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Steve's Q.C.W coil design

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Arcstarter

Wed Mar 17 2010, 04:04AM

Registered Member #1225 Joined: Sat Jan 12 2008, 01:24AM
Location: Beaumont, Texas, USA
Posts: 2253

*gives Hankenstein an odd look*

I think i am starting to understand what Steve was doing. Just allowing the sparks to form before pushing a ton of power into it so that the conductive ionized path is created slowly to make the sparks grow in a certain way? And the reason for the really thick sparks just being because the on time is high, even though there is alot of time being spent to get the streamer to the max length?

Hmmm. If only i was smart enough to understand without an explanation

. Also i have nothing to generate an arbitrary waveform, except my computer (which HAHA no.).

Dr. Drone

Wed Mar 17 2010, 04:16AM

Registered Member #290 Joined: Mon Mar 06 2006, 08:24PM
Location:
Posts: 1673

BSVi

Wed Mar 17 2010, 08:59AM

Registered Member #1637 Joined: Sat Aug 16 2008, 04:47AM
Location: Kiev, Ukraine
Posts: 83

Steve Ward, you are my engeneering idol ))

And the question (there are lots of them in this thread, i know)
What is the bus voltage profile vs "on" time in your QCW ? Is it just linear, or really needs to be arbitrary?

Finn Hammer

Wed Mar 17 2010, 09:10AM

Registered Member #205 Joined: Sat Feb 18 2006, 11:59AM
Location: SkÃ¸rping, Denmark
Posts: 741

Steve Ward wrote ...

In a year from now, this will be the standard and we will all be waiting for the next cool tesla coil

But Steve..

Most of your work was popularized with board kits from Eastern.
How is he going to make those boards, if you don't post details

Cheers, Finn Hammer
(With his tongue stuck firmly against his cheek)

ragnar

Wed Mar 17 2010, 10:08AM

Registered Member #63 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:18AM
Location:
Posts: 1425

Steve Ward wrote ...

The thought of documenting it to the point of it being copy-able isnt really my idea of fun.

Tell me about it!

vasil

Wed Mar 17 2010, 03:24PM

Registered Member #229 Joined: Tue Feb 21 2006, 07:33PM
Location: Romania
Posts: 506

Steve, how would be the bus voltage? Something like that:

The tube modulates the voltage envelope, each ON burst re-ignite the streamer channel at higher voltage allowing it to grow?

If I would know how this is like, I will manage myself with other details.

Steve Ward

Wed Mar 17 2010, 05:31PM

Registered Member #146 Joined: Sun Feb 12 2006, 04:21AM
Location: Austin Tx
Posts: 1055

Vasil,

The bus voltage ramps up continuously over a period of 16mS maximum. During this time, the DRSSTC is operating "CW". It is very similar to how a VTTC operates on a level-shifter power supply.

On my flicker page you can see where i use a compound ramp to first grow a spark about 2-3 foot long, and then i ramp even faster at the end to make the channel split into a few branches.

What is the bus voltage profile vs "on" time in your QCW ? Is it just linear, or really needs to be arbitrary?

A straight ramp works quite good, though i've tweaked the shape slightly to get the longest sparks possible. The ability to generate a variety of shapes allows you to control the behavior of the spark. Slow ramping causes the spark to wander and curve, too fast causes the spark to split or sometimes become gnarly and kinked. You can change the ramp rate throughout the spark to give distinct features to it as it grows... the spark channel is itself the breakout point for future growth.

If only i were a PHD in plasma physics, i could probably get published if i wrote something :P.

teravolt

Wed Mar 17 2010, 07:33PM

Registered Member #195 Joined: Fri Feb 17 2006, 08:27PM
Location: Berkeley, ca.
Posts: 1111

Steve do you think that sthe sword sparks are created by you buss modulation or the fact that your coil is 350k? I have been told by others that they think it is the 60hz wave component in a VTTC or some DRSSTC powered from recified AC that is the reponsible component of sword sparks and others that it is the secondary resonant frequency, what do you think? Just fom obsevation hear I think that is the buss modulation. Some how you building this gives me the impresion that you have been invesigating it and that is the a step to controling spark shape.

Arcstarter

Wed Mar 17 2010, 09:15PM

Registered Member #1225 Joined: Sat Jan 12 2008, 01:24AM
Location: Beaumont, Texas, USA
Posts: 2253

Seriously, what is all this talk about a tube?

Did you use power transistors for the control of the buss? I'd have no idea how to do it even if i knew, just curious.

cjk2

Wed Mar 17 2010, 10:41PM

Registered Member #51 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:17AM
Location:
Posts: 263

I just want to express how amazing your coil length to spark length ratio is. Is this a record? You should really consider a patent so some company doesn't come along and create a "personal defense system" (weapon) or some other nonsense using this idea.

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