RQ Spark gap..variable?

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: RQ Spark gap..variable?
From: "sundog" <sundog-at-timeship-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 21:51:55 -0700
Approved: twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net
Delivered-To: fixup-tesla-at-pupman-dot-com-at-fixme

    Yup, it's me *again* :)  I got a few questions about the RQ static
sparkgap...

The copper will probly' oxidise *very* fast for me, 'cause I'm only a few
miles from a beach here (I've found this out using copper pipe for Jacob's
ladders)...I know that hurts performance, and was wondering if there was
anything I could do to the copper to make it stay 'clean' a bit longer
without hurting it's arcing ability for the gap...I can't think of anything,
but maybe someone else knows of something to use...

**important!**  I don't recommend trying to adjust this while it's
running...just good healthy paranoia here

The gaps are pretty much pre-set spacing in all of the ones I've seen, where
the pipe sections are test-fitted, then epoxied in place and set exactly.
My question...if you cut a slot lengthwise on the opposite end of the tube
from the spark gaps (made it a big C), and attached an block of plastic, or
what have you, on each side of the gap you just made, and a nylon screw to
push one block away from the one on the other side, could you then spread
the gap and increase the spark gap of the electrodes (via increasing the
circumfrence of the whole tube)?  I don't know if the gap-expansion would be
uniform (I don't think it will in real life, the gaps closest to 180 out
would probably open the most, but you never know.)  I figure if I use 8-10
electrodes in the gap, and have 2 sets of 8-10 for paralleling in 1 1"  long
tube (using 2"dia-at-3"length copper tubes), and 4 'adjustments' along the gap
in the tube, you could keep your spark gaps parallel easier.  sickly-ascii
art to follow below....PVC seems like it will spread quite a bit without
breaking in my initial tests.  I haven't built this yet, but intend to just
as a test-thing.  Am I on to something, or just chasing my tail again? :)


                Hv in
             -------
           /0        \
          /0           \   <...Cut pipe here
          \0           /
            \0       /
             --------

            _____
           / 0        \
          / 0          \ T  <-- Block /w screw in it
         | 0              |   <-- screw
         \ 0            /[]   <-- block screw pushes against (yup, really
descriptive!
           \0          /
            ----------
Turn the screw to spread the spark gaps out, and volia, adjustable RQ
sparkgap !  Is this a new idea? (probly not, but hey, 'can't win 'em all!)
Easy, simple, and stays crunchy in milk!
**important!**  I don't recommend trying to adjust it while it's
running...just good healthy paranoia here

Comments, criticism, etc on everything *but* the ascii art is more than
welcome!


Sundog  - Randomly testing circuit breakers since 1977!