Electrical Faux Pas

[Grumpy]

There will simply be "always has been" and "never knew it was there".

Even with classical electrodynamics, the electrons that are the "current" are already in the conductor - you just have to tell them to move - or make them move.   No conventional electricity without the trusty electrons and ions.

So, when we first apply a potential to a circuit, the electrons align to this potential - in a few nanoseconds.  Why?  They align to the potential - what does that really mean?  What happens when you suddenly change this potential?

Hell, what is the damn "potential" in the first place?

[pauldude000]

@Grumpy

Yes, I know what you are talking about concerning the spark gaps. I had never equated it towards a TPU type system though. Interesting. Spark Gaps have some very interesting features.

Let me tell you of a little problem I encountered in my tesla coil days.

I had a cute little coil which astounded me. When properly tuned, using a home-made spark gap, and home made glass plate HV caps, this cute little coil would put out 2 1/2 long arcs.

The secondary was a toilet paper tube with a 2 1/2" tall secondary winding of 40 or 42 ga wire. (Tiny stuff I salvaged from the color coils out of a TV, you know the three tiny coils aimed perpendicular to the tube...) The whole thing I soaked repeatedly in varnish for extra insulation.

I was using less than 25watts to power the unit.... (25 watt model train transformer running an antique Model T "buzz" type ignition coil, with the resistance adjusted to limit the current in order to prevent excessive vibrator point arcing.)

This thing would completely blank out TV channels 2-9 in TV's over 100 yards away.

I calculated that the spark gap resonant tank system was putting out pulses over 50 joules.....

I also learned something very interesting about spark gaps with this unit. What it was made out of, this distance of the gap, a number of things were important according to the units output voltage. Material was the most important thing of all.

For instance. Stainless steel electrodes caused WAY less voltage and power than galvanized steel. (Difference between 1/4 thin arc at a given gap distance and 2 1/2" L 1/8" W streamer arc.)

I realized quickly that something was happening in the gap that was NOT due to simple air breakdown and passing of current pulses, otherwise an arc at a X distance, produces Y output, period, no matter the the substance.

However, I NEVER could equate the energy used towards = the energy out. Less than 25 watts in, and most being used up to make the arc to ground, yet it was pumping enough RF energy to blank out every TV within 100 yards (300 feet).

I never could see this with less than a 25W input. This coil, and the interesting gap phenomena is what made me interested in the concept of OU to begin with.

Paul Andrulis

[BEP]

@Paul

You may be interested to know the iron content of the sparkgap points will affect the magnetic bottle that is formed.

Also, galvanized steel with a 'whisker' like contact can make an interesting tunnel diode curve. I don't know if this relates or not but it sounds like it might.


Happy Fourth! (if you are celebrating it)

[pauldude000]

@BEP

True BEP, it would. I didn't think of that.

Got a question for you, should I let the tpu uncovered thread die off?

It has gotten so sidetracked and derailed I dont know if it will ever get back on track.

Paul Andrulis

[BEP]

I can't say. Threads I started became a wash so I wnt back to recording in the notebook. I'll start another only after I have the answers to the major questions.
Your findings are usually unique. I would miss them.