Re: Frequency Splitting (Was: Tc first start)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Antonio Carlos M. de Queiroz" <acmdq@xxxxxxxxxx>

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "D.C. Cox" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>
>
> After coeff. of coupling increases past it's "critical value" the 
> single resonant frequency  of the secondary begins to split apart 
> into two separate frequencies.  This means the HV is not achieved at 
> the very top of the coil but at some point lower in the sec windings 
> which causes flashovers and racing sparks.  As an example, a typical 
> 4 inch dia. sec coil should be elevated above the primary coil (flat 
> spiral) by 2 inches.  Larger coils require even more elevation for 
> best performance.
> You can experiment by using small blocks of wood to elevate your sec 
> coil in 1/2 inch increments until best output spark is 
> achieved.  Using Bob Svangren's (ref TCBA Newsletters) segmented HV 
> sparkgap provides excellent measurement of these small increases 
> that might not be noticeable to the human eye.
> An excellent description of this is in the ARRL Radio Amateur's 
> Handbook available in any local library.  Study this in detail.

I'm sorry, but this is incorrect. Any reasonable Tesla coil operates
deep into the region where two very distinct resonances can be observed.
Actually, there are always two different resonances when two resonant
tanks are coupled in any way. What happens is that if the losses are
really big the two peaks merge in a single peak, if you try to find them
with a frequency sweep. The two resonances are what causes the beats
during the energy transfer.
The splitting is due to the presence of the two coupled systems, primary
and secondary, and has no relation with the other resonances of the secondary
coil.

Antonio Carlos M. de Queiroz