RE: TC Spark Energy

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

Original poster: "Lau, Gary" <gary.lau-at-hp-dot-com> 

Very true.  But the problem is accurately identifying the gap breakdown 
voltage.  I'm not sure just stating that "the gaps were set so they just 
barely fire with just the NST connected"  would be useful.

Gary Lau
MA, USA


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
  >   >
  >   > --------------------------------
  >   >
  >   >
  >   >
  >
  >
  >