Re: [TCML] Odd VTTC Streamer Behavior

[futuret@xxxxxxx]

The throaty popping sound may be a "bad" sound meaning
the coil is not running just right.  Some component may be
failing.  Or the staccato controller timing may have changed
in some way.  The solid thud sound is good, other types
of sounds can be bad.  Is it a raspy sound?  If so that's
a sure sign something isn't right.  Maybe from the high
power operation of the tubes, they became damaged.
Or arcing may have been occuring in the tubes which
can make a popping sound.  You can try reducing the
grid resistance to see if it helps.  That tends to keep
the voltages in the tube lower and may help.  But it
will make the tubes run hotter of course.  But it may
be helpful just as a quick test to get an idea of what's
happening.

John


-----Original Message-----
From: Phillip Slawinski <pslawinski@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 6:51 pm
Subject: Re: [TCML] Odd VTTC Streamer Behavior



On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 17:13, <futuret@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> This is a common problem with VTTC's in staccato mode
> when producing the single sword-spark.  If the timing
> of the staccato trigger signal is not quite right it can
> contribute to this.  Also the type of power supply
> can affect this (how many level shift caps, etc).
> Various tuning, coupling, grid-feedback issues,
> etc., seems to affect it also.
>
> It may help to sharpen
> the breakout point, or raise or lower the breakout
> point relative to the toroid, also.  The tip of your
> breakout point may be burning and getting dull
> and rounded.  Since the behavior seemed to occur
> by itself, it may be due to the breakout point
> rounding from burning over time.


John,

I think you're right about this.  I had noticed the tip had become quite
rounded and had attempted to to sharpen it, but I guess I just didn't
sharpen it enough, and then to top it off I melted it with some CW 
runtime.
I should get a tungsten breakout point, ha!

I tried a sharpened piece of wire as the breakout point and it does 
seem to
help quite a bit.  However, past 100V the discharge still does the 
forking
thing.  The sound also changes from a thud to a throaty popping kind of
sound.  I had this coil throwing out 34" sparks, and now I'm nearly a 
foot
off of that.



> John
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Phillip Slawinski <pslawinski@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 5:43 pm
> Subject: [TCML] Odd VTTC Streamer Behavior
>
>
>
> Lately my VTTC has had some odd streamer behavior.  Streamer length
> increases linearly when I turn the voltage on the variac up, until it
> reaches about 90V and then the streamer forks into two shorter 
streamers.
> This occurs when I have a low pulse rate in stacatto mode.  Has this
> happened to anyone else?  Does anyone know what might cause this?
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