Re: [TCML] JavaTC gap setting

["Phil Tuck" <follies@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Bart.

 

I was wrongly thinking that the only discrepancy would be caused by the
surface area being wrong because of the central hole, and I had overlooked
the 'radius of curvature' issue (a little work on the lathe will soon
correct this). This of course will also upset things as you point out. I
also realise the suction will cause breakdown voltage to alter as well. 

The safety gap was setup correctly initially (& checked since) so the
voltage across the NST should not exceed safety limits. So as long as I
don't alter that setting, in theory I can open the main gap up until the
safety fires and then back the gap off a bit at a time until I achieve a
balance where the coils output hopefully tells me the cap is still managing
to charge up to 100%, while the safety is not firing

 

When I have finished rebuilding a rather ugly Toroid (after a recent
successful 'first light') I will twiddle with the settings.

 

You wrote>>"Programs are like stars to guide a ship through the night. It's
not the ship in the water and it doesn't have to face the storms
encountered."

 

A Coiler and a Poet ????

 

Regards

 

Philip

 

 

 

Bart Wrote>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

 

Hi Phillip,
 

Good question. The suction hole will undoubtedly have the sharpest radius of
curvature if I understand the gap correctly, so breakdown will likely occur
around the hole edge and not at the radius of the electrode itself. So yes,
the gap distance given will not work. Even with a normal type pipe gap or
sphere gap, it's only a ballpark guide. 

 

It is important and always best to set the gap distance to the transformer
(with only the transformer connected across the gap [without the primary or
cap]). This is the correct method to set the gap distance and works for all
gap styles and ensures the gap will breakdown at the correct voltage for the
transformer. 

 

In many cases, the program output will be ok because the electrodes and
surface do not vary far from the expected inputs. However, when it comes to
transformer health, never fully rely on a program output as the final word.
Programs are like stars to guide a ship through the night. It's not the ship
in the water and it doesn't have to face the storms encountered.
Verification is always a good idea, and with a spark gap especially,
measurement is important for transformer health (thus the gap and tranny
adjustment by themselves, always). 

 
Take care,
Bart
 
Phil Tuck wrote:
 
 
In the "static gap design" section of JavaTc  I have been entering my gap as
having two electrodes 0.75 inch diameter, and with a 0.178 inch spark gap.
The program then tells me that my voltage will be 14,102v when it fires
(correct figure to aim for  with a 10k RMS NST). However mine is a sucker
gap and in the centre of each of my 0.75 inch electrode is a 0.354 inch
central hole (for the suction).
 
How is this going to affect the gaps firing voltage? Do I need to ignore the
JavaTc figure and go slightly larger or smaller?
 
(I also have a Terry and safety gap protection for the NST)
 
Regards
 
Philip
 
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