RE: [TCML] Rotary Spark Gap Break Rate?

["Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>]

As the question asked was specifically about break rate, the goal is not to spin as fast as possible.  If it were, break rates of thousands BPS would easily be possible, but the power supply could never charge a reasonably sized cap fast enough.

Rather, the goal is to supply a break rate that is appropriate for the cap size and charging capacity of the transformer, while ensuring that power arcing and poor quenching that would result if a static gap were used with a high-powered system, won't happen.

I didn't follow "the electrodes need to be spaced so that they barely can break out at all when they're placed right in front of the stationary electrodes".   In fact, the stationary and rotating electrodes should be spaced so the gap between them at alignment is as narrow as possible without risking a crash.  Making the gap too wide risks missed firings at presentations.

Also, using a static gap with a 60 Hz power supply by no means ensures that the resulting break rate is 60 or 120 BPS.  By sizing the cap, transformer, and gap spacing, one might get an _average_  close to 120 BPS or any other number you choose, but the actual BPS will be chaotic and vary second-to-second.  

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Christopher Karr
> Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 12:06 PM
> To: Tesla Pupman List
> Subject: RE: [TCML] Rotary Spark Gap Break Rate?
> 
> Andrew,
> 
> The goal is to get the gap spinning as quickly as possible, and the electrodes need
> to be spaced so that they barely can break out at all when they're placed right in
> front of the stationary electrodes. The goal of the ARSG isn't to get a certain break
> rate, but rather to get better air-flow by use of a motor and the same 120BPS or
> 60BPS (on 60Hz) as with a stationary spark gap.
> 
> Good luck,
> Christopher
> 
> > Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:22:45 -0400
> > From: teslamad@xxxxxxx
> > To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> > CC:
> > Subject: [TCML] Rotary Spark Gap Break Rate?
> >
> > What do you guys think the best break rate for an ARSG? I've heard 240 - 400
> bps
> >
> > Currently, I'm designing a new gap with 10 rotary electrodes, 2 stationary
> electrodes, 1550 RPM motor, and if my math / formula is correct...
> >
> > (1550rpm * 10 electrodes) / 60 = aprox. 258.33 bps
> >
> > What do ya think?
> >
> >
> > Regards,
> > Andrew
> >
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