RE: [TCML] interesting spark gap idea

[Yurtle Turtle <yurtle_t@xxxxxxxxx>]

Actually, I use my current gap at around 10 kVA on my 10" coil, as I've already blown up two VFDs and only have one left.

http://www.classictesla.com/hot-streamer/adam/bigass_coil/coil09.jpg

http://www.classictesla.com/hot-streamer/adam/bigass_coil/rsg1.jpg

As you see, I had a vacuum gap in series with my three phase vfd rsg, as I found I got my best performance with this. I was actually running my motor as high as 150 Hz, with a series vacuum gap on a variac, to find the best combination.

These photos are really old, as I now have a .1 nF cap and have raised my top topload as high as my 8' garage door will allow.

After blowing my second vfd, I chose to build a shop vac gap, as a quick fix, and haven't been too disappointed. It may have lost a foot or so, but when you already have more than you need (or the neighbors can stand)...

--- On Thu, 2/18/10, Lau, Gary <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Lau, Gary <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>
> Subject: RE: [TCML] interesting spark gap idea
> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Thursday, February 18, 2010, 5:09 PM
> Good point - my experience was with a
> 15/60 NST.  But using a static gap on a pig-powered
> coil is probably not the best choice anyway.
> 
> Regards, Gary Lau
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx]
> On
> > Behalf Of futuret@xxxxxxx
> > Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010 4:37 PM
> > To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: [TCML] interesting spark gap idea
> > 
> > 
> >  Gary L,
> > 
> > If Gary W. used his vacuum gap on his large coil which
> gave 12 foot sparks,
> > the higher current in his gap may explain why he was
> able to see performance
> > changes even at higher blower speeds.  It would
> seem reasonable to me that
> > the more powerful the coil is, the more air would be
> needed to keep the gap cool
> > and help to quench it.  Maybe someone else
> mentioned this already, I wasn't
> > following the posts.
> > 
> > Regards,
> > John
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Lau, Gary <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>
> > To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Thu, Feb 18, 2010 4:20 pm
> > Subject: RE: [TCML] interesting spark gap idea
> > 
> > 
> > That's an excellent point - using something to control
> the blower speed.  If
> > using a vacuum cleaner AC/DC "universal" motor, a
> triac-based lamp dimmer can
> > be
> > used if you want that instead of a variac (smaller
> & cheaper).  But my
> > experience differs from Gary W's as far as the optimum
> speed setting.
> > 
> > I found that any speed beyond maybe 20% of full power
> offered no difference in
> > spark performance.  It just made the vacuum
> cleaner motor louder, which I really
> > didn't want.  And since a full-throttle vacuum
> cleaned motor can draw 10-12
> > Amps, I'd rather have as much of my 20 Amp breaker
> budget going to my NST and
> > not so much to the gap blower.
> > 
> > Regards, Gary Lau
> > MA, USA
> 
> 
> <snip>
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> 



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