Tedd,
Yes windage is the issue. Here is an interesting tidbit...
> [TCML] Tesla Digest, Vol 132, Issue 6
> Greg Leyh
> Nov 22, 2018, 5:59 PM
> "Even with aero shrouding, Electrum took 28.5 HP on the 30HP gap
motor."
I didn't go out looking for a 3.5 HP motor, but it was free.
~Dan
Kansas City area
On Thu, Jan 30, 2020 at 12:38 PM Tedd Dillard <tedd.dillard@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> Don't know much about TCs but have some experience with many different
> types of rotating equipment. I have read a lot about rotating spark gaps
> and guys using one horsepower and up motors. It seems to me that starting
> time would be determined by the mass of the rotor but the power to run at
> full speed would only be limited by windage. The windage would be the only
> load. It would seem to me that one half horsepower would be plenty.
> Are their other factors?
> Teddy
>
> On Jan 30, 2020 12:09 AM, "Steve White" <steve.white1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > I think you will run into a problem if you try to bridge more than two
> > gaps. I built my SRSG to allow for either 2 gaps or 4 gaps. I initially
> > tried it with 4 gaps and no matter how closely I spaced the electrodes, I
> > got inconsistent firing. This is with a 14.4 KV pole transformer. I then
> > switched to 2 gaps and got completely consistent firing at 240 BPS. I
> have
> > used 2 gaps ever since. My SRSG runs very nicely with a 1/2 HP AC
> induction
> > motor modified to be synchronous. This is with a 12 inch diameter G10
> rotor
> > 1/2 inch thick running at 3600 RPM.
> >
> > Steve White
> > Cedar Rapids, Iowa
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Dan Kunkel" <dankunkel@xxxxxxxxx>
> > To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2020 6:25:19 PM
> > Subject: Re: [TCML] "Modern" Spark Gap Designs?
> >
> > Tedd,
> > A single static gap would not quench very well, at least without the aide
> > of moving air, vacuum, magnets, etc. However, a MULTIPLE series gap does
> > seem to perform quite well. Yes you loose a little power with each "hop",
> > but in the end you gain due to faster quenching. Each break allows the
> > power to be divided up and is easier to quench.
> >
> > A rotary gap is OK at quenching, but it only has two "hops" (as compared
> > with a typical TCBOR or RQ style gap). Plus the speed of electricity is
> > much faster than the mechanical dwell time of the electrodes in a rotary
> > gap. So the rotational aspect of a rotary does not do anything for
> > quenching. Plenty of folks have reported "following around" on a rotary
> gap
> > due to lack of quenching (there are videos on youtube as well).
> >
> > ~Dan
> > Kansas city area
> >
> > On Wed, Jan 29, 2020 at 5:32 PM Tedd Dillard <tedd.dillard@xxxxxxxxx>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Why would a static gap quince better than a rotatary gap?
> > >
> > > On Jan 29, 2020 5:14 PM, "Gary Lau" <glau1024@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > > I have no experience with gaps for anything larger than an NST power
> > > supply
> > > > so can't comment on the series quench configuration. But based on my
> > > > experience, I suspect the use of PVC in proximity to the gaps is a
> less
> > > > than ideal idea. Even using a single NST, the white PVC turns an
> > > > unsightly brown color due to the intense UV emitted by the gap. I
> > don't
> > > > know how its insulating or mechanical strength might be affected, but
> > > > better to use G10 if available.
> > > >
> > > > Regards, Gary Lau
> > > > MA, USA
> > > >
> > > > On Wed, Jan 29, 2020 at 1:03 PM Daniel Kunkel <dankunkel@xxxxxxxxx>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Hello Tesla List!
> > > > > I am starting to work on my next spark gap for a 6-10 KVA
> magnifier.
> > It
> > > > > seems the definitive spark gap design is that from Richard
> Hull/TCBOR
> > > > using
> > > > > a rotary gap (to control timing only) combined with a multiple
> break
> > > > series
> > > > > gap (to control quench only). Is there a better approach for gap
> > design
> > > > and
> > > > > construction?
> > > > >
> > > > > Currently my plan is to use a 3.5 HP DC motor to spin a G10 disk
> with
> > > > > tungsten electrodes and combine it with the PVC + copper tubes +
> fan
> > > > series
> > > > > gap.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > ~Dan
> > > > > Kansas City area
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