Re: Spark Gaps

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

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

Hi CJ,

A cap connected just to the NST may ring up the voltage really high.  If you
hit the 60Hz resonant point you can get like 80000 volts!  that will blow
something up so be careful.  When the cap arced, was there anything to limit
the current?  If you have 20000 volts but no inductor and no resistance, the
current will be super high.  20000 volts into 1 ohm is 20000 amps.  That will
be loud :-)  Super high current like that can damage the cap too.  Best to add
an inductor to act as a current limit.

Cheers,

        Terry

At 02:24 PM 7/17/2001 -0700, you wrote: 
>
> I recently acquired both my transformers and the capacitor that I plan on
> using in my next coil. In order to test them out I made a Jacob's ladder with
> the transformers, but since I don't have any type of electrical tools. I
> couldn't test to see if the capacitor was working etc. I made a really basic
> version of what I consider the non coiled part of the tesla coil (no
> primary/secondary coils). All it is, is the 2 transformers the capacitor and
> 2 screws. I wired them all up and plugged it in. I got a spark that was very
> bright. (the screws are about .25 inches apart.) Also it was extremely loud.
> I yanked out the cord after probably 1/5 of a second, but my ears were
> ringing and I could smell ozone and burning wood. (it was mounted on 2 pieces
> of wood). I was only a few feet away from the circuit, but I was shocked at
> how loud it was, much much louder than my other coil. I am using 2x 9kv 60 ma
> transformers (in parallel) and a .03 uf 35kv Maxwell cap, and hv wire rated
> at 35 kv in the circuit. Is there any explanation as to why it is so loud,
> will it be any quieter if I use a RSG, or an air blown static gap? Also, I
> was curious as to how loud other peoples coils/spark gaps were. 
>  
> Thanks
> CJ