Re: Safety Gap

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

Original poster: "Gary  Weaver" <gary350-at-earthlink-dot-net> 

Its much better to use 2 choke coils instead of safety gaps.  Connect a
choke between each transformer HV terminal and the spark gap.  Make your own
choke with a 1.5" ID diameter ferrite donut wound with 35 to 40 turns of
insulated #14 house wire.  Very large wire wound resistors make good choke
coils too.  Come to think of it I have a box full of wire would resistors
about 1000 watts or so each that I don't need just incase anyone want some.
I will take $2.00 each plus postage if anyone is intersted.

Gary Weaver

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: Safety Gap


 > Original poster: "Gary  Weaver" <gary350-at-earthlink-dot-net>
 >
 > Forget the safety gaps.  I tried them and decided they are a waste of time
 > and effort.  I have not used a safety gap on any of my coils in probably 4
 > years.  http://home.earthlink-dot-net/~gary350/tc10-4.jpg
 > Gary Weaver
 >
 >
 >
 > ----- Original Message -----
 > From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 9:45 AM
 > Subject: RE: Safety Gap
 >
 >
 >  > Original poster: "Luke" <Bluu-at-cox-dot-net>
 >  >
 >  > The gap I used was not for use as the safety gap.  I was just trying to
 >  > get an idea as to what spacing I did need for the gap.  I knew shape
had
 >  > a little to do with it but didn't think that much.
 >  >
 >  > But for the sake of getting the feel of it, let me ask this.
 >  >
 >  > If I were to use
 >  > 1: standard style main static spark gap consisting of copper pipe
 >  > parallel to each other and spaced at about 0.29" as JavaTC says is
about
 >  > right.
 >  >
 >  > 2: Used a needle gap for a safety gap set at just over 3/4" so gap
 >  > was just large enough to prevent the NST from arcing.
 >  >
 >  > Would the safety gap still perform its task?
 >  > I would assume yes but what are some thoughts on this.
 >  > I do intend to use rounded electrodes in the safety gap but what would
 >  > be the input on the above?
 >  >
 >  > Luke Galyan
 >  > Bluu-at-cox-dot-net
 >  >
 >  > -----Original Message-----
 >  > From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
 >  > Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 3:35 PM
 >  > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 >  > Subject: Re: Safety Gap
 >  >
 >  > Original poster: Bart Anderson <classi6-at-classictesla-dot-com>
 >  >
 >  > Hi Luke,
 >  >
 >  > Absolutely! What you basically have is a needle gap. The influence of
 >  > electrode shape and size plays a major role defining the arc voltage
for
 >  > a
 >  > given gap width. For larger electrodes and the narrow gap spacing used
 >  > for
 >  > the typical spark gap configuration, the numbers should be pretty
close.
 >  >
 >  > The reason is that the electrodes appear planar. But as you start
 >  > decreasing the electrode size where the gap width is larger than the
 >  > electrode size, the shape and curvature come into play. And with that,
 >  > if
 >  > the gap width is "much" larger, the electrodes begin to appear like a
 >  > point
 >  > or needle gap.
 >  >
 >  > Dr. Resonance last year tested flat electrodes with a 30kV supply
 >  > varying
 >  > the gap width and measuring the voltage at which the gap conducted.
 >  > Javatc
 >  > follows those actual arc voltage measurements pretty darn close
 >  > throughout
 >  > it's range. Thanks to Dr. R's measurements, I had some actual data to
 >  > work
 >  > with. However, if a needle gap such as you have set up is used, then
all
 >  >
 >  > bets are off. However, what you have provided here is another good
piece
 >  > of
 >  > information that can be jotted down for review regarding a needle gap
 >  > setup
 >  > with a 15/30 NST could arc across 3/4", which is certainly believable.
 >  >
 >  > Take care,
 >  > Bart
 >  >
 >  > Tesla list wrote:
 >  >
 >  >  >Original poster: "Luke" <Bluu-at-cox-dot-net>
 >  >  >Yup no caps.
 >  >  >Just an NST and a Spark gap.
 >  >  >The spark gap in this case was nothing more than two pieces of copper
 >  >  >wire cut and pointed toward eachother. So it wasn't rounded balls or
 >  >  >anything like that. Does that make a huge difference?
 >  >  >
 >  >  >Luke Galyan
 >  >  >Bluu-at-cox-dot-net
 >  >  >
 >  >  >-----Original Message-----
 >  >  >From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
 >  >  >Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 6:34 PM
 >  >  >....