RE: Spark Gap Tubes

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

Original poster: "Edward J. Metzler" <emetzler-at-accredo-dot-com> 

I am a newbie so please excuse my question if it is stupid or has been
answered before.

I wonder if anyone has ever used a Alpha radioactive source (like those in
smoke detectors) to ionize the spark gap and see if it produces for
consistent sparks?


Edward J. Metzler
aCCredo - Proactive Risk Management
13267 SW Bull Mountain Road, Tigard, OR  97224
(503) 624-2124)   (503) 624-5723 [fax]   (503) 805-7758 [cell]
email: emetzler-at-accredo-dot-com
http://www.accredo-dot-com


-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 10:35 AM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Spark Gap Tubes

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

Indeed, they are designed for high peak power and low average power.  The
idea is that they are in the waveguide heading to the receiver. The high
transmit power causes them to ionize, forming a short in the waveguide,
protecting the receiver. When placed the right distance from the hybrid T,
the short looks like an open to the transmit power.

Often, these tubes have a bias voltage to keep them "simmering" so that they
reliably fire.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 2:43 AM
Subject: Spark Gap Tubes


  > Original poster: jwhitmor-at-muscanet-dot-com  >  > Anyone have experience with
spark gap tubes  > (sometimes called TR tubes) from radar modulators?
  > I checked the archives and found a brief mention,  > but it does not look
like anyone experimented with  > them. They were referred to as vacuum gaps,
but  > this is incorrect, since they are gas filled and often  >
pressurized. They seem to have impressive  > specifications, but the
construction does not look  > like it could support the power levels quoted.
My  > guess is the peak power is high, but the average  > power must be
rather modest. I have a 1B22 which  > is rated at 67AMPS for 0.75ms at 1000
PPS, or  > 2.25ms pulses at 330 PPS. Conduction starts at  > 2.7KV, about in
MOT range. Big problem is, no  > adjustments to the gap are possible.
  >
  > Jimbo                        jwhitmor-at-muscanet-dot-com
  >
  >