Triggered Tap Testing

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

Original poster: "Terry Fritz" <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>

Hi All,

I did some testing with Marc's triggered gap today using this setup:

http://hot-streamer-dot-com/temp/MarcGap/MarcGap1.jpg

Marc's gap uses two tungsten carbide milling tools for the electrodes and a
1/8 inch tungsten rod for a trigger electrode:

http://hot-streamer-dot-com/temp/MarcGap/MarcGap2.jpg

When the gap is running, the arc goes from one electrode, to the trigger
electrode, and then on to the other main electrode as can be seen with a
welder's glass:

http://hot-streamer-dot-com/temp/MarcGap/MarcGap3.jpg

The gap does track perfectly with the trigger signal and appears to have
fairly low loss:

http://hot-streamer-dot-com/temp/MarcGap/scope.gif

The gap is very bright and one should visit the welding store for some
welder's glass or goggles (they are cheap, a few dollars).

The gap does get pretty hot but the tungsten does not care much.  A small
fan would really help.

I think the loss would be far less if the trigger electrode just distorted
the fields so the arc went between just the main electrodes.  Working on
this ;-)

Cheers,

	Terry