Re: Spark gap spheres

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Dave" <dgoodfellow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

I don't know whether flat or round surfaces would work better in a 
Marx generator. The hole in the brass pull chain ball gives the ball 
a flat spot. I figure it is the flatness that improves quenching. The 
hole may add wind turbulence when the fan blows on it which might 
also help performance.

Dave
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 11:53 PM
Subject: Re: Spark gap spheres


> Original poster: "Jonathan Peakall" <jpeakall@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Dave,
>
> Any idea why the hole improves the gap? Just curious. In my case I am using
> the spheres for a Marx bank. so the rep rate is real low. Wonder how much
> difference tha makes.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jonathan
> www.madlabs.info
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 9:43 AM
> Subject: Re: Spark gap spheres
>
>
> > Original poster: "Dave" <dgoodfellow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >
> > For spark gaps I like to use brass pull chain balls as found in the
> > ceiling fan department. The balls have a 1/4 inch hole in one side,
> > and at the opposite end of that hole is a smaller hole which is the
> > right size to run an 8-32 tap. The larger hole on the one end makes
> > for a better spark gap than a round ball. I tried to use 1 inch round
> > brass balls on a gap one time, and the performance was miserable. It
> > is important to use flat surfaces for spark gaps.
> >
> > Dave Goodfellow
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 9:21 PM
> > Subject: RE: Spark gap spheres
> >
> >
> > >Original poster: "Rich & DJ" <rdj@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > >
> > >I got mine at Home Depot in the lamp area , where they have the 3/8 27
> > >rod and the switches and lamp parts.
> > >
> > >Rich, from the middle of Missouri
> > >
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx]
> > >Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 5:59 PM
> > >To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> > >Subject: Spark gap spheres
> > >
> > >Original poster: "Jonathan Peakall" <jpeakall@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > >
> > >Hi All,
> > >
> > >I know this has been discussed before, but I don't seem to be able to
> > >find
> > >the posts. Anyway, I need some brass or copper spheres, blind tapped
> > >with
> > >4/40 or 6/32 thread, 3/8" in diameter. I know someone on the 
> list > >posted
> > >a
> > >link for reasonably priced ones. Anyone got that link handy? 
> US$5 is > >the
> > >cheapest I have found so far, and I need 20 or so.
> > >
> > >Thanks
> > >
> > >Jonathan
> > >www.madlabs.info
> > >
> > >
> > >