Re: SSG's- a couple questions

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Barton B. Anderson" <bartb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Neal,

A couple thoughts. Your cap should be increased for the 9/180 farm 
for higher energy and your spark gap should be adjusted for the lower 
output from the farm as well as the higher current. To simply hook up 
a farm to a coil which is setup for the 15/60 won't make the coil any better.

Take care,
Bart

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Neal Namowicz" <mr_neal@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hi all, I've been tinkering with coils for a couple years now, as 
> well as following the tcml, but have finally decided to come to you 
> with a couple of questions re: static spark gaps.
> First, I've seen so many configurations that I have to ask; are more 
> gaps preferable for better results, instead of just one or two? Has 
> anyone actually gotten better results (given all else being equal) 
> with X number of multiple gaps? In case you're wondering, I am 
> quenching with a small blower fan. My present SG is using a two gap system.
> Secondly, how "big" can one go with a coil before it'd be advisable 
> to go the rotary gap route, vs. the SSG? By big, I mean, secondary 
> size as well as power input.
> I just had some rather odd, unexpected results with my 4" the other 
> day. I was getting some fairly decent arcs using my single 15kv/60 
> nst, with arcs beginning at as low as 30% input from the variac. So 
> naturally, using the "Tim the toolman Taylor" mentality of more 
> power (ugh-ugh :) I decided to connect my nst farm of 6 (yeah, 6) 
> 9/30's connected in parallel. I started cranking up the power and 
> got nothing 'til I was at about 80%, but the safety gap starting 
> going off on me and the arcs weren't any better, if even as good as 
> with the single 15/60.
> I thank you all in advance for your wisdom and advice, and look 
> forward to your replies.
>
> Neal.