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Spark gap rating
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From: Chuck Curran [SMTP:ccurran-at-execpc-dot-com]
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 1998 12:18 PM
To: Tesla List
Subject: Re: Spark gap rating
Hi Bob:
I wondered about gap ratings myself, after deciding that my original RQ gap
was in need of being replaced for higher power levels. I believe that there
are several variables that will impact a gap's ability to function and
continue to "live" in a given coil at a specific power level. You've
probably noticed many discussions over the last few years about the spark
gaps spark intensity or brightness, which is clearly going to be impacted by
the systems tune. The bottom line in my experience is the gap's ability to
dissipate the natural heat build up during operation. All of us seem to
scrounge up a variety of different materials and components, so one person's
RQ gap with a good fan and proper baffling will work better and longer than
one built without the identical features or care in construction. My first
gap used 1" diameter thin walled copper pipe and I ran it with one muffin
fan for cooling and to purge the ionized air from the immediate area of the
gaps. This was fine up to about 6-7 Kw but the copper would get warm and it
did discolor and pit during 3-4 minute runs. Not knowing the answer to it's
maximum power, prior to an exciting death, I simply chose to rebuild it over
the winter a year ago. I used 1" diameter by 3" solid brass electrodes and
a vacuum cleaner motor, all mounted on a plenum box. This version will run
at 15 Kw with absolutely no problems, again for 3-4 minutes straight. The
extra mass in the solid brass rods plus the dramatic increase in air flow
seems to do a good job -- so far!
I'm not trying to avoid answering your question, but each of us will end up
with different results based on overall construction details. I would
recommend using substantial electrodes if you can, along with ample cooling
when running more than 3 Kw. Smoke testing will always provide a much more
definite answer! Your 180 watt coil sounds interesting--hope to hear about
the details of construction when you finish it.
Chuck
-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: 'Tesla List' <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Date: Sunday, March 15, 1998 11:03 AM
Subject: Spark gap rating
>
>----------
>From: Bob Schumann [SMTP:tesla-at-america-dot-com]
>Sent: Sunday, March 15, 1998 7:36 AM
>To: USA-TESLA-at-list.iex-dot-net
>Cc: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: Spark gap rating
>
>Howdy coilers,
>
> I have built 2 of the the Richard Quick type static cylindrical gaps and
just
>finished a variation of one, which I will soon publish here, and my
>question is
>how does the gap get rated? In the paper by Richard Quick, he states that
his
>gap is good for 3-5kw. How is this rating determined? My newest gap uses
>smaller
>diameter copper pipes, but I am only using it on a 180w baby coil. Maybe
leter
>toay I will start on the publication of it.
>
>Take care all.
>Bob Schumann
>
>