RE: Static Gap question.

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

Original poster: "David Thomson" <dave-at-volantis-dot-org> 

Hi Brett,

Yes, I use rare neodymium magnets for my spark gaps.  You could use any
strong magnet.  Tesla used a strong electromagnet for his.

For the terminals, I use tungsten welding rod and grind the ends flat each
day I fire up the coil.  The spark gap works great for me.  The spark gap is
also very easy to construct.  The magnets hold themselves in place.  I
position the gap of the tungsten rod right in between the powerful magnets.
It's easy to adjust the strength of the magnetic field by adding or
subtracting magnets and/or adjusting the distance between the magnets.

I mentioned the tungsten balls on McMaster Carr because they are both cheap,
and I believe are a better shape for the spark gap.  Now that I have a new
HP 34970A coming in, I'll see if I can test the spark gap somehow.  (But I
can assure you it won't be my first test.  I'm not going to get anywhere
near high voltage until I feel comfortable with sensor safety.)

Dave



 > -----Original Message-----
 > From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
 > Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 10:28 PM
 > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Subject: RE: Static Gap question.
 >
 >
 > Original poster: Brett Miller <brmtesla2-at-yahoo-dot-com>
 >
 > Dave,
 >
 > I have some rare earth neodynium (did I spell that
 > right?) magnets I pulled out of some old hard drives.
 > I wonder if they would have suffient strength to
 > quench such a gap at about 1KVA or so.  How about
 > 2KVA?  I know some people have claimed success with
 > magnetic quenching in the past and I've always wanted
 > to try it.  I think I'll search the archives.
 >
 > -Brett
 >
 >
 > --- Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:
 >  > Original poster: "David Thomson" <dave-at-volantis-dot-org>
 >  >
 >  >
 >  > You might want to make your static gap with tungsten
 >  > carbide balls.  Do a
 >  > search for "tungsten ball" at www.mcmaster-dot-com.  You
 >  > can quench the gap with
 >  > permanent magnets.
 >  >
 >  > Dave
 >  >
 >  >
 >
 >
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