[TCML] newbie question rsg

[Barton B. Anderson]

First, it doesn't always offer an advantage, especially with a small 
current limited supply.

When it does offer an advantage, it is due to heated paths of previous 
spark channels and/or by increased bang energy. There is a point when 
the bang energy will "crest" and further increases in bps will only 
lower the bang energy further. That is dependent on the transformer 
power, cap size, and bps. Losses of course are dependent on the system 
and primarily the gap which affects the ability of an advantage.

As bps is increased, the bang energy is increasing, then it crest, then 
begins to come back down. The spark formation will be different on each 
side of the crest although the same bang energy is found. Imagine if you 
will 3000W at 120 bps, 3500W at 300 bps (crest), and back to 3000W at 
400 bps. The 3000W points on each side of the crest will take on a new 
look. The difference is spark rate and gap losses (primarily). The 
actual firing of the gap is much faster than the lower side of the 
crest. Although spark length doesn't increase, the discharges are much 
faster and the heated air channels are more often "fed". I suspect the 
channels of heated air further thermally expand and result in fatter 
looking sparks. However, if the gap losses really increase, you can get 
shorter sparks at the higher bps. Those are my particular theory's on 
this subject, and gap losses are certainly part of it all.

Take care,
Bart

mark olson wrote:
> if a rotary spark gap is to allow the tank to charge at full potential 
> of the 60 hz sine wave, then how does a spark gap of over 120 bps 
> offer any advantage?
>
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