[TCML] Climbing Arcs

[Sfxneon@xxxxxxx]

Hi All,
 
I have a spare 12.5 kVA/20 kV bombarding transformer and sliding choke  with 
which I'm building a large Jacob's ladder using 3/4" x 10' EMT conduit. It  
works reasonably well, but the arc tends to rise up the rails too slowly and the 
 middle of the arc outruns the ends, resulting in a restart before it reaches 
the  top. I've adjusted the angle of the rails from near parallel to about 
18" apart  at the top, without much success.
 
Does anyone know how to tweak the performance of a big climbing arc so that  
it will climb to the top of the rails more often? I'm guessing that increasing 
 the air convection around the arc would help it to climb, so will  inclosing 
it in a tall clear tube or box make a difference? Does the material  that the 
rails are made of have any effect? How about the ballasting  of the 
transformer, as far as inductive or resistive, etc? 
 
Thanks,
 
Tony Greer
 
 
 
 
 



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