Re: Gazing Ball top load,....

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Vardan <vardan01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi,

When my ball top load was "too high", I got corona off the top of the 
secondary.  lowering it fixed that.  It "seemed" a bit worse between 
the balls but I could not get my head "too" close to check.  But 
lowering the top fixed it all.  The "pan filling" would probably help 
that, but I like the "spider rod" thing ;-))

Dave's problem (secondary mid section breakouts) calls for fiddling 
just a little with tuning.  If that does not help, then the secondary 
has too much voltage stress.  Of course, "tuning" can lower secondary 
voltage to "seem" to fix it too, but that is "backwards"...  Hard to 
say really.

> Mini Teslathon in Loveland , tonight,..well. Ill try to take some 
> pics anyway...........

Too late of notice, or I would have showed up ;-))  Party hardy!!

Cheers,

        Terry

At 11:13 AM 11/25/2006, you wrote:
> Hi David,
>
> I've really enjoyed your pics. Very nice topload! As I've mentioned 
> with Terry's topload, I suspect there is to be some amount of corona 
> off the top secondary. I know the field stress plots show all is 
> good, but this particular configuration is new construction, so it 
> makes for a good cross check for field plot against reality.
>
> I think you can eliminate the top secondary small sparks by 
> adjusting the topload spheres a little closer inward and/or slightly 
> lower (inward would be my first choice). I still believe a center 
> disc or flat ring to enhance top secondary shielding is a good idea 
> and could even enhance the "coolness" of the look.
>
> Adding the epoxy to the pin holes is a good idea but may not 
> eliminate the breakout. Sounds to me from your description is that 
> the coil could be better tuned from a smooth running perspective. 
> Gerry mentioned a little more L in the primary and I would agree. A 
> little detuning to bring the primary frequency down a few percent is 
> a helpful adjustment and one I think should be tried before anything else.
>
> Take care,
> Bart
>
> Tesla list wrote:
>
> > Original poster: "david baehr" <dfb25@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> >
> > I got a chance to run it at night, now I can see a bit of corona 
> > off the top winding of the sec. Also, had a couple of break out 
> > sparks out the coil, one about half way up, and another about 3/4 
> > of the way up from the bottom, not racing sparks, just very small 
> > ,...maybe from previous damage from months before when I hooked up 
> > a rotary.  I put a little epoxy on thoeses small pin holes on the 
> > sec., hope it helps But the coil is really running well, other than 
> > that.........I didnt notice the small sec . sparks before, With the 
> > smooth balls holding off the breakout a bit more than the dryer 
> > duct , would that put more stress on the secondary winding ??