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

Re: Fine Tuning a Spark Gap



In a message dated 10/28/98 9:43:43 PM Mountain Standard Time,
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:

> 
>  Mike,
>  What I've heard has been from this list. Aluminum at RF frequencies is a 
> poor
>  choice for a conductor. The conductance is affected by the frequency and
>  the Q of
>  the conductor drops. That's what I meant by RF suppression. I didn't mean 
> the
>  frequency was suppressed.
>  Bart
>  

I didn't think that the frequency could be suppressed as mentioned in your
last sentence.  I am not sure I can agree with the statement that aluminum is
a poor conductor at TC  frequencies.  Chip uses a primary made from a strip of
aluminum(about two inches wide) cut from a roll of flashing.  His coil does
quite nicely with it.  Perhaps it would do even better with a copper strip of
identical size, but as far as I can tell, aluminum works just fine.  Maybe
this is simply due to the large surface area of the conductor.  Whatever the
case, I wouldn't hesitate to use a similar design.
Mike