RE: NST Life Expectancy

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

Original poster: "Lau, Gary by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Gary.Lau-at-hp-dot-com>

When using a static gap, I don't believe that the Variac setting affects 
the maximum voltage seen across the NST secondary.  It's not uncommon to 
have the Variac set to something like 30% and still have one's static gap 
firing slowly.  Particularly when using close to a mains-resonant cap, it's 
strictly the static gap setting that determines the maximum voltage 
developed.  So by all means, crank it to 140V!  The gap will still fire at 
the same voltage, just more frequently.

Gary Lau
MA, USA

 >You are absolutely correct. It turns out the gap was large enough that the
 >voltage could have peaked to 20 KV and not the "proper" 15 KV max. I have
 >also changed the Variac tap to 120 Volt max instead of 140.

 >>Your statement that "my new RQ gaps were opened full.." would seem to
 >>indicate the cause of the problem.  Safety gaps and MOV's are like speed
 >>limit signs and speed traps, and opening the gaps is like putting the gas
 >>pedal to the floor.  Live fast, die young.