Re: Spark Gap Firing?

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Mddeming@xxxxxxx 

In a message dated 5/17/06 9:38:11 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
Original poster: "Gerry  Reynolds" <gerryreynolds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Matt,

I just wanted to mention that a safety gap directly across the tank
cap is a good way to destroy the cap cause there is nothing to limit
the current if that safety gap were to fire.  When the main gap or
normally placed safety gap fires, the TC primary inductance will help
determine the max current from the tank cap (Imax = Vmax/sqrt
(Lp/Cp)).  The normally placed safety gap (in parallel with the main
gap lets say) will also protect the tank cap from resonant
rise.  Short of a secondary arc to the MMC, the voltage across the
tank cap can never get larger than the voltage across the normally
placed safety gap.

Gerry R.



>Original poster: Mddeming@xxxxxxx
>  A few folks also put a safety gap across the tank cap for the same reason.

Hi Gerry,

    That must be why only a few folks do it that way.

Mat D.