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Re: 600kV voltmeter

Original poster: Bert Hickman <bert.hickman@xxxxxxxxxx>

Tesla list wrote: 
Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>

This procedure has always been shrouded in mystery and overlooked by most
modern physics textbooks, but it's an easy procedure.
The easiest way to measure the sec output is to put a string of diodes in
the HV power supply with a large resistance --- say 5-10 megOhms.  This will
charge the cap slowly and the sparkgap fires once every 5-10 seconds (5RC
time constant to full charge).
This spark length is measured from the toroid to a 7-12 inch ground
terminal.  It may then be compared with the peak DC potential charts in the
Handbook of Chemistry & Physics.  Use the standard impulse generator chart
for best accuracy.
This method has long been overlooked by experimenters but is possible
because the sparklength in a single shot mode is completely independent of
the waveform (Abbdulah's book on HV Engineering).
<Snip>

Hmm... I wonder if the above assumption is really true for increasing amplitude oscillatory RF waveforms seen during secondary ringup. To my knowledge, this case is not covered anywhere in the literature. Most most research involves 50/60 Hz, dual exponential unipolar impulses (1/50 usec, etc), DC, or at best oscillatory discharges superimposed on dual exponential waveforms to simulate utility switching transients.

Let's take the case where initial breakout occurs at the HV sphere at some voltage that is significantly lower than the ultimate peak voltage of the Tesla Coil. In this case, the initial streamer will form at some time prior to the completion of the first ringup, creating a hot conductive leader that cannot (as yet) bridge the entire gap. Wouldn't this be followed by further streamer growth once the terminal voltage rose to the the next (higher) peak? Also, once an increment of charge of one polarity has been injected into the surrounding region, the next voltage should help to further intensify the E-field seen by the streamer tips, perhaps leading to incremental on subsequent peaks until the true peak was reached? The result might be sparks that are still longer (for a given true peak voltage) than that those given in the sphere gap tables. I wonder... :^)

-- Bert --
--