[TCML] quench times again

[Barton B. Anderson]

Hi Chris,

Chris Swinson wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I was looking at http://www.richieburnett.co.uk/wavefrms.html real 
> waveforms...
>
> looking at the discharge waveforms. The spark has arced to ground and 
> killed all the voltage even before it gets to the first notch. So if 
> the coil arcs on the first ring up cycle then all the RSG times and 
> notches are meaningless really ?
Kind of yes. An arc to ground allowed all the energy to transfer in the 
first 1/2 cycle (a few microseconds). It's all over but the shouting!
> It looks like the voltage just ramps up to maximum then arcs to 
> ground, that's it..
Yes, but the energy transfer is still performing it's function until all 
the energy in the cap is dumped.
> though looking at the previous waveforms, Richie has the 3rd notch as 
> the quench time. There is no spark output so the energy is just 
> trapped until (for what ever reason) the spark gap turns off at the 
> 3rd notch.
No, there is output. It's in the form of a moderate lower power corona 
off the toroid and these are in single shot mode to specifically 
demonstrate quenching. The gap continued conducting until the energy had 
been used up in the corona, secondary, and spark gap. Also realize these 
are "secondary" waveforms, so the peaks indicate the primary side 
notches. But yes, 3rd notch quenching in this case. No different than 
sparking into the air in your garage.
> To me it looks like the notches are not important if the spark has 
> output long before anyways....
I would not draw that conclusion. There was corona during the event. The 
notches are an indication of energy consumed over time. There will be no 
repeatability until enough energy has been consumed and allows the gap 
to stop conducting. The longer the energy is stored in the system, the 
greater the losses will be from bang to bang due to gap losses, 
secondary losses, and spark output drain. Less transfer losses means 
more energy in spark output. Sparks to objects will drain the system and 
allow 1st notch quenching as the output then has a low impedance path 
and will suck up all the energy stored in the secondary and topload.

Take care,
Bart

> Cheers,
> Chris
>
>
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