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Re: Spark gap



Original poster: "Harold Weiss" <hweiss@xxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Steven,

The spark from a primary circuit is a lot more powerful. It is as bright as a welding arc or arc spotlight.

Original poster: "Steven Steele" <sbsteele@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Coincidentally, I allready bought the copper pipe and made the spark gap yesterday.
I didn't actually get copper pipe but rather copper pipe connectors, which are about 1 and 1/8" in diameter and about 2" long. I bought 8 of them and have them lined up in series.( they wouldn't fit in the PVC) I don't have any way of cooling them yet, but I'm a clever boy, I think I'll figure something out. I don't really think I even need to cool it, seing as how I don't plan on keeping it on for very long.
Also, I've tried to melt a soda can with this transformer before, or mybe it was a different one. I couldn't do it. I'll just have to try again. ;^}>


                   Steven Steele

----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 10:34 AM
Subject: Re: Spark gap


Original poster: "Harold Weiss" <hweiss@xxxxxxxxxx>

Hi,

Another thing with soda cans is the melting point of the aluminum. There is also the possibility of setting the aluminium on fire with the heavy current arcs. Metal fires can be hard to put out.

David E Weiss

Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>


Soda cans are too large. You need some 1/2 inch OD (3/8 inch ID) straight copper pipe --- not tubing which always has some curvature.

You can buy a straight copper pipe at a plumbing shop.  Some shops might
have some "cut-offs" 2-3 feet long which would be perfect to use for the
copper tubes.  De-bur the ends with a file and sandpaper to encourage
sparking along the length of the tube.

You may need a machinist with a milling machine to do the layout for the
fastener holes --- you want the pipes to be as parallel as possible and a
mill makes it a snap.  Two fastener holes per tube holds them in perfect
parallel alignment.  The machine shop instructor at your school can help you
with this.

7-8 tubes inside a 6 inch dia. PVC tube with a 75-100 CFM fan below it works
very wall with a 12/30 or 15/30 xmfr.  Use duct tape to shape the airflow
from the fan to the tube but keep it away from the HV.

Dr. Resonance



>
> Would soda cans make a good replacement for copper pipes in the spark > >
gap?
> Or should I just go out and buy the pipes? I ask because i'm
operating > > on
a
> budget here. I almost just had my school pay for for the capacitors, > > but
my
> parents said that they could afford $54 dollars.( originally we
thaught > > I
> would need 45 capacitors at about $3 a peice) :) Thanks again Dr.
Resonance.
> Steven Steele
>
>
>