Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!princeton!allegra!alice!jj From: jj@alice.UUCP Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Tesla Coil Message-ID: <6470@alice.uUCp> Date: Sat, 13-Dec-86 14:32:24 EST Article-I.D.: alice.6470 Posted: Sat Dec 13 14:32:24 1986 Date-Received: Tue, 16-Dec-86 00:42:32 EST References: <4815@reed.UUCP> <823@A60.UUCP> <824@A60.UUCP> <904@sfsup.UUCP> <675@uwmacc.UUCP> Organization: New Jersey State Farm for the Terminally Bewildered Lines: 20 Summary: Spark gaps are necessary The spark gap in a Tesla coil is essentially a high-frequency generator. If your primary (coil primary) has a decent Q, you can get essentially all of the energy into the RF band. The coil, which has a lousy coupling factor (essential to function), is only coupled decently at high frequencies that are also near a primary and secondary resonance. Even though it seems strange, putting the spark gap downstream of the capacitor still allows you to tune the primary of the coil... (the spark gap has a very quirky impedence that varies with current. That's why maximum current isn't good. ) Still, they're dangerous, and you shouldn't build them! -- TEDDYBEARS ARE FOR ALL YEAR. "Kiss me, Kate, and cursed' be he who first cries 'Enough!' " (ihnp4;allegra;research)!alice!jj