Re: Spark gap

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Paul B. Brodie" <pbbrodie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

All,
I was planning on using my leaf blower to push air through my TCBOR/Richard 
Quick spark gap. Is this too much airflow? I have 8, 1/2 (0.5) inch copper 
pipes inside a 6" diameter piece of PVC. Also, it looks like I can get in 
one more piece of copper pipe for an even 8 spark gaps. I have been advised 
to set the total, overall gap to 0.2 inches/8 = 0.025 per gap. Of course 
with the brass bolts sticking out the side of the PVC, I can run any number 
of gaps I want from 1 to 8. I was also advised that once the spark gap is 
completed, it is a real BEAR to try to reset the gaps and in fact that once 
it is set and running well, that I should permanently fix the copper pipe 
electrodes with epoxy to keep them from migrating and ruining my setup.

I also have a shop vac that I can use to suck air through the spark gap. 
The shop vac doesn't move nearly as much air as the leaf blower. I am using 
a 15kV 30mA NST. Is this spark gap overkill in the first place or does this 
sound like a good plan? BTW, 21 inch x 4 inch secondary with 1100 turns, 14 
turn 0.25 inch copper tubing primary flat, and 3.5 inch x 15 inch toroid. 
Oh yeah, .01 mF primary cap.

Finally, if I use the spark gap with 8 gaps, do I start off using all 8 
gaps? Or, do I start with one and work my way up as I tune and adjust the coil?

Thanks a bunch.
Paul Brodie
Think Positive
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <<mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <<mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 8:23 PM
Subject: Re: Spark gap

> Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" 
<<mailto:resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>
>
>
> Soda cans are too large.  You need some 1/2 inch OD (3/8 inch ID) straight
> copper pipe --- not tubing which always has some curvature.
>
> You can buy a straight copper pipe at a plumbing shop.  Some shops might
> have some "cut-offs" 2-3 feet long which would be perfect to use for the
> copper tubes.  De-bur the ends with a file and sandpaper to encourage
> sparking along the length of the tube.
>
> You may need a machinist with a milling machine to do the layout for the
> fastener holes --- you want the pipes to be as parallel as possible and a
> mill makes it a snap.  Two fastener holes per tube holds them in perfect
> parallel alignment.  The machine shop instructor at your school can help you
> with this.
>
> 7-8 tubes inside a 6 inch dia. PVC tube with a 75-100 CFM fan below it works
> very wall with a 12/30 or 15/30 xmfr.  Use duct tape to shape the airflow
> from the fan to the tube but keep it away from the HV.
>
> Dr. Resonance
>
>
>
> >
> > Would soda cans make a good replacement for copper pipes in the spark gap?
> > Or should I just go out and buy the pipes? I ask because i'm operating on
> a
> > budget here. I almost just had my school pay for for the capacitors, but
> my
> > parents said that they could afford $54 dollars.( originally we thaught I
> > would need 45 capacitors at about $3 a peice) :) Thanks again Dr.
> Resonance.
> >                                                 Steven Steele
> >
> >
> >
>
>