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Re: Capacitor Help (spark gap)



Original poster: "Barton B. Anderson" <bartb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Malcolm,

Also, when building the gap, try to keep the distance between each segment as identical as possible. I use epoxy as well for static gap electrodes. It's probably the easiest method to ensure identical gap widths. I let each gap cure before adding the next. I use a feeler gauge and let the new gap cure with the gauge in place (I arrange vertically and the electrode weight and gravity keep the force against the feeler gauge until cured). I just finished a static gap using polished solid brass 1/2" round stock. A little more expensive than copper tubing, but something I wanted to try. On the plus side of solid brass was being able to drill and tap an 8-32 hole in the end for a secure connection.

BTW, the reason I like to keep individual gaps identical is for "even" heat exchange between the electrodes themselves which also requires a decent cooling system that cools each electrode the same. To accommodate that particular need, I arranged these in a vacuum gap so that the air is sucking only through the individual gaps (if you can imagine that). I've hooked up a small 4.5" coil with a 12/60 NSt last night. Hopefully, I get a chance to play tonight.

Take care,
Bart

Tesla list wrote:

Original poster: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>

If your total gap is even close to 1/2", you're walking on thin ice.
While the gap separation of a multi-cylinder gap isn't easily varied
like in your 2 bolt gap, it must still be set by using more or less
individual segments.  Just as with the bolt gap, the number of segments
must be chosen so it just barely fires when just the NST is connected.
Using more or wider gaps will no doubt improve performance, but at your
NST's peril.

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

> Original poster: "MalcolmTesla" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Thank you for the suggestion.  The sum of my gaps was probably not
more than
> 1/2" but I didn't measure it exactly.  I like the idea of going to
even
> smaller gaps and spacing them over even more surface area.  I'm going
to do
> that.
>
> Thanks
> Malcolm - KC