Re: Static gap design...

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

Original poster: Gregory Hunter <ghunter31014-at-yahoo-dot-com> 

The 2500vac means you need a very narrow gap to get
the thing to fire. The MOT runs at relativly high
current. No wonder your gap is getting hot: this is a
recipe for an arc lamp!

To quench a low voltage, high current supply like a
MOT or a MOT stack, I suggest you try a heavy-duty
sucker gap with large copper electrodes. The copper
sinks a lot of heat, and the forced air promotes
quenching and helps remove heat.

http://hot-streamer-dot-com/greg/vacgap.htm

Another point--without the secondary in place, the
energy in your tank circuit has no way to escape
except as heat via the spark gap! You won't have a
true picture of how your spark gap performs until you
try in in an actual working Tesla coil

Cheers,

--- Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:
 > Original poster: "Hydrogen18"
 > <hydrogen18-at-hydrogen18-dot-com>
 >
 > Whats the best design? I was experimenting with
 > 1/4-20 bolts, a 6.8 pf
 > capacitor and a 7 turn air core coil in the typical
 > tesla arrangement
 > powered by a 2500 VAC MOT. Even when cooled by 2
 > 120mm fans turning at an
 > insanely high RPM it would glow red hot within
 > seconds. What am I doing
 > wrong? Will a higher voltage help it run cooler? or
 > do I just need more
 > airflow? Also, can I see the gap "quench" with my
 > own eyes? I notice when I
 > add the capacitor and coil to the circuit it gets
 > much brighter and VERY
 > loud, so I'm guessing it is doing its job. Any ideas
 > or tips?
 >
 >
 >


=====
Gregory R. Hunter

http://hot-streamer-dot-com/greg