Hi Chris,
I think you are saying the total transfer time will be 100uS no matter what. The secodnary may output 90% of the tank energy in 10uS but it will take a further 90uS to discharge the other 10% of the tank cap. On this basis the transfer time is the same no matter what the secodnary is doing.
Exactly.
Yes. In Richies waveforms, you can see when the ground strike occurred (about 20us into the transfer time) and then the chaotic bit of sputter at the gap just after for a small period (remaining time in the transfer about 5us). Then the waveform cleans up a bit as the gap stopped conducting as the energy was possibly lost in the secondary after the event. At least, that's what I think is occurring from looking at the waveforms.I think I look at it, that when the secondary sparks out, it drains the tank 100%. going back to Richies figures I think it shows exactly what you are saying. Say 100uS form start to end. the secondary could burn up 90% in the first 10uS (like richies wave) but the rest of the cycles go a to a low level for a long time..
Job done? Well, maybe not. The remaining feed of energy to the secondary during the remaining 90% might keep the hot ionized channel going until the total transfer is complete. Now that a low impedance path is tied to the top terminal, the waveform falls down, but the energy is still being transferred. This is probably why ground strikes are sometimes appearing to sit there for a while.In terms of frequency, "bang to spark" time should be reduced.I think I assume 100% energy is gone once the spark happened, I think I talked in too general terms to keep things easy which could not be helping matters... To the point that if it took 100uS to transfer all the energy (without spark break out) the waveform will just look like a slow falling damped wave...If the secondary break out 90% of the energy goes in the first 10uS and then the next it takes 90uS to discharge the reaming 10%...I was classing it as once the secondary breaks that's is, 10uS and job done, though if I actually got the hang of it, then this is not actually the case....
As for quench times, if the secondary does not break out, then it could take 500uS to burn up the energy in losses before the spark gap quenches. In which case could be the 5th notch.
Yes.
however, if the secondary does break out, chances are that the spark gap will quench at the first notch......
Chances are it will quench sooner. Take care, Bart _______________________________________________ Tesla mailing list Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla