Re: overquenched spark gap?

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: FutureT@xxxxxxx 

David,

Generally a spark gap cannot overquench in the classical sense
of a gap quenching too quickly.  The best you can hope for
is adequate quenching.

So-called cases of "overquenching" are generally due to the
following.  Folks have
added so many series gaps, or ran their electrode spacings
too wide, and this made it difficult for the gaps to fire.  This
gives erratic operation.  In the case of static gap "overquenching"
due to air blasts or fans being used.... the same thing is true.
The air flow prevents or makes it difficult for the gap to fire
steadily.  If you define "overquenching" as "preventing the
gap from firing steadily"... then it's true this is something that can
occur.

In general a tighter coupling likes to see a better quenching
although it's generally not too critical.  Tighter coupling will
transfer the initial energy to the secondary faster and generally
gives longer sparks if racing sparks can be avoided.  However
a tight coupling may result in more round trips of the energy
from primary to secondary.  Loose coupling will burn up
more energy in the primary before the initial energy is transfered,
usually resulting in shorter sparks.

In some cases where extra series gaps are not used, and
if the rotary is slow turning with thick rotary electrodes,
the gaps may fire more than one time while the electrodes
are aligned.  This results in inefficient operation.

Certain adjustments of the ballast inductance can give a
bad power factor and seem to make the coil inefficient.
A true wattmeter reading compared to a voltmeter/ammeter
reading will show if this is happening.

John