Re: Spark gap metals

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Steve,

It depends on how much power one puts through the gap.  Most of us with 
smaller NST coils can get away with copper pipe just fine.  But if you pump 
say  5000W though them (500mA) then the copper tends to just burn 
up.  Tungsten gaps can also run a very long time without gap wear so many 
people just like it since it last so long without worry.  You can also run 
small gaps very hot with it which is sometimes nice.

Cheers,

        Terry



At 01:13 PM 4/10/2005, you wrote:
> Why are ya'll so concerned about the metal your spark gaps are made of?
> As long as your the metal has enough surface area( to radiate heat) and 
> you keep blowig air on it(like with a muffin man... I mean fan), it won't 
> melt and it would be fine.
> You could even make a fine spark gap by replacing the copper pipes or 
> tungsten rods with old heat sinks from scrap computers.Besides, isn't 
> tungsten expensive?
> Trust me, I may be new at this, but I can tell you that fan cooled heat 
> sinks or at least copper pipe(the longer the better) will do just as good, 
> if not better, than tungsten rods.
> Also, the tungsten rods have less surface area than a copper pipe and 
> therefore more likely to get really hot, and even though tungsten cand 
> stand more heat, it doesn't need to as long as you cool it right. Tungsten 
> rods are just a waste of money and tungsten.
>
>                    Steven Steele