Re: First Light but I have a Problem

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

Original poster: Bart Anderson <classi6-at-classictesla-dot-com> 

Hi Emmett,

Congratulations with the MMC!

For the arcing problem, I would first check to make sure there are no 
protrusions in the area. Possibly the al tape isn't quite flat? I assume 
the center plywood is covered. If not, it should be.

Another possibility is the field strength at the top of the coil has 
reached breakout potential. This being the case, I would expect the arc to 
come off the very edge of the top winding and probably strike the toroid. 
The fix here is to lower the toroid an inch or two which will reduce the 
stress at the top of the winding (shielding).

Take care,
Bart

Tesla list wrote:

>Original poster: "Emmett Secrest" <secrest2032-at-msn-dot-com>
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>Thanks to all who have helped me get to this point with my first TC.
>I have built and installed the MMC's and the performance is much better 
>than it was with the saltwater bucket cap. With a nail for a breakout 
>point I get about three foot streamers or arcs( whichever is the correct 
>terminology). My problem is that when I remove the nail form the surface 
>of the Toroid I get some arcing from the top of the secondary column.  I 
>have a PVC adapter on the top of the secondary that reduces it from 4" to 
>2" with a piece of 2" PVC elevating the toroid about 4" above the windings 
>on the secondary.  The toroid is 4" dryer duct with a plywood center and 
>the entire toroid is covered with aluminum tape. The toroid is mounted to 
>the PVC with a Nylon bolt through the toroid center and through a threaded 
>PVC plug on the 2" PVC riser. The sparks that I am getting seem to be 
>coming from underneath the edge of the 4" reducer.  I have not run the TC 
>for any length of time without a nail for a breakout point as I am afraid 
>I will damage the secondary. I am not getting any arcing down the 
>secondary windings and there doesn't appear to be any damage to any of the 
>top turns of wire.  I don't know if this is a normal occurrence or not 
>since this is my first experience. I would appreciate any insight those on 
>the list could give as to the cause or possible solutions to this 
>problem.  I would like to add a second 12/60 NST and up my power to 1.44 
>KVA but do not want to do so until I have all the bugs worked out. I 
>apoligize for such a long posting but needed to hopefully explain clearly 
>my problem.
>
>Emmett
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