Re: [TCML] Spark gap for first TC

[otmaskin5@xxxxxxx]

Gary, is the two parallel pipe spark gap you describe as good as other single gap configurations, assuming you can deliver ample air flow.  I hear a lot about single gaps having lower losses & therefore higher efficiency than multi-segmented gaps.  The two parall pipe set-up would be a single gap & seems much easier to build than other single gaps I've read about.  I'd appreciate your or anyone elses thoughts on this.  Thanks, Dennis Hopkinton MA




-----Original Message-----
From: Lau, Gary <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Feb 21, 2010 9:56 pm
Subject: RE: [TCML] Spark gap for first TC


Hi Jim,
I must admit that I'm also unclear about the finer points of constructing such a 
-log gap.
I understand the basic premise - that adjusting the top/middle pipe adjusts the 
wo intervening gaps, but I can't imagine an easy way to build this - how to 
uspend the middle pipe such that the moving it stays parallel to the lower 
ipes in both vertical and horizontal axes.  For simple, low-powered gaps, I've 
lways just had two parallel pipes side by side on a piece of G10, with 
crews/bolts and slotted holes in the G10 to the pipes.  At least the pipes 
emain parallel in the vertical plane as I slide one of the pipes.  Is there a 
hoto you can cite?
Thanks, Gary Lau
A, USA
> -----Original Message-----
 From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
 Behalf Of jimlux
 Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2010 10:57 AM
 To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
 Subject: Re: [TCML] Spark gap for first TC
 
 John Byström wrote:
 >
 >  jimlux wrote:
 >> Almost anything will "work".
 >> I like a gap made of three pieces of 3/4" or 1" diameter copper pipe
 >> about 2" long arranged with the long axes parallel.  So you effectively
 >> have 2 long skinny gaps in series.  You have a small fan blow air
 >> through the pipes (along the axis of the pipe.  If you arrange them in a
 >> sort of squashed triangle, you can permanently mount the two end ones,
 >> and adjustments only need to move the middle one.
 >>
 >> The other easy gap that works fairly well is a couple of copper pipe
 >> caps facing each other, with a shop vac blowing between them.
 >>
 >> You could even do the two bolts thing, but I've found that the bolt is
 >> so small  (even if you use carriage bolts and the gap is the head of the
 >> bolt) the spark always goes from exactly the same spot on the electrode
 >> and you get a hotspot.  Once you get that glowing hot spot, the gap
 >> characteristics change (it breaks down more easily), and the output of
 >> your coil drops.
 >
 > The first gap you mention, when I use the long side of the copper
 > tubes facing each other, how do you mean it would be (like a squashed
 > triangle)?
 >
 > I'm probably going to start with the "two bolt thing" because of the
 > time limit. If I have time left, I'll try another spark gap, like the one
 > you mentioned or the classic RQSG (I believe it's called)
 >
 >
 
 
 Imagine stacking three logs in a triangle.
   O
 O O
 
 If you put the lower two tubes, say, 3/4" inch apart (actual gap, not
 center to center), then the upper tube can be used to adjust the gap
 width (you actually have two gaps in series).
 
 The small fan blows down the length of the tube (both inside and
 outside) so the cooling is really effective.
 
 YOu can also turn this on end and have the axes of the tubes vertical,
 which opens up some alternate mounting techniques.
 
 
 The RQ gap is similar.. but not so easily adjustable.  If you want to
 get into multiple gaps, then one of the "laid out flat" multiple gaps is
 probably better.  They're a whole row of tubes parallel to each other
 with a small fixed gap between tubes.  The gap is adjusted by chosing
 "how many gaps".
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