On 4/1/14 3:57 AM, matty mcqueeney wrote:
Hi everyone, I tested my tesla coil yesterday and it worked brilliantly, However after a while the sparks started to die away. The spark gap I use is similar to the one below https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=static+spark+gap&rlz=1C1CHFX_en-GBGB451GB451&espv=210&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&imgil=NWnKp-waegpo3M%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcQ2JuOAoqZ_hysRtikPUS02F5iqJfou3s420mxZljldrdHUHmAs%253B640%253B366%253BALVlAI-_8sEZyM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.teslacoildesign.com%25252Fconstruction.html&source=iu&usg=__ehjc7fNIUcOTpWPuz5o-zTDUOLI%3D&sa=X&ei=spo6U-29Ga3s0gWY9oCwDw&ved=0CDsQ9QEwAw#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=AchLHojuxBwHJM%253A%3BUaN-2DPwohW_nM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Flab.dereklow.co%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252Fteslacoil-31-470x328.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Flab.dereklow.co%252Fspark-gap-tesla-coil%252F%3B470%3B328
the two bolt head gap? That will definitely have thermal issues.. I do not use a fan to cool it down either.
I was wondering if you knew any reason why the spark gap was dieing away?
what happens is that you get a hot spot on the electrode, and that causes the gap to fire earlier,at a lower voltage, when there's less energy stored in the primary capacitor, so the resulting secondary sparks are shorter.
You need a fairly healthy air flow for a bolt head type gap. I'd get a couple pieces of copper pipe and hook those on the bolts and use that. A short piece of pipe has a lot of surface area, and is gently curved, both of which help spread the sparks around.
A low speed muffin fan to gently blow air across it helps too.
Thanks Matthew. _______________________________________________ Tesla mailing list Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
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