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capacitor discharge
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From: D.C. Cox [SMTP:DR.RESONANCE-at-next-wave-dot-net]
Sent: Friday, March 06, 1998 12:39 AM
To: Tesla List
Subject: Re: capacitor discharge
to: Charles
Have read your articles -- very informative.
The Handbook of Chemistry & Physics will give you a chart (local library)
to provide the spacing data, however, these charts do assume a near perfect
sphere without any pits or sharp edges --something a trailer hitch ball
might have. Many HV discharge electrodes used in impulse (Marx) type
generators are hard chromium plated -- usually only .001 inch thick is
sufficient. Instead of trying to pull the plex out you might consider a
solenoid to slam one electrode closer rapidly. If you try to pull the plex
out no matter how fast you try it the electron speed is much faster. End
result will be the gap will fire around the edges of the plex and the shock
wave will shatter it rapidly. We have made impulse generators and used 3
electrode "triggered" spark gaps in which the center electrode is insulated
and positioned inside one of the main electrodes. It fires and creates a
small EM disturbance and intense UV light in the local area which triggers
the main discharge. The 3rd trigger gap is usually fired with an auto
ignition coil with a series standoff cap. Use extreme caution -- this bank
will kill you or blow your arm off in an instant if you forget to discharge
it or it "recharges" overnight by itself and you fail to discharge it.
> From: C.D. Rakes [SMTP:cdrakes-at-ipa-dot-net]
> Sent: Thursday, March 05, 1998 10:04 AM
> To: Tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: capacitor discharge
>
> Hi, This is my first inquiry to the Tesla list and what I would like help
> with is not actually Tesla coiling, but does have to do with high
voltage.
> Many year ago I purchased 10 70-uF, 10,000-volt pulse type capacitors,
> and had hoped to use them in a rail gun experiment. What I've have done
is
> to connect two of these capacitors in series to use as a capacitor
> discharge system to experiment with high energy electromagnetic fields.
> I'm using a heavy duty 5750-volt plate supply transformer to charge each
of
> the capacitors to the transformer's peak voltage, which should be
somewhere
> near 8-KV. Since they are in series the total voltage would be around
> 16-KV. What I would like to know is how far apart must the discharge
> electrodes (which are two, 2-inch trailer hitch balls) be positioned to
> avoid self discharge? I've seen several experimenters using a steel
ball
> as the discharging element, but I would like to consider using an
> insulating material, such as Plexiglas or similar material, that would be
> placed between closed spaced balls and quickly removed to allow the gap
to
> fire. Would appreciate any suggestions and ideas.
> Thanks in advance,
> Charles Rakes
>