RE: Safety gap - setting

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "david baehr" <dfb25@xxxxxxxxxxx>


I would think to set it when powering up using  the Variac,..just my 
2cents........................





From:  "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To:  tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject:  Safety gap - setting
Date:  Sun, 03 Dec 2006 09:54:13 -0700
>Original poster: otmaskin5@xxxxxxx
>
>I just finished rebuilding & resetting my safety gap, but I'm not
>sure I got it right.  Basically I set the gap so it just barely
>wouldn't fire at full 130v variac setting.  I tested the setting by
>dialing the variac from 0v to 130v pretty much the way I would do it
>if I were actually starting up the tesla coil.
>
>My question is this.  When I already had the variac set at 130v &
>then hit the "on" switch, the safety gap would fire.  This abrupt
>powering up would fire the gap at settings that would not fire when
>I gradually dialed up the voltage to max.  To get the gap so it
>wouldn't fire when I powered it up abruptly, it required a much
>wider setting.
>
>Which of the 2 methods to test gap setting is correct - abrupt full
>power or gradual dial up?  Thx for any suggestions.  Dennis
>Hopkinton MA
>
>