RE: [TCML] Breakout Point

[jhowson4@xxxxxxxxxxx]

When I use the largest of my coils(35"streamers) I can't get a discharge without a breakout point.( I made the toroid too big and am too lazy to make another)
My toroid is some where between 2 and 3 ft wide with a 6" diameter.  I placed a foot long wire on the center axis with a 1" metal ball on the top. When I am not using the metal ball I get 30-33" sparks with the metal ball I was able to hit 38" but normally it is around 35".
so for me I had better luck with the metal ball but I guess it would vary from coil to coil.

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx> 

> That's a great question! I almost always use a breakout point, as I try to use 
> the largest top load possible in my coils, since this almost always results in 
> the best performance. But being so large, it often fails to break out smoothly 
> without the aid of a break out point, and racing sparks may otherwise result. 
> 
> I have also found that the nature of the "point" matters. I think I get better 
> performance if I use a ball or sphere rather than just a pointy wire, but I 
> haven't done extensive comparisons. 
> 
> Regards, Gary Lau 
> MA, USA 
> 
> > -----Original Message----- 
> > From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On 
> > Behalf Of Phillip Slawinski 
> > Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 12:30 AM 
> > To: Tesla Coil Mailing List 
> > Subject: [TCML] Breakout Point 
> > 
> > Does having a breakout point reduce your maximum streamer length? I 
> > increased the size of my second toroid today and I'm getting 56" ground 
> > strikes, but I'm wondering if having a breakout point limits my streamer 
> > length any. 
> 
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