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From: milo@ndmath.UUCP (Greg Corson)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Tesla Coil - broadcast power
Message-ID: <162@ndmath.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 21-Dec-86 21:50:26 EST
Article-I.D.: ndmath.162
Posted: Sun Dec 21 21:50:26 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 22-Dec-86 18:42:54 EST
References: <4815@reed.UUCP> <823@A60.UUCP> <824@A60.UUCP> <904@sfsup.UUCP> <553@rpics.RPI.EDU>
Organization: Math. Dept., Univ. of Notre Dame
Lines: 17
Summary: Do multisegment spark gaps help


I have seen some tesla coils that use multisegment spark gaps...that is, a 
series of metal disks in in insulating rack with about a quarter inch of
space between each disk...you feed power at the ends and it has to jump several
gaps in series.  Would this give you a richer RF source?

Does anyone have any comments on how to "tune up" a tesla coil for maximum
output?  I have one about 4-5 feet tall wound on a 4 inch core with several
large glass capacitors...it gives me about 6"-8" sparks.  Is there anything
I can do (calculations...etc) that would improve efficiency?  Changing the
size of the primary, the spark gap...etc?

I have been told that the "Q" of each coil should be as high as possible, how
would you calculate it in this situation?

Greg Corson
seismo!iuvax!kangaro!milo