Safety gap taking over

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

Original poster: "Jeremy Gassmann" <gmann-at-fuse-dot-net> 

Hi everyone!  Last night I had my first light after my first failure.
During the failure, my homemade parallel plate cap internally arced over
so I decided to go the Geek group MMC route.  I will give a quick
rundown of my specs:

PS: 4 - 15 kV 30 mA NST's wired in parallel
Cp: 32 nF Geek group MMC
Terry filter with safety gap set to just NOT fire (safety gap is just 3
brass balls about .5" in diameter)
8 segment static spark gap using 1" copper pipe couplers set to just
fire
Secondary:  980 turns of #23 on a 4.25" diameter PVC form (which I think
is too small given my input power)
Topload: 4.25" x 23" toroid made from black drain pipe covered in Al
foil tape

Here is my problem:
While running the coil, as I turn up the input power the spark gap
begins to fire and as I turn up the voltage more, the safety gap does
the job of the spark gap.  Keep in mind that I set the spark gap to just
fire and the safety gap to just NOT fire.  When I set the spark gap to
just fire, the safety gap was hooked up as well.  Does that change the
breakdown properties of the spark gap?  I would think that it wouldn't,
but I am not sure.  I even bridged a few of the gaps in the spark gap to
reduce the firing voltage but the safety gap sometimes will take over.
I also have my Terry filter safety gap mounted upside down on the
underside of the primary shelf.  I don't know if this would affect
anything or not, but with no load at all, the safety gap acts like a
Jacobs ladder.  Also interesting to note is that when the safety gap
takes over the output still seems really decent...about 4' streamers
once the surrounding air is sufficiently hot.  I also use a leaf blower
to quench the spark gap that seemed to make the safety gap take over
even faster.  Is there too much air flow here?  Sorry for the long post,
but this has me a little confused.  Is the safety gap subject to a sort
of avalanche effect where it fires ones, gets hot then keeps getting
hotter and firing more often until it takes over?  Thanks to all in
advance for your help!  I know it has been stated a lot, but without
this list, there would be significantly fewer successful amateur coilers
out there!

Jeremy Gassmann
Cincinnati, Oh
http://jeremyee.tripod-dot-com