Radio 0.1 uF 100 kV caps in series in
a voltage doubling configuration. These "hot" end of the capacitor chain
was connected to the base of the secondary so, elevating the base of the
secondary to a DC potential of 30 or 40 kVDC (I don't remember which). The
"low" side of the capacitor chain was connected to RF ground. The polarity
of the coil base could be switched to provide either a positive or negative
HVDC bias to the secondary. This allowed the secondary to be AC coupled to
ground through the caps while also permitting a DC bias to be added to the
RF output. Once a streamer connected to a hard ground, the HV capacitors
were able to discharge through the ionized path, making for very loud (and
dangerous) discharges. You certainly wouldn't want that nasty discharge
hitting either you or your unprotected primary winding.

Best regards,

-- Bert --