Re: SRSG Alignment Drift?

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

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

In a message dated 1/20/04 1:02:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:
Original poster: "K Wilson" <teslamap-at-hotmail-dot-com>

I'm in the process of designing my first SRSG. I was wondering if there
will be a need to perform frequent re-alignments. Could I get away with
manually aligning the electrodes once, then fixing the electrodes and motor
in place? Avoiding rotating motor mounts or electrodes will simplify the
design a bit.
Thanks,
Kevin Wilson

Hi Kevin,
     The final answer to your question is Maybe. Any system with rotating 
parts subject to vibration is going to need some periodic adjustment. 
(Think automobile timing belt) How frequently depends on how close to 
perfectly balanced, smooth running, tight fitting, and subject to wear your 
particular components are. Will your coil be semi-permanently installed in 
a workshop/lab/garage/barn, or will you be bouncing it monthly across 
country in a pickup truck to various Teslathons, demos, etc.? Will you be 
treating it like a classic show car or a Baja buggy? All of these 
parameters affect your particular answer.
     This is a good case for using a phase-shift controller. The more 
electronic adjustment you have, the less frequent mechanical adjustment you 
need.

Matt D.