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RE: just wondering



Original poster: "David Thomson" <dwt-at-volantis-dot-org> 

Hi Mike,

I did some research with flat spiral coils while replicating Tesla's work
with his Wardencliffe project.
http://www.tesla-coil-builder-dot-com/FlatSpiralSecondary.htm

In particular, I did experiments with combination flat spiral and solenoid
secondaries.
http://www.tesla-coil-builder-dot-com/tesla_magnifier_1.htm

I found that changing the geometry of the coil changes the properties of the
charge.  A solenoid coil will produce higher potentials and is good for
developing electrostatic charge.  A flat spiral coil will develop higher
current and magnetic field and is good for developing electromagnetic
charge.

Since most Tesla coil builders are only interested in the long sparks, a
pure solenoid coil is the only way to go.  However, if like Tesla you were
interested in generating powerful electromagnetic pulses, you would use the
flat spiral coil.  The Wardencliffe tower was a combination of the two types
of coils in the secondary and was coupled with a solenoid or conical
primary.  The top capacitance of Tesla's system was designed such that the
entire electrostatic charge would just reach maximum before breakout, and
then the full charge would be fed back down into the flat spiral portion of
the secondary.  This amplified the electromagnetic pulses that Tesla sent
through the Earth's negatively charged surface via the extensive ground
system Tesla built.  In effect, Wardencliffe was a huge sledgehammer where
the hammer was made from electrons.  By beating the Earth with this
sledgehammer Tesla was able to cause longitudinal ripples in the Earth's
negative charge.  When the ripples were strong enough to encircle the planet
and reflect back to the sledgehammer, the sledgehammer would need
progressively smaller blows to keep the longitudinal waves at full
resonance.  By coupling to the potential in the nodes, Tesla had hoped to
receive power at a distance.

Unless you are working with electromagnetic pulses, a flat spiral coil is
not very useful for Tesla coil builders.  Just as the solenoid coil produces
greatest action when the electrostatic potential is highest, the flat spiral
coil produces greatest action when the electromagnetic current is highest.
This means that flat spiral coils, per length of wire, cannot generate the
high potentials of a solenoid coil.  High potential is necessary to produce
a long streamer.  Although coupling is important in determining spark
output, coil geometry is also important in order to fully take advantage of
the electromechanical properties of the electron.

Dave