Re: Duncan Cadd on Tesla Coils

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Ed Phillips <evp@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Yeah, the shooter pic is a bit over the top ... particularly the 
graininess; I kind of expect a ransom note with it.
Why don't you buy his idea that resonance plays the role of the VdG 
belt, and is what transports the tesla coil's charge up to the topload?
Just curious, since the total voltage up there is proportional to the 
square root of the ration of the secondary capacitance to the primary 
capacitance, his explanation is an attractive fit with the specs of a 
VdG generator.

Chris"

   The Van de Graaf generator is a DC device in which charge is 
attached to the belt at the ground end and transported MECHANICALLY 
to the HV terminal where it is collected.  Almost exactly analogous 
to a bucket pump.  Steady state device and output is DC.
   The TC is a resonant AC transformer and the principle of 
operation is totally different.  The charge from the primary 
capacitor is discharged through its inductance to form an oscillating 
magnetic field which excites the secondary through mutual inductance.

Ed