RE: gmheicslr --- uh oh...once again!

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

Original poster: "Steven Ward" <srward16-at-hotmail-dot-com> 

I actually did achieve over 13" sparks from a HEIC, but it was not the 
spec'd one, so i will not try and claim anything on that, other than i 
think its possible to get more ;-).

Anyway, about solid state stuff, check this out:

http://hot-streamer-dot-com/srward16/HVpulser.htm

So far my best spark is 5" from a normal "can" type coil with the core 
still in it ;)  The charging voltage was 1200V on that shot.  The sidacs 
are used as a solid state spark gap.  On the 5" spark i had 5 series 240V 
1Arms 20Apk sidacs.  The coil then broke down on the plastic insulator on 
the top of the coil.  I also got 7" between 2 coils easily.  This is a 
minimal effort project that i put together in literally a few 
minutes.  When i happen across a REAL HE coil, i will remove the core and 
start over using sidacs this time ;).  Until then, im still playing with 
IGBTs and real TCs ;)

Steve


>From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: gmheicslr --- uh oh...once again!
>Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 07:43:48 -0700
>
>Original poster: Brett Miller <brmtesla2-at-yahoo-dot-com>
>
>John et. all,
>
>Actually the General Motors High Energy Ignition Coil
>Spark Length Record (GMHEICSLR) involved the actual
>breaking of a world record for the longest spark
>produced by a Wells C834 (or OEM replacement part)
>Ignition coil.  The coil was around 18 dollars and
>work directed toward beating Terry's record (which he
>has held for some time and still holds -- along with
>me now) could get expensive quickly since it usually
>involved destructive failure of several coils.
>
>Terry will correct me if I'm wrong, but since the
>contest was also a world record, it was (and still is)
>open to all, not just members of the TCML.  If you
>have the time and money, go for the gold!  There is a
>message in the archives documenting my tie with Terry
>after atmospheric pressure differences were taken into
>account.  I achived several single shot point to point
>arcs measured around 11.75 (possibly 12) inches, and
>after atmospheric differences between our respective
>altitudes were considered, it was declared a tie and
>Terry mailed me the trophy for my turn.  I would be
>glad to mail it out to anyone that can best our spark
>lengths.  The rules are still probably on Sam's site,
>but I haven't checked in a while.
>
>http://www.powerlabs-dot-org/gmheicslr.htm
>
>Terry has a really good idea about this, and I have a
>few myself, but right now I haven't the time or the
>money to put something together.  Maybe I will later
>on in the coming months.  Regardless, it would be
>really fun to see someone breath fire into this
>mothballed contest.  I'm sure it will happen sooner or
>later and result in some real fun.
>
>In the meantime, here's the gap I constructed using
>1/8 inch tungsten rod, lexan, and a couple of bolts
>from the junk box:
>
>http://hot-streamer-dot-com/brett/gmheicslr/pics/tungsten_gap.jpg
>
>In this photo you can see my 1st setup easily firing a
>discharge across an 8 inch gap.  Notice the apparent
>slight flourescence on the lexan frame of the spark
>gap in the lower left hand corner of the pic:
>
>http://hot-streamer-dot-com/brett/gmheicslr/pics/8inch2.jpg
>
>Here's a different 8 inch arc, this time zoomed in a
>bit...note the branching there, in the single shot
>discharge.
>
>Ok, well maybe this will be "cool" enough to some
>people to provoke motivation toward trying to win this
>thing.  I would say that a lot of research needs to be
>done toward determining an optimum topload (I think
>Sam mentioned that years ago, but never followed up).
>Manly though, I think given the characteristics of
>this coil, a radical decision to abandon traditional
>TC (disruptive) tank circuit design in favor of solid
>state development might be advantageous...like in the
>OLTC direction if you catch my drift.  Uh oh.  I may
>have just given away some secrets here.  Terry and I
>had a brief email discussion about this, but it seemed
>as though he was busy with his own stuff, so I dare
>say we both won't be getting to the gmheicslr any time
>soon.
>
>In any case...my intention was that *someone* out
>there is carrying an interest that will be piqued by
>this message.
>
>Best Wishes.
>
>-Brett    KI4DBK
>http://www.hot-streamer-dot-com/brett
>
>--- Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:
> > Original poster: "John Richardson" <jprich-at-up-dot-net>
> >
> > Hi Dan,
> >
> > I believe that Terry and Sam Barros had a friendly
> > competition going on a
> > while back.  Check out www.powerlabs-dot-org and there
> > is some mention of it.
> >
> > John Richardson