New attempt for Thestatika...

[gauschor]

So I simplified the setup. But the more I think about it (without yet verifying it in practise) I feel something is wrong:


1) I think the magnetising effect on the ferrite core will be too weak. Maybe with a giant Leyden Jar better, but more dangerous.
2) The positively charged segments  on the wheel can only attract a limited number of electrons (this is an assumption which could be wrong). So on the one hand we have a bucket full of excess electrons, and on the other hand we have just a small wheel segment.
3) The way the Leyden Jar is connected to the kidney might interfere with the charge separation process on the Toepler.

EDIT: Funny ...now that I look at this setup I see I don't use any of the collector brushes (the horizontal black ones in the wheel) at all.

[lota]

   Hello,
my english is bad. Here is an attempt at a Wimshurstmaschine. Not from me.
http://www.intalek.com/Index/Projects/SparkGapExp/SparkGapExp.htm

greeting
Lota

[PiCéd]

I wonder if the result would not be better with copper on one side and aluminum on the other, with the same separation distance for the same capacity.
I there is little attempt to constantly press a kind of capacitor with the carbon paper coated on one side with aluminum and on the other side with a cloth and aluminum, the result is that the side always be positive is the side where there are carbon.
With an aluminum capacitor / aluminum it is impossible to have the same result.
My video, sorry it is only in french and it is not terrible:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ1T-rDHwyo

[mscoffman]

Rather then using a spark gap to create RF radio frequency I believe the Testatica machine
uses a radio frequency power oscillator using the single, purpose built, vacuum tube. The wimshurst
machine can supply a high voltage for the vacuum tube plate supply. This is a much more
efficient method of producing RF radio frequency AC signal than a spark gap. This allows very simple
light air core transformers to be used to step down the AC RF power signal.

The other method the Testatica uses to step down voltage is the "inverse voltage multiplier" this
a mechanical multiplexor switch that stacks constant capacitive sections into series, applies high
voltage DC, splits the capacitive sections into parallel then outputs the lower DC voltage at higher
current.

The reason the testaica machine is built from carbon like a MOV metal oxide varisistor is that
it is running "full out" only during certain conditions, not at all times. This requires self regulation
They eventually wanted to synthesize 220VAC at 50HZdirectly. Taps from the RF transformers combined
with switch based multiplexor can synthesize the sinewave. Meanwhile the main wheel rotates
at 50Hz timing rate. Those Antenna keys allow multiple machine to operate nearby each other without
synchronization and power sharing.

The key is that the overunity energy comes from the basic wimshurst machine itself not from side effects
of hand built components. This will be shown more directly in the future by operation wimshurst machine
using higher power electrostatic mechanical motors. I think this capacitive coupling to the wimshurst
energy-pickoff is a key to getting output voltages down into semiconductor range and to eliminate
brush wear. Be aware that capacitive coupling will require resistive equalization to occur on the wheel and the
inefficiency implied by this.

A better way may be to indeed operate the Wimshurst machine full-out with a high voltage static mechanical
drive then let secondary electronics accept all extra energy produced.

:S:MarkSCoffman

[gauschor]

Thanks for both of the links. Very interesting reads.

So he has a spark gap, where its electrodes are connected to the Leyden Jars.  The material of the electrodes are "Thoriated Tungsten" (which however could contain 2% Thorium, being radioactive) on the one side and "Carbon/Graphite" on the other side. Interesting is also that PiCéd used carbon in his youtube experiment. I assume the material chosen is based on the triboelectrical row.

The best results were achieved with 90 turns on the primary coil (1.3mm diameter) and 19 turns on the secondary coil (1.3mm diameter). Interesting is that both wires have the same diameter. Generally one would think the first wire shall have a smaller diameter (more windings) and the second a larger diameter (less windings). However this setup with more windings on the primary (e.g. 333 turns, 0.3mm diameter) and secondary coil (e.g. 30 turns, 1.3mm diameter) turned out to be less efficient.

This is something I experienced similarly. That I could use wires of the same thickness (preferable more than 1mm in diameter) for both coils and the induction was at least as good - if not better - than when using different diameters based on the common calculations for electromagnetic transformers.

The best result he also achieved with 2 spark gaps in series. 3 spark gaps seem to destroy the efficiency again.

The overall results are still kinda disappointing, as it takes 15 seconds to charge the cap to 29 Volts or so. But the performance with the wires should be remembered. It always reminds me of the anecdotes about the Testatika where someone showed a visitor a thick, fat wire which was supposed to be in one of the tubes pots (assuming it was the primary coil or so).