Re: Streamer Vs. Strike Distance Factor.

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Gomez Addams <gomezaddams@xxxxxxxxx>


On Aug 16, 2006, at 8:09 PM, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: Vardan <vardan01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hi,
>
> > > > Hi All,
> > > >
> > > > I was working on the newer version of ScanTesla today.  Adding
> > > > elevation and temperature to the streamer length stuff...   So us
> > > > folks in Colorado won't have a 20% streamer length advantage
> > > > anymore >:o))
> >
> > I can't help wondering where this alleged streamer length advantage
> > comes from.
>
> It comes from the math and the "scientific side".  I simplify the
> equations to just "linear" functions derived from things like this:
>
> http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlux/hv/paschen.htm
>
> For terrestrial stuff, air pressure and temperature are just "line"
> functions.
>
> > When I designed coils for Dream Park Corp (which later
> > morphed into "DiaboliCo" - they were selling them to Haunted Houses)
> > we routinely received calls from customers at low altitude
> > complaining that the streamer length was too long, and wanting to
> > know how to turn it down.  None of them read the owner's manuals,
> > apparently.
>
> Hahahahahhaaha! ;-))
>
> > (required adjusting the spark gaps, as we did not
> > include variable transformers in any of our coils to keep costs down)
> >
> > After many of these calls, I found that our customers at lower
> > altitude were routinely getting much _longer_ streamers than we were
> > in Boulder!  I assumed it was due to altitude, but never really had
> > the opportunity to test it out.
>
> I heard you mention this once and ask this list about it.
>
> http://www.pupman.com/listarchives/2005/Jun/msg00561.html
>
> It was thought that the real effect was at the 'spark gap' raising
> the 'firing voltage'.  If we raise the firing voltage 20% then the
> 'coil power' goes up 44%.  But the output arc is a SQRT thing so we
> are back to 20%

But that would imply we should have been able to obtain the same
performance our customers were getting simply by adjusting the spark
gap to a higher firing voltage for the local absolute air pressure.
That wasn't the case.

> Then the output arc should 'also' be suppressed... 20%...  So a net
> 0% increase in streamer length from Boulder to New Orleans....  A
> mystery exists there...

Yah.
> > Anybody got access to a room sized altitude chamber?  :D
>
> Martin has one.

You mean the big space simulation chamber?  I've stood right next to
it, I used to work at Martin.  But somehow I don't think they'll let
us use it.  :)

> I got "connections", but the coil would have to be soaked in
> acetone or something so as not to contaminate it all up...  But we
> don't need it....  The SISG is super line power friendly, easily
> run off a UPS portable supply.  Extremely reproducible and stable
> electronics.  Here in Colorful Colorado we can just "drive the land
> yacht" from 5300 to 12183 in an hour or so.

Worth doing, but not the same as driving from 5280 to 0!

 - G.

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