Re: tesla history

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

Original poster: "Virtualgod" <mike.marcum-at-zoomtown-dot-com> 

My guess in the old days the lossy materials available at the time was the
main reason for the shorter sparks. Most modern coils that don't follow the
1.7(sqrrt(watts)) formula are either just out of tune or are designed for
power (bright sparks) as opposed to max length. Speaking of that, how does
one design for bright sparks? Does it always have to sacrifice length? I
can't seem to find a spark-length formula for that one since everyone
(except the pro museum/special effects guys) goes for length.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 4:38 PM
Subject: tesla history


 > Original poster: "Godfrey Loudner" <ggreen-at-gwtc-dot-net>
 >
 > In the old days of coiling, there was access to big transformers
 > and rather large glass caps. Yet the old pictures of tesla coils
 > in action do not generally show long and hot steamers. Of course
 > N. Tesla is pictured with big streamers. Is my perception an
 > illusion caused by the limitations of early photography or did
 > the old designs place serious limitations on performance.
 >
 > Even in more recent times, a tesla coil demonstrated in
 > "Physics Demonstration Experiments, Vol. II, 1970, Harry Meiners,
 > page 1004", is pushed by a 15kv, 120ma NST and makes 30 inch
 > sparks. It seems like coilers now do much better with such
 > a NST.
 >
 > Godfrey Loudner
 >
 >
 >