From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: cap/spark gap
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 15:04:13 -0600
Original poster: Mddeming@xxxxxxx
In a message dated 4/12/06 11:41:36 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
Original poster: "Michael Ong" <omenowner725@xxxxxxxxxxx>
hello, i just had a quick question that i hoped someone could answer
out there. i have view many tesla coil schematics and it seems like
there are two ways of hooking the capacitor and spark gap. some
schematics show that the spark gap is in parallel with the
transformer and then the cap is hooked in series with the transformer
and primary coil. others show the cap being in parallel with the
transformer and the spark gap being in series with the transformer
and primary coil. i was wondering what the difference in performance
was. is one way (spark gap in parallel with the transformer) for
center tapped transformers while the other way is for non ceter
tapped ones? or does it really not matter? thanks again for all your
help, with it i have gotten my first coil to shoot some 14" sparks
and am making an tcbor gap so hopefully will get even better.
Hi Michael,
While either way does work, having the gap across the transformer
puts MUCH less stress on the transformer. The reason for this is
that at the time of peak RF voltages the gap acts as a nearly short
circuit across the transformer, keeping MOST of the RF energy out of
the transformer windings. A few people do it the other way and some
transformers have survived, but like chain smoking and other
unprotected practices, the life expectancy curve for this
transformer population (especially NSTs) is MUCH steeper.
Hope this helps,
Matt D.