[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: Re: Spark Plugs
----- Original Message -----
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2000 8:16 PM
Subject: Re: Re: Spark Plugs
> Original Poster: "DaxisWeb user" <""-at-mail.daxis.nl>
>
> On Fri, 18 Feb 2000 Tesla List wrote:
> > Original Poster: "Jon Lagler" <rockcrawl-at-netzero-dot-net>
> >
> > My comments below
> >
> > > Original Poster: "Thomas McGahee" <tom_mcgahee-at-sigmais-dot-com>
> > >
> > > The spark plugs in a car are designed to ignite fuel. The spark gap in
a
> > > Tesla coil is designed to conduct massive amounts of current and then
> > > quickly quench. They are both spark gaps, just as a candle flame and
> > > the flame coming out of a flame thrower are both flames.
> > >
> > > Using a car spark plug as the spark gap in a Tesla coil will work,
> > > but it does not work WELL. Neither will it survive too long as a Tesla
> > > coil spark gap!
> > >
> > > Fr. Tom McGahee
> >
> > Tom,
> > I agree that for a pig powered coil, the spark plugs may not last very
> > long, but for any NST powered coil, they are a very easy and economic
way to
> > go. I can replace all my gaps in about 2 minutes for a cost of about $6.
So
> > far I have not needed to replace them at all, and performance is great.
I'd
> > much rather re-gap 8 spark plugs than clean and re-set a bunch of copper
> > pipes. Ever hear of GM's 100,000 mile tuneup? at 60mph thats 1666 hours
of
> > operation. Even at .1% of that efficiency, they would last 1.6 hours. A
good
> > automotive ignition system fires each plug at about 40,000v/and up to 1
amp.
> > You can do the rest of the math. For Ted's 15kv/60mA NST, I think spark
> > plugs will work great. What makes two copper pipes quench better than a
> > spark plug?
> > I am by no means a TC expert, in fact I am a beginner. I do know that
in my
> > own experience, spark plugs work well in TC opperation. If anyone would
like
> > to correct me on any of my statements, please do so. I'd like to build
an
> > "RQ" gap and compare it to my spark plug gap.
> >
> > Just my opinion,
> > Jon
> >
> > __________________________________________
> > NetZero - Defenders of the Free World
> > Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at
> > http://www-dot-netzero-dot-net/download/index.html
> >
> >
> Hello Tom,
>
> I'am also not a TC expert. I made 2 of them, but did not a good job (Heck,
> internet had to born in that days!). I did pay attention on school though.
>
> I can tell from experience that the car iginition coils I played with (in
> my early days), that the primary coil mediocer current was about 5A. So
the
> consumed power was about: 12*5 = 60VA. Assuming Pp=Ps -> I = 60/40.000 >
=1.5 mA!
It would actually be more like:14*10 = 140VA. Assuming Pp=Ps-> I = 140/40000
= 3.5 mA.
snip
>An 8 cylinder would
> need a very impressive electrical generator, check it out: 8 * 40.000 * 1
=
> 320 kW! Mama heeeelp, the chevy will start but not drive!!!
Correct, except only one plug fires at a time so it would only be 40kW
Obviously there isn't a 40kW alternator in my car. I used the specs from an
aftermarket high performance ignition coil. They claim "secondary voltage is
over 43000 volts and the secondary current output is nearly two full amps.".
Unless I'm missing something, this must be BS!
> The dimensions of a spark plug are not dominated by the sparks, but by the
> engine heath! Under all conditions the plug must close the cylinder. With
a
> temperature difference of about 400-500 degrees Celcius between a cold
> engine and one which is running top speed this is a hell of a job. A spark
> plug is also not designed to get rid of the heath and theoratical it will
> not be easy to quence hot air.
>
> But hey, where are we talking about. In the time I composed this message
> anybody could made a test (Assuming one have one that is. I'am still
> collecting things for the third TC). That's the beauty of a TC, never done
> with the job!
> Ruud de Graaf
> Greetings from lovely and wet Holland (also called... The Netherlands)
>
>
Well, the fact is, no mater what the numbers (and 'experts') say, my spark
plug gap works very well for the little time and money spent.
Later,
Jon
__________________________________________
NetZero - Defenders of the Free World
Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at
http://www-dot-netzero-dot-net/download/index.html