Strike Rail

• To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
• Subject: Strike Rail
• From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
• Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 07:19:23 -0500
• Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

----------
From:  Julian Green [SMTP:julian-at-kbss.bt.co.uk]
Sent:  Thursday, June 18, 1998 4:22 AM
To:  tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject:  Re: Strike Rail

> The strike rail is not a complete turn with about 2" gap to avoid shorted
> turn problems.
> I changed it from the picture.  This time my plumbing came up to the rail
> via a nice curve then fitted into a right angle joint (running
> horizontally).  I concluded it could only be due to this.  So instead of the
> right angle pipe joint I curved it with a radius of about 3".  Now the
> problem has gone away.
> 
> The reason for passing on this info is that I know some people have suffered
> from breakout in the middle of the secondary but I do not recall any mention
> of strike rail geometry's as possible problems.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Viv Watts UK.

I have had a similar problem and found that any objects comming near to the 
secondary can cause corona discharge.   This discharge seems to act like a
rectifier and will charge anything up.   On my coil the insulating varnish
was charged and I was getting 6" sparks up the sides of the secondary during
and after I ran the coil.   I also got nasty zaps when handling the secondary
afterwards.  Run your coil in a dark room to see the corona clouds.

Julian Green.

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