Re: THOR: First observations on streamer formation (try II)

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

Original poster: "Gerry Reynolds" <gerryreynolds-at-earthlink-dot-net> 



I not sure I believe the equation either.  It takes power to make long
streamers.  Seems like one can make the secondary voltage arbitrarily large
by making the top load arbitrarily small, ie:  Vtop = Vp * sqrt (Cp/Ctop).
Of course as the top load is made smaller, the breakout voltage gets smaller
as well.  Maybe to really get that topload voltage, one needs a topload of
certain dimensions that has a certain capacitance and requires a certain Cp
to generate.  A certain power is then required to drive the certain Cp.  So
now I'm not sure I don't believe the equation?????

You go figure,
Gerry R.




 > Original poster: DRIEBEN-at-midsouth.rr-dot-com
 >
 > Hi all,
 >
 > I'm not sure exactly how this equation is to be applied, but I thought
 > the lateset thinking was that the spark length is a non-linear function
 > of the voltage output of Tesla coils. We all know that spark length vs
 > voltage is affected by a number of factors (electrode shape, frequency,
 > atmospheric conditions, ect) so it would seem that it would be about im-
 > possible to guage the output voltage of a Tesla coil strictly by its
 > output spark length. John Freau's formula states that the spark length
 > is directly proportional to the square of the input POWER, not the volt-
 > age, and empirical evidence seems to verify this (you basically have to
 > quadruple the power input to double the output spark length). Just my
 > thoughts.
 >
 > David Rieben
 >
 > ----- Original Message -----
 > From: Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Date: Sunday, March 14, 2004 10:37 am
 > Subject: Re: THOR: First observations on streamer formation (try II)
 >
 >  > Original poster: "Gerry Reynolds" <gerryreynolds-at-earthlink-dot-net>
 >  >
 >  > Hi John,
 >  >
 >  > Something is puzzling me about this equation.  Lets assume that
 >  > one has a 30
 >  > inch spark.  65*30^.7 = 703 volts ??? or is the equation meant to
 >  > expressvoltage in KV.  Also, is the equation 65 * (inches^.7) or
 >  > (65*inches)^.7The latter would yield 201 volts or would that be 201KV
 >  >
 >  > Gerry R
 >  >
 >  > > Original poster: "John H. Couture" <couturejh-at-mgte-dot-com>
 >  > >
 >  > >
 >  > > In the Tesla Coil Construction Guide there is a graph showing
 >  > Voltage vs
 >  > > Spark length. It is based on the equation
 >  > >
 >  > >    Secondary voltage = 65 x inches^0.7
 >  > >
 >  > > This is based on past coiler data and is for continuous sparks
 >  > from the
 >  > > toroid to a ground point. It appears to work OK but I would
 >  > like to bring
 >  > it
 >  > > up to date if it needs changing.
 >  > > John Couture
 >  >
 >  >
 >  >
 >
 >