Spark Gap Discussions
Updated: Oct. 15, 2004
Date : Tue, 10 Aug 2004 18:25:54 -0600
Subject : Proper sparkgap for a small coil
design
Original poster: "Dr. Resonance"
<resonance@jvlnet.com>
With a 15 kV 30 mA xmfr, 9 spark gaps would be severe overkill. The heatlosses
and light losses from all those sparkgaps will "steal" power that you want to
translate into the sec coil. Ionizing each of all these sparkgaps takes power
which translates into energy lost.
With either 12 kV or 15 kV, 60 mA xmfrs, we use two gaps of 1/2 inch dia.
tungsten electrodes fitted into 1.25 x 1.25 brass block to aid cooling &
quenching. With a 30 mA xmfr a single gap with a large surface area (hence the
1/2 inch dia.) will cool and quenching properly.
Dr. Resonance
>
> I am new to this and just added a note about the clamps I use and your reply
brings up a question. I just started to >make parts for my first coil. The power
will be from a 15Kv 30ma NST . I just completed my spark gap and it is 9 tubes
>about 4.5 long spaced, .030 . The material is 7/8 dia 6al4v Ti ( left over from
BMX bike stuff). Was this a bad choice for
> material ?? I thought it would hold up well. Rich.