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Re: Ball Lightning (Moderator Comment)




From: "Malcolm Watts" <MALCOLM-at-directorate.wnp.ac.nz>

Hello all,

> From: "Dennis C. Lee" <atech-at-ix-dot-netcom-dot-com>
> 
> A discussion on the phenomenon of ball lightning itself may, upon
> reflection, provide insight on how to properly adapt tesla coil design
> parameters to produce the desired effect. Putting restictions on discussion
> topics may have a negative effect. For instance, the comment on submarine
> relay contacts producing ball lightning may at first seem unrelated to tesla
> coils. But focused analysis on such a system may help refine tesla coil
> design. For instance, is the submarine relay switching AC or DC? If it
> switches AC, perhaps ball lightning is produced due to breaking the contacts
> at a certain precise point of the waveform. This may suggest design
> considerations for tesla coil power supply circuitry. If it switches DC,
> perhaps the submarine relay contact shape should be considered and adapted
> to the tesla coil secondary elecrode modifications. As I recall, Tesla's
> three coil wireless patent mentions design parameters to prevent ball
> lightning from breaking out of the junction between the secondary and the
> third coil. See! Give a guy the chance to ramble for a bit, and a possible
> suggestion may come up.

Does anybody know exactly what those specifications from Tesla were? 
Alternatively, a reference to the patents in question would be useful.

Thanks to all comers.
Malcolm