Re: [TCML] Voltage - Gap

[jhowson4@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Taking this discussion more off topic and creating a new thread . 

I have recently been thinking a lot about how the spark behaves within the gap. 
Does anyone have any material for how far an arc can be drawn in a rotary spark gap. 
I am trying to write an equation to estimate this for use in my program, as it will help me determine the "on time" and by extension the overall RMS current of the primary circuit. 
>From what I understand, unless your capacitor is close to resonant with the power supply (like in drawing monster arcs from mots) the sparks are rather short, at least when compared to what you could draw just directly from the main transformer anyway. This has something to do with with the fact that when the capacitor dumps its energy threw the gap its voltage falls rapidly in an oscillating exponential decay. But I have not been able to quantify any it yet. 
I will do some tests when i finish my coil to get exact numbers. But has anyone thought about this at all? 



Thanks, 
John "Jay" Howson IV 


"Why thank you, I will be happy to take those electrons off your hands." 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Nicholson" <tcml88@xxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 3:41:28 PM 
Subject: Re: [TCML] Voltage - Flame 


James Zimmerschied wrote: 
> I believe stating a person's idea is " b.s." using 
> their initials as a pun is not professional and degrades 
> the idea of a techincal forum. 

I take your point and with hindsight I agree, you're right. 

I hope Bob will accept this as an apology. I still think 
his proposal is a bad idea but my cheap attempt at humour 
was uncalled for. 

Trying to be more positive, a 33kV/cm rule can be applied 
to the primary gap to estimate the firing voltage. From 
this work out the 1/2 CV^2 bang energy in the primary cap. 
Assume say 50% efficiency and calculate the top voltage 
that the coil will try to reach (if it wasn't restrained 
by the breakout load), then you might find with a big bang 
it is heading for 1MV or more. 

If we also know the minor diameter of the toroid, we can 
estimate the breakout voltage. The actual topvolts must 
sit between these two values. Then, when Bob has his 
entertainer's hat on, he can say with justification - well, 
it's at least so-much and maybe as high as such-and-such. 

-- 
Paul Nicholson 
-- 

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