Re: Why am I getting small sparks? Am I underpowered? (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:36:04 -0400
From: Scott Bogard <teslas-intern@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Why am I getting small sparks? Am I underpowered? (fwd)

Trevor,
     I agree, you may very well only need a good fan to quench the gap.  
Another big problem may be your capacitance vs. top load size.  Are you 
using a breakout point?  While I don't drink, and don't recommend emptying a 
bunch more bottles too quickly, you may very well need more capacitance.  
With your power supply, you shouldn't need too much (within the reasonable 
reach of bottle caps) but your secondary/top load combo may want more (given 
their size).  Play with it some, and use a fan of some kind, this will 
almost surely help.  My first light ever gave .25-in sparks to a grounded 
wire (the spark gap was much more exciting!) so don't be discouraged.  
Lastly, I don't think you can really be underpowered, as long as everything 
is in balance, and if you can tune it, it is in balance.  I hope this helps.
Scott Bogard.


>From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: Why am I getting small sparks? Am I underpowered? (fwd)
>Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:54:37 -0600 (MDT)
>
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:48:34 -0400
>From: Crispy <crispy@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Re: Why am I getting small sparks? Am I underpowered? (fwd)
>
>What are the details on your spark gap?  I made a similar coil, and had
>a similar problem.  When I changed the fan to quench the spark gap to a
>more powerful one, spark length improved from around 6" to around 4' .
>
>Chris
>
>On Fri, 2007-08-10 at 12:54 -0600, Tesla list wrote:
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:38:35 +0000
> > From: Trevor Keast <trevor_keast@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Why am I getting small sparks? Am I underpowered?
> >
> > Hi Guys,
> >
> > I managed to reach 'first light' with my coil last night however I was 
>unable to get the spark length that I was hoping for and feel I may be 
>underpowered.
> >
> > A basic overview of my coil is as follows:
> >
> > 6 inch secondary diameter
> > 24 inch secondary length
> > approx 900 windings on secondary (24 AWG magnet wire)
> > 13 Turns on primary made from 1/4 copper tube
> > static spark gap
> > beer bottle cap (14 bottles)
> > 15,000V 30mA NST
> > 4 inch dryer tube toroid (approx 12in diameter)
> >
> > I tuned it as best I could but was unable to get sparks bigger than 
>about 6 inches.  They were also quite dim and could hardly be seen unless 
>in the dark.
> >
> > I am wondering if I am underpowered?  How can I improve spark length?
> >
> > I greatly appreciate any advice or comments.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Trevor.
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Feel like a local wherever you go with BackOfMyHand.com
> > http://www.backofmyhand.com
> >
> >
>
>
>

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