Re: Safety Gap

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

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

Ok, I have to ask.
Why did you stop using safety gaps?

Take care,
Bart

Tesla list wrote:

>Original poster: "Gary  Weaver" <gary350-at-earthlink-dot-net>
>Forget the safety gaps.  I tried them and decided they are a waste of time
>and effort.  I have not used a safety gap on any of my coils in probably 4
>years.  http://home.earthlink-dot-net/~gary350/tc10-4.jpg
>Gary Weaver
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 9:45 AM
>Subject: RE: Safety Gap
>
>
> > Original poster: "Luke" <Bluu-at-cox-dot-net>
> >
> > The gap I used was not for use as the safety gap.  I was just trying to
> > get an idea as to what spacing I did need for the gap.  I knew shape had
> > a little to do with it but didn't think that much.
> >
> > But for the sake of getting the feel of it, let me ask this.
> >
> > If I were to use
> > 1: standard style main static spark gap consisting of copper pipe
> > parallel to each other and spaced at about 0.29" as JavaTC says is about
> > right.
> >
> > 2: Used a needle gap for a safety gap set at just over 3/4" so gap
> > was just large enough to prevent the NST from arcing.
> >
> > Would the safety gap still perform its task?
> > I would assume yes but what are some thoughts on this.
> > I do intend to use rounded electrodes in the safety gap but what would
> > be the input on the above?
> >
> > Luke Galyan
> > Bluu-at-cox-dot-net
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
> > Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 3:35 PM
> > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > Subject: Re: Safety Gap
> >
> > Original poster: Bart Anderson <classi6-at-classictesla-dot-com>
> >
> > Hi Luke,
> >
> > Absolutely! What you basically have is a needle gap. The influence of
> > electrode shape and size plays a major role defining the arc voltage for
> > a
> > given gap width. For larger electrodes and the narrow gap spacing used
> > for
> > the typical spark gap configuration, the numbers should be pretty close.
> >
> > The reason is that the electrodes appear planar. But as you start
> > decreasing the electrode size where the gap width is larger than the
> > electrode size, the shape and curvature come into play. And with that,
> > if
> > the gap width is "much" larger, the electrodes begin to appear like a
> > point
> > or needle gap.
> >
> > Dr. Resonance last year tested flat electrodes with a 30kV supply
> > varying
> > the gap width and measuring the voltage at which the gap conducted.
> > Javatc
> > follows those actual arc voltage measurements pretty darn close
> > throughout
> > it's range. Thanks to Dr. R's measurements, I had some actual data to
> > work
> > with. However, if a needle gap such as you have set up is used, then all
> >
> > bets are off. However, what you have provided here is another good piece
> > of
> > information that can be jotted down for review regarding a needle gap
> > setup
> > with a 15/30 NST could arc across 3/4", which is certainly believable.
> >
> > Take care,
> > Bart
> >
> > Tesla list wrote:
> >
> >  >Original poster: "Luke" <Bluu-at-cox-dot-net>
> >  >Yup no caps.
> >  >Just an NST and a Spark gap.
> >  >The spark gap in this case was nothing more than two pieces of copper
> >  >wire cut and pointed toward eachother. So it wasn't rounded balls or
> >  >anything like that. Does that make a huge difference?
> >  >
.........