RE: High Voltage Power Arc

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Jim Mora" <jmora@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Chris,

I think it was Bert Hickman that first posted this awesome clip. I seem to
remember there was some cross phase or switch failure. Bert?
Jim Mora


-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 4:44 PM
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: High Voltage Power Arc

Original poster: "Chris Rutherford" <chrismrutherford@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi All,

I put this vid on youtube and someone asked me what caused the
ark.  I replied but I'm not sure if I gave the correct answer, does
anyone have a more accurate description?

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sngLL29LH14>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s
ngLL29LH14

When you get to high voltages i.e. 50KV with lots of inductive load
(long wires) its not a case of switching off the power because the
current doesn't want to stop. When the circuit is broken a back EMF
is generated that breaks down the air and causes an ark. Eventually
the back EMF decreases and there isn't enough voltage or current to
keep the air in its conducting state.

Thanks

Chris