Re: uestion

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: robert heidlebaugh <rheidlebaugh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Medina: The smother your toroid the better, but a drier duct is not smooth
and works fairly well. I have used 2 mixing bowls, A 5 ft sea bouy ( much to
large to power) mini beer kegg. and full sized beer keg. The rounded ends of
a beer works well even though the shape is not a toroid it holds a charge
well.
    Robert   H
--


> From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 08:08:08 -0600
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: uestion
> Resent-From: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Resent-Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 08:09:51 -0600 (MDT)
>
> Original poster: "Gerald  Reynolds" <gerryreynolds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hi Ben,
>
>
> Original poster: "Medina, Benjamin (UMR-Student)" <bamxbb@xxxxxxx>
>
> 1. When tuning (at low power and with a target next to the toroid) is there
> a max spark length one can get? Is there a mathematical equation for this?
> I've seen the following eqn, but I imagine it does not apply to the sparks
> obtained when tuning your TC.
>
> spark length (inches) = 1.7*­ input power (watts)
>
> I think you mean 1.7 * sqrt (real input power - watts)
>
>
>
> 2. We know that the important thing on the toroid is for the surface to be
> smooth. If there are rough spots or small openings on the Al duct, we'll
> see streamers radiating out from there instead of other places, correct?
>
> Where I am going is, can I control how the streamers spark out (pattern)?
> For example; from a lot random sparks at random locations on the toroid, to
> a few large sparks at certain locations on the toroid, to one big spark on
> one "main" spot on the toroid.
>
> You can control the place of breakout using a sharp breakout point (like a
> tack or nail).  This will direct the streamers in one direction like if you
> are trying to get a long spark.
>
>
>
> 3. With the NST connected in parallel to the SG (rest of the ckt components
> disconnected), what happens to the both components if I keep increasing the
> input voltage to the NST more and more and more (as I turn turn the knob on
> the variac) once the gap has fired across? I am asking before I try this,
> in case something might blow up.   :-)
>
> This is fine, you wont blow anything up.  The NST's are current limited and
> with the capacitance removed, there wont be any resonances.  This is the
> way to set your safety gap (if you have one) to just not fire at maximum
> variac setting.
>
>
>
> 4. Do the losses in my wiring diminish the voltage at the topload? In other
> words, if I have shorter wires can I get to see longer streamers?
>
> Well, yes.  Any reduction in losses will help.  The real question is, is
> this significant considering other losses.
>
>
>
> 5. This is regarding when the air across the gap ionizes. What is the
> overall effect if I do not have a muffin/blower fan across my gap? The
> temperature will be high and will it try to complete the ckt all the time?
>
> The ionized gas and hot electrode will hurt quenching.  Better if you blow
> the ionized gas out of the gap and cool the electrode at the same time.
> Lack of good quenching will allow energy that has just been transfered into
> the secondary to flow back to the primary.
>
> Good luck Ben,
>
> Gerry R.
>
>
>
>