Re: Simple Spark Gap Designs

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

Original poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net> 

Dr. R has some great suggestions.. I'd just add that I'm a big fan of the
"two or three copper pipe couplings in parallel gap". Easy to adjust,
practically free (if you can find someone who will give you some 2" long
scraps of 3/4" or bigger pipe), and easy to cool with a fan blowing along
the axis of the pipes.
Much less tricky to adjust than the carriage bolt head variety.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 6:05 AM
Subject: Re: Simple Spark Gap Designs


 > Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance-at-jvlnet-dot-com>
 >
 >
 > If you're on a high school budget (I been there and understand) carriage
 > bolt heads work quite well with the rounded heads facing each other.  5/16
 > or 3/8 inch size work.  Use a simple metal "L" shaped bracket to support
 > them off an insulator.  A double nut allows adjustment and locking of the
 > sparkgap.  They will wear away but at less than 12 cents each, replacement
 > is no problem.
 >
 > For your setup two or three such sparkgaps connected in series should work
 > well.  Keep the total gap at less than 0.180 inches (use 0.100 total for
 > initial tuneup) for use with most NST's.  With three gaps, use .180/3 =
.060
 > inch setting for each gap.
 >
 > Sometimes a small 70-100 muffin fan (surplus -- cheap) placed behind the
 > gaps provides additional cooling and quenching.  You can experiment with
 > this and use the fan if it works for best spark output.
 >