Original poster: Stan <wsmg@xxxxxxxxxx> Hey Scott,Find a 1/4" fuse holder and use half of it for a tap. That's what I started with and it works. I think I figured that out from this list. It used to be a common thing to use. I'm using a 3/8" fuse holder now for Mike's and mine 9"(salvage from DC's 05 Teslathon) coil and it's handling the current. Wer're running at 12kv to 16kv at .6 amp(90 amp variac 0 to 140%) bombarder and reaching close to 14' arcs for a 1/2 an hour, it gets hot but it holds up. It helps to bring that blast of energy tight into the secondary so go by the standards, 1/4" tubing 1/4" space between. Hope this helps
Stan Tesla list wrote:
Original poster: "Scott Bogard" <teslas-intern@xxxxxxxxxxx> Adam,The .75in. total spacing I use, is to make my primary tap easier to move around (I am using some random clip thing I found, I don't know what it is for, but it is a copper/aluminum alloy, and it is too wide for 1/4 in spacing). I am out of tubing, could I use a couple strands of 12 AWG house wire? I have tons of that, and I could insulate it in some PE tubing (that costs 15 cents a foot!) I have used a similar method for the inter-power supply connections, and have not been shocked. I have a shop vac, that "died" but still runs, so I could construct a SG similar to the one you showed me, I don't know if "power arcing" is a problem for me as I have not actually looked (it wouldn't suprise me though), and I cannot check until it stops raining here. If the new blower does not help, I will build a sucker gap, and see how things go. ThanksScottFrom: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: My second coil attempt, advice? Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:07:43 -0600 Original poster: Yurtle Turtle <yurtle_t@xxxxxxxxx> I'm sure you'll get lotsa advise, but the biggest thing I see is the AWG14 in your tank circuit. It's fine to use smaller conductors from your transformer to the tank, but once your spark gap conducts, you want really big conductors involved. Consider using 1/4" tubing if you have any left. Forget about insulation; just run your conductors with lotsa space. Your primary has .75" spacing between turns? Is that center to center, or clear space? In any event, unless you're using higher than usual voltage, most folks use the tubing diameter for the clear space, or twice the diameter for the center to center diminsion. As to your gap, bolts filed to a point are not the best configuration. Consider a sucker gap like this: http://www.hot-streamer.com/adam/shopvac_gap.jpg I've run it with a fair amount of pig power before. It took over 20 kVA to melt it. Good luck Adam_________________________________________________________________Interest Rates near 39yr lows! $430,000 Mortgage for $1,399/mo - Calculate new payment http://www.lowermybills.com/lre/index.jsp?sourceid=lmb-9632-18466&moid=7581