Re: streamer color and brightness

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

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Tesla729-at-cs-dot-com>

In a message dated 4/6/02 1:48:10 PM Pacific Standard Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com 
writes:

<< My new tesla coil is making purple - blue streamers that are just barely
 visible in daylight, Is there anything cheap I can do to make them brighter
 and show up more.  If I draw an arc to a grounded rod they're white and
 thicker.  My coil is a 4.25 " x 22" tube with 26 gauge wire on it and I'm
 using a 12Kv -at- 60mA tranny to power it.
 
 Shaun Epp
  >>

Shaun,

Basically, more current means brighter sparks. Since current naturally
increases when you short the sparks to a grounded metal rod, the 
sparks are consequently going to be brighter than the "streamers" 
that arc into open air. Larger, more powerful coils (that are well-tuned
of course) will make longer and brighter streamers and sparks. It is
my understanding that "streamers" are the discharges that reach out
into open air without "connecting" to any grouded object and "sparks"
are the discharges that do "connect" to some grounded object(s). If
your "streamers" are excessively dim (can't see them unless in a dark-
ened room) then you may need to check for proper tuning or excessive
losses in the primary circuit (spark gap is the first thing that comes to
mind). Otherwise streamers are going to be a little dimmer and longer 
than sparks.

Hope this helps,
David Rieben
Memphis, TN, USA