Re: Question on Variac lighting

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Original poster: "D.C. Cox" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>


It also gets heavily into "spark quality" by the viewer.  At 1.6 x 
Cres (overcapped condition) the sparks will be max but also "stringy 
and singular in nature".  Right at Cres they will be multiple and 
"dance around" a lot. I usually go 1.3 x Cres for a best 
compromise.  I like to see the sparks dancing around a lot not just a 
long single spark off the toroid.  Also using a slightly smaller than 
"max recommended value" of toroid helps the dancing effect.  It's 
really up to what you like best.

Dr. Resonance



> > A question on your point Dr R.  If you're overcapped for the 
> > transformer you have, as with the coiler who posted this question, 
> > and there's not enough mA to to charge the cap fast enough to 
> > produce sparks at low variac settings, does this condition 
> > necessarily hinder top end performance?  Or does it just raise the 
> > point at which the variac setting initially produces sparks?
> >
> > In other words, I don't car whether my coil only lights up at 50% 
> > variac or even higher, can I still potentially get near peak 
> > performance with the variac at or near max with an larger than 
> > needed capacitor?