RE: Streamer lengths

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "John H. Couture" <couturejh-at-mgte-dot-com> 


Bart -

A constant TC load using sparks as the output has been confusing coilers for
years. In fact there still is not a consensus amongst coilers as to how the
problem should be handled. However, when rating a TC anything can be an
improvement on the TC loading compared to a random spark with an unknown
energy input for that particular spark. The controlled spark gives you the
energy (watt secs) per spark by dividing the total input watt secs by the
breaks per second.

The controlled spark is an attempt to use a measuring method that makes
engineering sense for comparing TC's when output sparks are involved. To
make engineering sense both the input and output energies (watt secs) should
be constants. In general the TC input is a constant energy and the measuring
should be with a voltmeter, ammeter, and wattmeter.

To make the output sparks a constant energy requires that there be a spark
for each bang in the system. To make this happen the spark length must be
shortened until a continuous stream of sparks are occurring at a rate equal
to the breaks per second. The sparks should be horizontal to eliminate as
much as possible the convection effects. The measured spark length should be
from a point on the toroid or sphere and a ground point using either a small
sphere or a vertical flat metal surface.

Note that the above conditions are only recommendations as coilers have
never agreed on what the controlled spark conditions should be.

John Couture

-------------------------------


-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2003 8:43 AM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Streamer lengths


Original poster: Bart Anderson <classi6-at-classictesla-dot-com>


Hi John,
I was thinking single shot mode (sorry about that).

Good John, that makes sense. What methods have you used to form the
constant load? I'm foggy exactly how that is performed.
Take care,
Bart

Tesla list wrote:

 >Original poster: "John H. Couture" <couturejh-at-mgte-dot-com>
 >
 >Bart -
 >
 >The controlled spark is a constant load on the TC output. This means it is
a
 >continuous output spark load and spark growth is involved with the
 >controlled spark. The energy (watt secs, joules) for a particular spark
 >length can be easily found. For example with a 60 Hertz supply there would
 >be 120 sparks per second. The energy per spark would be 1/120 of the total
 >input watt seconds. Brightness, color, corona, etc, are not factors in
 >determining the spark length with a proper test.
 >
 >The random and varying spark lengths indicate a varying and random energy
 >per spark in producing the sparks. This is the problem with random spark
 >length tests. Comparing varying spark lengths with varying energies makes
no
 >engineering sense because there is no way to determine the energy (watt
 >secs) for a particular spark. Because of this problem when a TC is rated
 >with random spark lengths only the total input watts can be given with no
 >regard as to what amount of energy produced the extra long random spark
 >length.
 >
 >John Couture
 >
 >-----------------------------
 >
 >
 >-----Original Message-----
 >From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
 >Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2003 10:22 PM
 >To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 >Subject: Re: Streamer lengths
 >
 >
 >Original poster: Bart Anderson <classi6-at-classictesla-dot-com>
 >
 >Hi Gerry,
 >
 >The controlled spark is a 1 spark event and streamer growth is not involved
 >in this number. I just wanted to clarify that.
 >
 >When I think of random spark lengths (continuous running), I consider the
 >sparklength whatever my eyes see, regardless of color. I friend down the
 >road came over last weekend to see the coil run (in garage). I run at low
 >power in the garage and simply turn the juice until it begins hitting the
 >garage door about 5 feet away from the toroid edge. Right after I shut
 >down, this friend said, "wow, those were about 5 feet long, can they go
 >longer". I said " oh yes, but not in the garage".
 >
 >The point is, the friend realized the average sparklength right away. He
 >saw five feet, I saw five feet. If you can see it, it's there (blue,
 >purple, green, white, etc..). Of course, there is a corona around the spark
 >channel, but not in any great length from the end of the channel. I suspect
 >it's just lower power at the end, colder, and blue/purple in color near the
 >thining end.
 >
 >Take care,
 >Bart
 >
 >Tesla list wrote:
 >
 > >Original poster: "John H. Couture" <couturejh-at-mgte-dot-com>
 > >
 > >Gerry -
 > >
 > >I believe the "Controlled Spark" is a fair and reasonable method of
 > >comparing Tesla coil output spark lengths. The controlled spark makes
 > >engineering sense compared to the random streamer or spark that is
 >presently
 > >used.
 > >
 > >The controlled spark is a constant load on the TC output. This means the
 > >energy per spark is a constant and not a varying energy per spark. A
 >varying
 > >energy per spark can give an unfair advantage to a coiler because the
true
 > >input energy for the spark is unknown. The controlled spark is a
horizontal
 > >spark from the toroid to a ground point. It is determined by moving the
 > >ground point until the sparking is constant and not intermittent.
 > >
 > >The controlled spark leaves a lot to be desired but so far no one has
come
 > >up with anything that makes more sense.
 > >
 > >John Couture
 > >
 > >------------------------------
 > >
 > >
 > >-----Original Message-----
 > >From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
 > >Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2003 8:31 AM
 > >To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > >Subject: Streamer lengths
 > >
 > >
 > >Original poster: "Gerry Reynolds" <gerryreynolds-at-earthlink-dot-net>
 > >
 > >When measuring streamer lengths (to free space), I'm finding that a
portion
 > >of ithe streamer is bright enought to see in day light.  However, in the
 > >dark there is another outer portion that I was thinking was just a
 > >corona.  Upon closer examination (literally - this is a small coil), the
 > >"corona" has a structure to it like a dim streamer.
 > >
 > >Is the length of this "dim" streamer counted toward the "official"
streamer
 > >length?  The context of this question is streamers to free space.
 > >
 > >For arcs to ground,  is there a "standard" way to measure the length?
....
 > >like a grounded shere with a certain radius,   a measurement where the
 > >ground is just starting to corona (or emit dim sparks),  or a measurement
 > >where a "power arc" occurs, etc.
 > >
 > >Thanks for any insight,
 > >
 > >Gerry R.
 > >Ft Collins, CO
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > >
 >
 >
 >
 >