Re: [TCML] Voltage - Gap

[Futuret <futuret@xxxxxxx>]

Jay,

The arc probably jump forward and fires the gap before the
electrodes align.  Then the system probably runs out of energy
(if giving off robust toroid sparks), before the electrodes pull
away from each other.  Thus the rotary arc probably extinguishes
before there's any opportunity for stretching the arc.  Under
some conditions (small cap, small rotary, slow rotary, wide
electrodes, strong power supply), the gap may actually
"re-fire" while the electrodes are still aligned and this will 
give inefficient operation as discussed in the past in a paper 
by Peter Jamison (I don't have the reference available).  

On-time is the quench-time... how long it takes until the gap
arc quenches.  It will always quench at a notch.  In an
efficient system, first notch quenching will occur.  In many
coils, quench occurs at the 2nd or 3rd notch.  This can
be calculated based on the tightness of coupling k, and
and duration (spacing) of the beats that result.  

Cheers,
John

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: jhowson4 <jhowson4@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Jan 29, 2012 4:56 pm
Subject: Re: [TCML] Voltage - Gap


Taking this discussion more off topic and creating a new thread . 

I have recently been thinking a lot about how the spark behaves within the gap. 
Does anyone have any material for how far an arc can be drawn in a rotary spark 
gap. 
I am trying to write an equation to estimate this for use in my program, as it 
will help me determine the "on time" and by extension the overall RMS current of 
the primary circuit. 
>From what I understand, unless your capacitor is close to resonant with the 
power supply (like in drawing monster arcs from mots) the sparks are rather 
short, at least when compared to what you could draw just directly from the main 
transformer anyway. This has something to do with with the fact that when the 
capacitor dumps its energy threw the gap its voltage falls rapidly in an 
oscillating exponential decay. But I have not been able to quantify any it yet. 
I will do some tests when i finish my coil to get exact numbers. But has anyone 
thought about this at all? 



Thanks, 
John "Jay" Howson IV 
o/tesla

 
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