RE: TC Spark Energy

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

Original poster: "Malcolm Watts" <m.j.watts-at-massey.ac.nz> 

Hi Gary,

On 9 Mar 2004, at 20:34, Tesla list wrote:

 > Original poster: "Lau, Gary" <gary.lau-at-hp-dot-com>
 >
 > Since John is asking about Joules, this implies he is talking about
 > single-shot operation.  While this may be useful for quantifying
 > efficiency in that mode of operation, single-shot operation is not
 > something most of us are equipped to do.  A DC power supply is needed.
 >
 > Gary Lau
 > MA, USA

It actually isn't all that hard to get close with a mains-resonant
cap/NST combo and a variac slowly turned up until the gap just fires
occasionally.

Malcolm

 >
 > Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance-at-jvlnet-dot-com>
 >
 >
 >
 > Perhaps we can all supply John with some data from each of our coils
 > and he could do a tabulation and find an average or statistical value.
 >
 > Dr. Resonance
 >
 >   >
 >   >
 >   > For over twenty years the coilers on the List have used output
 >   spark
 > length
 >   > to compare their coils. The input is usually shown as a total
 >   input
 > watts.
 >   > The problem is that this does not give the coiler any indication
 >   of
 > the
 >   > actual energy per spark to give a true comparison of Tesla coils.
 >   To
 > my
 >   > knowledge no coiler (see below) has ever determined the TC input
 > energy
 >   > (joules) per spark for these comparisons. Do any coilers know how
 > this could
 >   > be best accomplished?
 >   >
 >   > The overall engineering efficiency is represented by
 >   >
 >   >     Percent efficiency = 100 x Spark Length/Input Energy (joules)
 >   > > The spark length could be in centimeters, inches, etc, and the
 >   input
 > energy
 >   > in joules or watt-seconds. The energy in the spark output is a
 > complex
 >   > parameter so would have to be a compromise. In past postings the
 > approximate
 >   > losses in the TC system have been determined and the
 >   characteristics
 > of
 > the
 >   > spark have been estimated. The preliminary tests I have made gave
 > 8.5
 >   > inches (21.59 cm) per joule of input energy. Has any other coiler
 > made these
 >   > tests?
 >   >
 >   > John Couture
 >   >
 >   > --------------------------------
 >   >
 >   >
 >   >
 >
 >
 >