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Using X-rays to Measure Tesla Coil Voltage
From: Greg Leyh[SMTP:lod-at-pacbell-dot-net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 1997 5:00 AM
To: Tesla List
Subject: Re: Using X-rays to Measure Tesla Coil Voltage
Fr. Tom McGahee wrote:
> > > The unit was our standard model M-150 running with a 14.4 kV
> > > pole xmfr as the power source. As to the measurement equipment,
> > > well, lets just say I have some friends at a local university who
> > > "borrowed" (unofficially of course --- and for only a 4 day period)
> > > some unique test equipment from a well equipped physics dept and
> > > they took the measurements. Can't say much more without shooting
> > > myself in the foot in case I might need some more equipment for
> > > short term use in the future.
> > > DR.RESONANCE
> >
> > Can you at least mention the general principle behind the
> > measurement?
> > -GL
>
> Greg,
> When I was in high school in the mid 1960's I built (among other
> things) a number of homemade x-ray machines. These ranged all the way
> from 40KV to 250KV units. The intensity of the x-rays produced was a
> function of current. The penetrating ability of the x-rays was a
> function of voltage. I was able to "calibrate" my machines through
> the use of a set of stepped wedges that were made of strips of
> aluminum and steel. The higher the KV, the greater the thickness
> through which the x-rays could penetrate. I was able to get the
> radiology department of the local hospital to x-ray my step wedge in
> 25KV increments. Then I used the negatives to calibrate my step
> wedge.
Thumbs up!! I'll bet that the folks at the radiology dept didn't
get too many requests like that, especially from HS students.
Did your stepped wedge seem fairly linear, that is could you just
stack up four 50kV wedges to get a 200kV wedge?
-GL