[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [TCML] Voltage Question
Jim and Paul,
Thanks that makes too much sense hahaha. I'll calibrate it with a known voltage (maybe with just a capacitor plate) then I can calculate Eo of the tesla coil (since the e-field drops off exponentially E(d) = Eo *e^(-d/constant)) and that should give me a good estimate of what the voltage at the top is.
Cheers and thanks,
Charlie
________________________________
From: Paul Nicholson <tcml88@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 1:47 PM
Subject: Re: [TCML] Voltage Question
Charlie wrote:
> I've had some issues trying to calculate the voltage of
> the top terminal ...
You could calibrate your E-field probe by putting a known AC
voltage (at or near the coil's operating frequency) onto the
topload - a low enough voltage to measure directly but large
enough to be seen on your E-field probe. One way to do this
is to put a signal generator into the base of the secondary,
enough to create a hundred or so volts at the top.
> The only way I've been able to estimate it is to slowly
> turn the input voltage up until streamers form at the top
> (then I know the top terminal voltage is near 30kV - since
> that is the breakdown voltage in air, again this still
> assumes a gap of 1cm and the top terminal is with respect
> to ground so the voltage may be much higher than 30kV).
This isn't a reliable method and you give the reason. Breakout
begins at around 26kV/cm surface field strength but the
potential of the topload is probably a lot higher.
--
Paul Nicholson
--
_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla