Re: Spark Gap Sustaining Current (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:19:01 -0500
From: Bert Hickman <bert.hickman@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Spark Gap Sustaining Current (fwd)

Tesla list wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:00:20 -0500
> From: Crispy <crispy@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: Spark Gap Sustaining Current (fwd)
> 
> No, it's not really like that schematic.  I'm horribly at ascii art
> schematics, and I can't draw in computer paint programs, but a much
> better description of the simplified circuit is below.
> First of all, the ARSG is not as you have depicted it.  This ARSG would
> have 3 poles, instead of two.  There would be a central contact which
> would alternate between two other stationary electrodes as it rotated.
> Electrically, this behavior is similar to a SPDT switch that is being
> switched back and forth very quickly.  In the below circuit description,
> I will refer to the central pole as "central pole" and the poles between
> which it alternates as "auxiliary poles".
> 
> 
> - The transformer (12/30 NST) is connected to the 120VAC wall current.
> - The output of the transformer is rectified by a hv bridge rectifier.
> - The ~400nF capacitor that you have labeled Cs in your diagram is
> connected across the outputs of the bridge rectifier.
> - There is a series circuit from here composing the charging circuit.
> It connects the + terminal of Cs -> Static Gap -> De-Qing diode -> one
> auxiliary pole of the special ARSG -> (alternating via the rotary
> contact) central pole of the special ARSG -> Tank Capacitor -> Charging
> inductor -> - terminal of Cs
> -  The primary coil is connected from the other auxiliary terminal of
> the ARSG to the junction between the tank capacitor and the charging
> inductor.
> 
> The function of this special ARSG is to physically interrupt the
> charging circuit from the tank circuit when the tank circuit is
> resonating.  This prevents all of the loss and problems associated with
> shorting out the power supply while the tank circuit resonates.

I think I have it. Use a non-proportional font to see properly. The ARSG 
alternates between position A - open - position B - open, etc...

             Static   |\ |
   + ----o----o  o----| >|-----o     o---------
         |    Gap     |/ |      \              |
         |             DQ     A  \    B        O
   HV  + |                        o            O  Lp
DC In -----                      |            O
       ----- Cs                   |     | |    |       Lc
         | 0.44uF                  -----| |----o-----OOOOOOO---
         |                              | |          =======   |
         |                               Cp                    |
         |                                                     |
   - ----o-----------------------------------------------------

Is this the circuit you're discussing?

> The function of the static gap is different from that of a normal static
> gap.  The gap in this instance should not be considered as a voltage
> controlled switch.  The gap's increased propensity to fire a second time
> immediately after a first firing must be considered.  The gap functions
> to pulse power from Cs into the rest of the charging circuit, providing
> much higher power during several subsequent iterations of the ARSG than
> is drawn RMS from the wall.  The special ARSG does NOT fire during the
> majority of its iterations (during these iterations Cs is charging).

Bert
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