[Home][2014 Index] Re: [TCML] Sputtering Gap [Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: [TCML] Sputtering Gap

Hi Tim,
I'd suspect it's your NST, since properly-constructed MMC's are pretty hardy.
Disconnect your NST from the rest or the system, then power it up. CAREFULLY connect a wire to case ground and see if you can draw equal sized arcs from each HV terminal. If one or both arcs are short and weak, that side of the NST is partially shorted. You probably lost one half of the NST (after which it was running raggedly), and then the other half when it finally ceased working. 

Bert
--
Bert Hickman
Stoneridge Engineering
http://www.capturedlightning.com
***********************************************************************
World's source for "Captured Lightning" Lichtenberg Figure sculptures,
magnetically "shrunken" coins, and scarce/out of print technical books
***********************************************************************

Tim Flood wrote:

I had some extra time last night so I went ahead and assembled my new TC.
You guys were right. As I increased the voltage the rotary gap begin firing
and sputtering. Increasing the voltage further finally resulted in a thin
white spark arcing from the toroid to a ground object. This lasted for a
few seconds then the whole system died. It got really quiet really quick.

Based on previous posts, would you recommend just going ahead and replacing
both the MMC's and the NST or is there another approach?

Thank you for any help.

Tim Flood


On Thu, Mar 27, 2014 at 9:33 AM, Tim Flood <tfloodrr@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


The capacitance value of the caps is right on the mark per the meter, but
as you said under load they may not hold up. I'm still going to check out
the NST later today. My plan is to go ahead and assemble the complete coil
this weekend and see what happens. I hate the thought of throwing out a new
NST because of stupid.

Another lesson learned.

Tim


On Thu, Mar 27, 2014 at 8:36 AM, Teslalabor <teslalabor@xxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:


The chances are very low because the symptoms you are telling us, are
typical for blown caps or transformers, when the SRSG suddenly stop working
well, the timing gets incorrect... Which is caused by blown transformers /
caps. Remember that only checking the capacitance of the caps is not very
"useful" because capacitance could be fine but the caps are failing under
load conditions...


----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Flood" <tfloodrr@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 11:46 PM
Subject: Re: [TCML] Sputtering Gap


Thanks guys for the input. Sounds like I'm the dummy!

I hope I didn't run long enough to due permanent damage. It was run that
way for only a few seconds, three times. The caps were not warm nor had
any
visible anomalies. I'll check the MMC value tomorrow and the transformer
output using a jacobs ladder. Everything is at work so I'll have to wait
until tomorrow.

Thanks again. What are the chances Imay not have done permanent damage?

Tim


On Wed, Mar 26, 2014 at 5:02 PM, teslalabor@xxxxxxxxxxx <
teslalabor@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

  Very Bad idea. When doing such Experiments you have to use at least a

dummy load in Form of halogen bulbs, which replaces the primary. When you
simply Run it without secondary, you kill your caps and neon, i think
thats
what happened in Your case.

Gesendet mit meinem HTC

----- Reply message -----
Von: "Tim Flood" <tfloodrr@xxxxxxxxx>
An: "tesla@xxxxxxxxxx" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Betreff: [TCML] Sputtering Gap
Datum: Mi., Mär. 26, 2014 21:25

Could really use some help.

Just completed a new 15/60 NST powered coil with a SRSG. With the tank
circuit completely wired and the secondary removed I thought why not
check
the operation of the rotary gap. The first time I powered up it ran fine,
firing smoothly up to the max variac setting.

Subsequent power-ups resulted in the gap sounding like gun fire. The
safety
gap on the SRSG is firing, the arcs at gap alignment vary in intensity
and
there are smaller arcs running around the conductor ring on the disc.

The rotor is 5" diameter with four 1/8" carbide electrodes turning at
1800
RPM.. There are two stationary electrodes on the front side. Electrode
spacing is .030" per gap.

Thank you,

Tim Flood
_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla

  _______________________________________________

Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla





_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla







_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla