Re: Zener SSTC?

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

Original poster: "Nick Miller" <nickstuffinc-at-hotmail-dot-com> 


what about using ne2 neon bulbs for a oltc?

>From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: Re: Zener SSTC?
>Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 07:40:57 -0700
>
>Original poster: Jan Wagner <jwagner-at-cc.hut.fi>
>
>Hi,
>
>On Thu, 15 Jan 2004, Tesla list wrote:
> > Original poster: Chris Roberts <quezacotl_14000000000000-at-yahoo-dot-com>
> >
> > Hi everybody,
> > We all know that a conventional tesla coil uses a spark gap that fires and
> > switches the current whenever the voltage builds high enough, but has
> > anybody ever thought about using zener diodes to replace the spark gap?
> > Zeners do the exact same thing, but allow you to fire more reliably,
> > (wouldn't have to worry much about misfires) and I would think that they
> > wouldn't have as many losses related to them either.
>
>Zeners don't act as switches. They clamp reverse voltages, so even if the
>reverse voltage accross a 12V-Zener tries to go to 15V, the Zener clamps
>it to 12V.
>
>  http://www.americanmicrosemi-dot-com/tutorials/zener.htm
>
>A sidac/sidactor or diac comes closer to a spark gap "replacement" - if
>there were any real high power diacs around. Silicon fast HV
>switches/spark gaps aren't as simple&cheap to build and as indestructible
>as standard spark gap...
>
>regards,
>  - Jan
>
>--