Re: question about weak arc

To: Tesla List <tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Re: question about weak arc
From: Chip Atkinson <chip-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com>
Date: Sun, 5 May 1996 11:12:37 -0600 (MDT)

Steve,

I would definitely investigate other types of caps.  You can try the 
rolled capacitors (instructions/info available at ftp.funet.fi in 
/pub/sci/electrical/tesla), or stacked/flat caps.  I personally have had 
much better luck with the rolled caps -- No failures at 15kV.
I was using 1/4 plate glass shelving initially.  When these tempered 
glass plates punctured, glass "popcorn" shot out the sides of the cap and 
everything shutdown.  Like bad documentation, glass plate caps are 

Another note.  When I bought the materials for the rolled caps, the lowest
common denominator was the materials for 3 caps. (The flashing came in 
50' rolls, the 60mil PE was 4'x8' (enough for 1.5 caps)).  If you have a 
friend that you can go in together with to buy the materials, you will be 
able to save some $.

Chip

On Sun, 5 May 1996, Tesla List wrote:

> 
> My question is should I go back to the drawing board on the capacitor?  I've
> been reading about the polyethylene sheet caps submerged in mineral oil.  My
> first attempts at capacitor manufacture used simple window glass, and I
> found the glass was punctured quickly.  Thus, the 1/4 plate.
>