[TCML] Was Primary Grounding now RF gnd Center ball safety gap

[bartb]

Hi Phillip,

Yes, I know what you mean. On my 4.5"D coil the primary is covered with 
plexiglas. Because the NST current is rather large (modified), strikes 
do find targets. With the plexiglass, the primary itself is not the 
target, but everything else is. I keep my NST, TF, caps, etc.. all under 
the coil on this one. So they all get hit from time to time. So far no 
problems encountered, but it's just a matter of time before I'm once 
again fixing the NST. It's an open frame cabinet which is the real 
problem and needs to be enclosed.

Regards,
Bart

Phillip Slawinski wrote:
> Bart,
>
> Thanks for the clarification, I get it now.  It would be interesting to see
> how effective this might be.  I just prefer to keep the streamers from
> heading toward the the primary.
>
> -Phillip
>
> On Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 19:55, bartb <bartb at classictesla.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> Hi Phillip,
>>
>> I can try, but it's more of a quirky thought. I'll try an ascii diagram:
>>
>>                             |       |
>>               o o o o o o o |       | o o o o o o o <--primary
>>               |             ---------
>>               |    |-------------------------| <--cabinet
>>    conductor-->\   |                         |
>>                 |  |                         |
>>                 o  |                         |
>>   safety gap--> o  |                         |
>>                 |  |                         |
>>                 |  |                         |
>>                 |  |-------------------------|
>>               -----
>>                --- <-- RF ground
>>
>> The conductor is connected between primary and open end of gap. Horseshoe
>> gap (or whatever) is adjusted beyond primary breakdown voltage, but close
>> enough that should the outer ring be hit by a top terminal strike, the
>> voltage is high enough for a moment to arc the gap and send the strike to RF
>> ground. Well, hopefully it's high enough (not sure). I do know that strike
>> hits I've had to strike rings also crossed over and jumped to the primary a
>> good 2" distance.
>>
>> I don't know how well this would work. Just a thought I had. It's about
>> providing primary strike protection without attracting primary strikes. One
>> problem I do realize is that the ionized gap will cause breakdown voltage
>> across the gap to lower and probably cause the primary to begin arcing the
>> gap (but I guess that depends on the gap itself and the required distance
>> for terminal voltage when the primary is hit).
>>
>> Take care,
>> Bart
>>     
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