[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

long sparks-low watts





From: 	richard hull[SMTP:rhull-at-richmond.infi-dot-net]
Sent: 	Wednesday, June 18, 1997 7:24 PM
To: 	tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: 	long sparks-low watts

All,

I have been gone about 1 week now and came back to a ton of messages.  One
thing I note is the amazing result Malcolm just posted. Malcolm is to be
commended for his efforts.

I find all this rather old, but interesting as always.  The folks in our
group here in Richmond held a fun competition on 1993 to see the smallest
and the lowest powered with the longest sparks.

The results were,  Myself with 6" -at- 40 watts,  Bill Richards 3.5" with 15
watts,  Buster Knight with 4" from 32 watts, Ron Beck with 21" from 210
watts.  We let Bill take the award.  With Ron's system of 21 gaps at 9kv
getting oohs and ahhs all round.  Most of this is on our tapes.  I published
some data last year on this list on a small quench gapped system with 7-8"
from 45 watts.

It is really easy to do this type of thing if you play with small systems
long enough!! 

I have always been amazed by the new coilers as they appear on this list.
Many never serve an apprenticeship with many, many small systems as was the
method of the older group of coilers.  Many are seeking a pole pig for their
first coil.  Blowing up expensive caps with huge break rates, etc, etc.  It
is much cheaper and more instructive to blow up small cheap stuff in a lot
of small systems and move on.  

I have come full circle and am now looking at very small magnifier systems
in maggey #12.  I can't see many more multi KW systems for myself personally
down the road.  I think that every one should do as Malcolm and all older
coilers have down.  Develop techniques and good habits in the under 200W
class.  Sure, they won't scale up, and the first 2KW system will be a real
let down even if it performs fabulously (less spark per watt in scaling up)

Small coils are an art too and a lot of bang for the watt is to be had.  I
am lighting lamps and radiating energy in maggey 12 at ranges equivalent to
Bill Richards 1KW twin 811A vacuum tube coil with only 70 watts!  The sparks
are only 5" long compared to his 12" though.  Lots more to investigate and do.

Check out small systems they are cheap, you can built and test 16 per week,
and get lots of entertainment and gain knowledge rapidly.

Richard Hull, TCBOR