Re: Space winding

["Robin Copini" <rcopini-at-merlin-dot-net.au> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

Hi Kennan,

 < Big Snip >

This is exactly the problem I was floating around in my head, as I am not too
concerned with efficiency of my coil, (can deliver >20KVA -at- 33Kv), I am
looking for the longest possible arcs - So we have turned full circle as I
can remember a discussion on this list before about arc lengths vs I and V.
What  allows the maximum arc length given same toroid/primary/cap etc. For
example, when I run my coil I leave the voltage variac dialled up all the way
and vary the current limiting variac. Reading Jim's post on leader formation
I suppose we are looking for the mechanism that leaders use to 'backfil' the
arc channel as it steps forward into space. Is it totally dependent on V or I
or both?

Best Regards,

 Robin.


>
>
> 4.  >However<...consider this:  With secondary n diminished to 1/2,
> perhaps 2x the current can be delivered into the secondary from the
> primary >after< the spark starts.  That doubled current will act to
> fatten and extend the spark to a greater degree than where n was not
> diminished.  That effect may or may not overcome the reduction in initial
> spark-voltage to 1/2, in producing a satisfactory spark.
>
> So where do we stand on this?  Will it or won't it?  Who out there can
> properly quantify all this?  Or correct me if I'm wrong?
>
> I'm in the process of space-winding a 12" x 48" Sonotube-secondary.
> Perhaps I'll finish that and then make another exactly the same except
> close-wound, & compare the two  (With my self-tuned solid-state primary I
> will be able to do that as quickly as I can swap one for the other; all
> else will remain exactly the same.).
>
> Ken Herrick
> ________________________________________________________________