Re: async rotory gap?

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jason Johnson by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <hvjjohnson13-at-hotmail-dot-com>


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 12:12 AM
Subject: async rotory gap?


> Original poster: "David Knaack by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <dknaack-at-rdtech-dot-com>
>
> I see plenty of info on synchronous rotory gaps, but
> I haven't seen much about async gaps.  What are
> the advantages and disadvantages of using such a
> beast?

The best use of async rotaries IMHO is on DC coils. On a DC coil you can get
really neat effects by varying the break rate from less than 100 to as high
as your little motor will spin the electrodes, and the sparks changing
appearance all the while. On AC coils, such as NST powered coils they do not
have much advantage, especially when you try to run a low break rate and the
electrodes are not in the right place at the right time (especially with a
close to resonant cap value), and your transformer and/or cap goes poof and
lets the smoke out (all electronic equipment runs on smoke, let the smoke
out and it stops working ;-).

>
> It seems that it would have a definate price advantage,
> and also make the step to a syncronous setup shorter.
> How does it compare to a multiple static gap?

Depends on the static gap. The async will stay cooler and quench better than
some statics, allowing for longer run times. I guess I don't see the price
advantage though, you can modify most motors for synchronous operation for
free (if you have an angle grinder, or files and alot of patience), in
little time (unless your using those files :-), and it doesn't require fancy
test equipment or a John Freau phase shifter to operate (makes it nice
though), just some trial and error, and care and you can set your sync gap
once for best performance in one coil, and leave it, or you can do it on the
fly with some creativity and a long platic pole :-).

Jason Johnson

>
> DK
>
>
>
>