Re: cap

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

Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net> 

At 08:08 AM 11/21/2003 -0700, you wrote:
>Original poster: "RIAA/MPAA's Worst Nightmare" <mike.marcum-at-zoomtown-dot-com>
>Yup, they work for a few min, and then the leads just fall off from the
>heat. Question: why don't ceramic "doorknobs" fall apart as well? I've seen
>those used in SGTC's for whatever reason even though they waste power and
>are kind of expensive since you need 10 or so in parallel (around $20 for a
>measly .002 uF -at- 40kv).

They use doorknobs because sometimes you can get them cheap.  My small 
spark gap TC uses 3 2700pF 40kV doorknobs because they were free (out of a 
piece of gear that I bought surplus for $10 for the other parts).  They're 
easy to use, and have lasted so far.

As to why the doorknobs don't fall apart... they're better built than the 
radial leaded disk capacitors.  Sure, they're not great, but they're still 
better.