Re: Geek Gap Mark-1

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <uncadoc-at-juno-dot-com>

Hi all list members; Geek #1 and company.  Hey, you know what?   We tried
our two 15/60 modified neon supply into our 6" dia.x23" tall coil with
our array of barium titanate caps, and you know what?  IF we detune our
coil by about 1 turn on the primary(more or less).  We found that the
spark output from the top terminal has the same length.  In other words,
all that big fat toriod on top of your Tesla is doing is  just making the
spark look more impressive by moving the actual discharge of the top of
the secondary to a plane that is simply further from the center of the
coil itself, in relationship to the largeness of topload you apply.   IMO
the spark length is the same with or without a toroid.  We can now see
that if the coil is tuned properly that it will give the same size spark
output regardless of the toroid.  It is simply a matter of tuning the
tank for optimum output.   We can get a 6 foot multiple nasty spark off
our secondary using a 1/4" toggle bolt as a topload.  And if we wish ,
then we can set up the primary tuning to accommodate a giant 6"x24"toroid
to get the same amount of spark.  Then we lay up and tune the coil for an
additional 6"x24" toroid atop the first one.  The double toriods look
mighty impressive, but the spark length as rated tuned output from the
secondary is the same!    The Toroid size does not seem to have any
impact on our coil at all.  We found that our coils do NOT need a monster
topload for maximum output.  We can tune it to produce nasty sparks that
just grow and grapple for the upper atmosphere with no topload at all. 
Could this be a result of the barium titanate cap tank we are using?  No,
I think not!  We seem to see a mass multitude trying to get bigger sparks
from their coils with a bigger topload. But what we have found with our
experimentation,  that is not the case at all!  I think all that most
coilers are doing is deceiving themselves by exaggerating the amount of
spark they get from a toroid topload.  Yeah, a big fat nasty looking
toroid!   A 2" brass ball on your secondary would give just as much
spark.  The toriods just extend the spark area....    Maybe the perceived
extension of spark on the secondary is just a matter of good tuning!   I
think too many list members swear by the toroid topload.  I think it is
baloney!   Tune well and give top Capacitance to the air around you! 
Reach out and you shall receive!    JMO.   Al 

On Fri, 13 Apr 2001 04:09:32 -0600 "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
writes:
> Original poster: "Christopher Boden by way of Terry Fritz 
> <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <chrisboden-at-hotmail-dot-com>
> 
> After about 2 years of using the "Crap Gap Model-1" Model-2 
> Model-3...etc 
> The Geek Group has not only produced a wonderfully working static 
> gap, but 
> another work of art :)
> 
> I was setting Project Sam up today (our 6" coil) for a Monday 
> demonstration. 
> Since the demo is for a TV interview I like to have it all set up 
> and 
> tweaked DAYS before they get there with cameras. This way when 
> something 
> blows up I have a weekend to fix it, and it seldom happens on camera 
> (I've 
> learned this from experiance, yes). There is NO way to predict kids 
> or coils 
> if you're on camera.
> 
> I had everything all set up, simple, low power setup. 1 bank of the 
> 12kV 
> MMC, a pair of 12-60's, and there....that hideuous CrapGap Mk-3. I 
> had to do 
> something about it. I removed it and started looking around the 
> building.
> 
> I scrounged one of the big phenolic disks, about 8" dia by 1.5" 
> thick.
> 3 pieces of diamond shaped Tungsten carbide from the batch Marc M. 
> sent 
> over.
> 2 4" pieces of 1/4-20 brass threaded rod, leftover from the MMC 
> weekend.
> and a 6"dia x 8" tall station post insulator.
> 
> And a 4" muffin fan, plus a few bits of wire.
> 
> A quick stop at the nut and bolt store and then off to work.
> 
> After 5 hours in the shop, working with Lynn and Nicole it was 
> finished 
> (I'll post pics to the site in a day ot 2) and it's as beautifull as 
> the 
> other new parts of the coil. It really looks like some weird 
> sculpture.
> 
> I ran back to Sigma-6 and immedatly fired it up in Sam. The 
> electricians 
> were still there working on the new 480 service for the elevator and 
> were 
> rather impressed by what a Coil can do.
> 
> btw, they think we're nuts.
> 
> I noticed right away how incredibly LOUD this thing is. WAY louder 
> than any 
> of our previous gaps. It took only a few seconds to set and runs 
> smooth and 
> solid with the safety firing every couple seconds. I did notice 
> something 
> I've never seen in our gaps before, little sparks (like from a 
> grinder, 
> comet type sparks) shooting from the gap every now and then. I think 
> it's 
> the cutting rake blowing off from the electrodes (the rake is very 
> thin at 
> the top) and wasn't concerned.
> 
> The other thing I'm noticeing is this thing wants T O R O I D! and 
> bad!
> 
> I put the 28 X 3 on, then an inverted salad bowl, then a pair of 
> bowls one 
> on top of the other, the top inverted (all the bowls are about 16" 
> and 
> hemispherical) and then even got the art-deco metal screen trashcan, 
> pencil 
> holder, and cup from my office! and I'm STILL getting multiple 
> smallish 
> arcs. a breakout point on top of the pile gives me 2' arcs to the 
> ceiling 
> beams.
> 
> Tonight I'm making a chicken-wire toroid :)
> 
> 
> What do you think of using a 30gal tin trashcan as a topload? With 
> all the 
> garage coilers out there I KNOW someone has tried this. Mine is a 
> 5gal and 
> worked great :)
> 
> Have fun!
> 
> Christopher A. Boden Geek#1
> President / C.E.O. / Alpha Geek
> The Geek Group
> www.thegeekgroup-dot-org
> Because the Geek shall inherit the Earth!
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
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> 
> 
> 

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