Re: DRSSTC eye candy (sparks)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "colin heath" <colin.heath4@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

wow steve!!!!!,
                        that is seriously impressive. looks like reliability
is becoming better all the time in these coils also.
i think im gonna have to build a full bridge for mine you have inspired me.
cheers
colin

----- Original Message -----
From: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 12:20 AM
Subject: DRSSTC eye candy (sparks)


> Original poster: Steve Ward <steve.ward@xxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hey guys,
>
> It was in the low 50's (temp) today  so i cleaned up the garage a bit
> and brought my DRSSTC out there for a run.  I was happy to see it
> pegging 5' and reaching out to 6' whenever it wasnt arcing to
> something closer.  You can see the pictures at the BOTTOM of this
> page:
>
> http://www.stevehv.4hv.org/DRSSTC1.htm
>
> Just a few notes about this run.  I did blow the 15A fuse twice (the
> fuse was all that failed).  I think this might be partially due to my
> VERY large filtering capacitors (22000uF each, 200V).  The 7.5A variac
> wasnt even warm after a long run, so im a bit skeptical if im really
> using 15A rms.  The peak primary current surged to about 700A during
> stressful "short" arc conditions (like to the strike rail at about 2
> feet).  The longer sparks (most of the connected streamers are at 5'
> length or better) did not trip the OCD.  The sparks out to the wall on
> the left were measured to 67", and i had a few reach out past 6'
> (didnt get any on camera though).  I will have to bring the coil
> outside to see what it can really do... i never reached full input
> voltage.  I was running the coil at 120bps and about 150uS on period
> for about 8.5 cycles.  I found that increasing from 120uS to 150uS
> made a considerable improvement.  I even had it cranked up near 180uS
> at one point where i was getting 5' sparks at maybe 65% input voltage!
>   Pretty much out of room in this garage though, so i will have to wait
> till it gets dark and run it out in the back yard and see where this
> guy tops off for spark length, my guess is about 80" will be the very
> max.
>
> Comments and questions are welcome.
>
> Steve Ward
>
>
>