RE: [TCML] Strike rail hits and loud bangs - streamer shorting primary to strike rail?

["Stephen J. Hobley" <shobley@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes I moved the tap point out one coil turn - so that would have higher L (I think).
 
So could the bang/flash be a streamer connecting the primary and the strike rail together - thus dumping the tank cap out to ground?
 
It only happens on the part of the strike rail that has the ground connection attached to it. Freezing the video shows that the light flash is coming from the back of the coil, at strike rail level.
 
Steve
 
 
www.stephenhobley.com
317 201 4281
 
The Laser Harp Project - www.stephenhobley.com/build

________________________________

From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx on behalf of bartb
Sent: Wed 10/1/2008 10:15 PM
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: Re: [TCML] Strike rail hits and loud bangs



Let me guess Steve, the tap point had a little more L (slightly higher
inductance). Am I right?

Also, yes you can tune a coil into self destruction. Tune it to where
it's "barely" in tune and with slightly high coupling. This will
compound into a myriad of racing sparks and sure self destruction is
possible (a shorted secondary turn or similar issue). Been there and
done that. You can even over power a coil and turn it into a flaming
puff of smoke (I haven't done that yet [knock on wood]).

Take care,
Bart

Stephen J. Hobley wrote:
> We have a fairly simple coil using a 60ma NST. Recently I changed the tap point on the primary and by chance hit a really sweet spot.
>
> Usually the Tesla Tuner is pretty accurate and gives good results, but in this case it did not indicate that this tap point was a good one.
>
> The streamer length has increased by at least 50% - but we did notice some rather worrying "bangs" from the Terry filter spark gap when the strike rail is being hit. Is this normal?
>
> Is it possible to tune a Tesla coil into a self-destructive state?
>
> I would take some pictures, but the darned thing scares me to death...
> :-)
>
> Steve
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