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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!' "

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