AJ,
You can often use the topload size to control how many simultaneous sparks are produced. With a smaller than optimal size, you'll get more sparks at one time, but they will be shorter. With a large enough topload you can get only one spark streamer at a time, but it will be longer. A certain size might give two simultaneous sparks that sort of alternate from side to size in and nice way. One will grow while the other shrinks, etc. This effect might be best seen at low break rates. I like this effect but it's also nice to see a great many sparks. It all depends on the effect you want. In any case, a certain amount of input power will be needed to drive a certain size topload. I had written some rules of thumb for this sort of thing in the past. I don't have the information handy at the moment. In general, lower break rates tend to produce slower lazier streamers, but fast breakrates tend to create more frantic streamers, but this is not always the case. There's interactions between the various parameters.
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Adam James
Sent: March 4, 2021 10:57 AM
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [TCML] Topload Question
Teslamap gives [Optimum} topload. It is often difficult to achieve the
optimum.
Can someone explain results of going a little under vs. a little over for
coil performance?
AJ
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