Re: "SSTC" Reliability

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

Original poster: "S&JY" <youngsters-at-konnections-dot-net> 

I see my original question was interpreted more literally than I intended.
I meant the term "SSTC" to be generic - a semiconductor based (solid state)
Tesla Coil (to include DRSSTC and their ilk), not a particular architecture.

Dr. Resonance & others successfully build spark gap TCs that can run at
science museums & other places with very minimal maintenance.  I presume
most maintenance would be occassional adjustment of the spark gap, or
replacement of electrodes now and then, and wiping off the evaporated
electrode deposits nearby.  This could be done by the museum staff.

Would someone ever be able to place a semiconductor-based coil in a facility
without incurring high specialized maintenance costs, or putting IGBTs in a
machine-gun ammo belt arrangement, or whatever?  My guess is today the
reliability is too low and maintenance costs would soon eat up any profit
and would be beyond the skills of museum staff.  Maybe in 5 years or so we
can learn how to achieve spark gap reliability with semiconductors?
Besides, the bright noisy spark gaps probably have more audience appeal.

--Steve


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 8:22 AM
Subject: RE: SSTC Reliability


 > Original poster: "Aron Koscho" <kc5uto-at-wt-dot-net>
 >
 > Hi Steve,
 >
 >
 > As Terry and Steve W. have said, it would have to be thoroughly over
 > designed. Also, a project of that magnitude would not be inexpensive.
 >
 > However, I do believe it's possible given the right amount of
 > time/money/expertise. There are several key factors to getting more than
 > two feet out of a traditional SSTC such as frequency, component ratings,
 > heat dissipation, and circuit protection. When I first achieved 36" with
 > 7kw the system became unstable and nuked its self in less than two runs.
 > After adding fairly complex protection and a large heatsink/fan it
 > became more reliable. Still, the best topologies for a large system
 > would seem to be the "DRSSTC". Regardless of the chosen topology more
 > work needs to be done concerning coil efficiencies, peak currents, and
 > component cooling.
 >
 > Bottom line, it can be done and hopefully some will do it:)
 >
 > -Aron
 >
 >
 >
 >