Re: Safety Gap =

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

Original poster: Esondrmn-at-aol-dot-com 

In a message dated 2/9/04 7:17:27 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:

A safety gap would have saved my commercial caps from being overvolted due 
to unwanted (and unknown) 60 hz resonance in the primary.  I replaced the 
caps and add a properly set safety gap (across the cap at first) and it 
fired like a high powered rifle with the variac set to only about 75%.  I 
fixed the resonance problem and now use a safety gap across the rotary gap 
- does not fire now - but is much easier on the caps if it ever needs to.

Ed Sonderman

>Hi Gary,
>(you knew I'd reply, didn't you),
>
>Tesla list wrote:
>
> >Original poster: "Gary  Weaver" <gary350-at-earthlink-dot-net>
> >If you adjust the safety gap so it won't fire then it doesn't do anything so
> >why have it.
>
>1) If static gap:
>     a) accidently adjusted too wide.
>     b) electrodes wore down (not realizing mass is a good thing).
>     c) accidently mis-wired something.
>     d) I didn't care about C, it's too small, threw 10,000VA to it, burned
>up within seconds.
>     e) being human, mistakes happen, sometimes costly.
>
>2) If rotary gap:
>     a) forgot to turn motor on before powering up system.
>     b) something odd occurs with the disc.
>     c) rotary adjusted too wide.
>     d) accidently mis-wired something.
>     e) being human, mistakes happen, sometimes costly.
>
>Pretty much, because "?" happens when we least expect it, and a choke isn't
>going to save a cap or tranny from these "?".
>I use one because I'm prone to error. Probably a good idea for new coilers
>as well I expect. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that screws up now
>and then.
>
>But Gary, I understand your reasoning.
>
>Take care,
>Bart
>
> >   If you adjust the safety gap so it fires then it takes power
> >away from your coil and the discharge sparks get shorter don't want that
> >either.  A choke coil provides all the protection needed to protect the
> >transformer from feedback so the safety gaps are a waste of time.
> >
> >Gary Weaver