Re: Aluminium Wire (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 08:55:22 -0500
From: resonance <resonance@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Aluminium Wire  (fwd)




Variable air caps do not handle high peak currents in the range we are 
discussing.

Plate caps dissipate heat but it's in the tank circuit where the high 
current peaks are achieved, not in the tubes.  Tubes oscillate and pump 
power into the LC tank circuit where it dramatically increases at resonance.

HV cross country transmission lines are carrying 60 Hz current not RF 
currents.  At 60 Hz some losses are acceptable, but not at RF frequencies in 
the LC tank circuit of an oscillator.

Aluminum will decrease your peak RF current in a Tesla oscillator tank 
circuit.  If you can live with less current, and sparks that could be 
brighter off the sec, then fine, otherwise use copper.

Sec potential across an inductor is basic physics, and it depends on -L 
dI/dt.  With a fixed inductance, it's the rate change of current with 
respect to time that counts the most.  Why muck around with aluminum when 
the math and actual practice (LC tank circuits) tell us that lower current 
will produce lower potential across an inductor?  Our common goal is high 
current as practical and no less.

Dr. Resonance

Resonance Research Corp.
www.resonanceresearch.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 11:55 PM
Subject: RE: Aluminium Wire (fwd)


>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:23:31 -0700
> From: Frank <fxrays@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: RE: Aluminium Wire  (fwd)
>
> Aluminium is used for the plates in variable air capacitors, plate
> cap heat sinks and other various components in radio transmitters
> from VLF to VHF and in high power. If it was such a loser for RF,
> they would not widely use it.
>
> It is used on transmission lines because it is MUCH cheaper than
> copper. They compensate for the loss by increasing the diameter. The
> steel core is for the mechanical strength to support the line.
> Frank
>
> At 07:08 PM 9/28/2007 -0600, you wrote:
>
>>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:54:25 -0700
>>From: Dr.Hankenstein <Dr.Hankenstein@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>>Subject: RE: Aluminium Wire  (fwd)
>>
>>Good point, Gary, and nice job on the experimenting.
>>
>>I agree that aluminum works well for RF signals in the frequency range 
>>most
>>of us coilers deal with. For example: A 525kv, 1100megawatt-rated
>>transmission line strung with aluminum conductors stretching several
>>hundred miles might typically use a PLC (Power Line Carrier) with tuned
>>wavetraps on each end of the line for voice/data/relaying. They normally
>>operate in the frequency range of 30~500khz with only 80 watts of drive!
>>(That's only 0.000007% of the total power the line is carrying, for
>>comparison!).....and, they've been doing it for over 40 years effectively.
>>I don't think the power company would be doing this if the losses were too
>>great. I do prefer to see some substantiating results/comparisons such as
>>yours rather than a carte blanch statement suggesting that "aluminum is a
>>loser" for RF.
>>
>>Woo
>>
>>PS: 73's & nice antenna and ground switch arrangement, Ralph
>>
>> > [Original Message]
>> > From: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> > To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> > Date: 9/28/2007 6:47:10 AM
>> > Subject: RE: Aluminium Wire  (fwd)
>> >
>> >
>> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> > Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:42:06 -0400
>> > From: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>
>> > To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> > Subject: RE: Aluminium Wire  (fwd)
>> >
>> > Yes, I believe that aluminum being "bad" for RF is just one of those
>> > myths that won't die.  I performed an exhaustive test of various 
>> > primary
>> > conductor geometries, including Al vs. Cu wire.  Aside from the DC
>> > resistance being different, the Al primary did not exhibit any
>> > surprising increases in AC resistance as I swept from 40 KHz to 800 
>> > KHz.
>> > See http://www.laushaus.com/tesla/primary_resistance.htm
>> >
>> > Regards, Gary Lau
>> > MA, USA
>> >
>> > > From: Dr.Hankenstein <Dr.Hankenstein@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> > > To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> > > Subject: Re: Aluminium Wire  (fwd)
>> > >
>> > > Why would aluminum be considered "bad" for RF?
>> > > My antennas work great...and they're made out of aluminum!
>> > > So does the top-load on my tesla coil...five foot cross section, 5kva
>> > input, 10 foot
>> > > sparks....and it's aluminum! see:
>> > http://www.drspark.org/images/wwt6.jpg
>> > > Perhaps working with unconventional materials and designs is what
>> > coiling is all
>> > > about; what do you think?.
>> > >
>> > > Woo
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > > [Original Message]
>> > > > From: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> > > > To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> > > > Date: 9/27/2007 7:52:22 PM
>> > > > Subject: Re: Aluminium Wire  (fwd)
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> > > > Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:21:09 -0500
>> > > > From: resonance <resonance@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> > > > To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> > > > Subject: Re: Aluminium Wire  (fwd)
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > Alum will work but limits your peak primary current.  Alum is not
>> > very good
>> > > > at RF frequencies.  It is used for 60 Hz commercial power
>> > transmission lines
>> > > > but not good above a few hundred Hz.
>> > > >
>> > > > Been there, done that, and took measurements.  Alum was a loser for
>> > best
>> > > > coil performance.
>> > > >
>> > > > Dr. Resonance
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > Resonance Research Corp.
>> > > > www.resonanceresearch.com
>> >
>> >
>
>
>