Re: Spark gap metals

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "david baehr" <dfb25@xxxxxxxxxxx>


I have used copper pipe up to 5kva with good performance, ...these were 2" 
dia , 'bout 4" long . cooled with four muffin fans.........

>From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: Spark gap metals
>Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2005 15:24:00 -0600
>
>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
>
>