Topload Material
Tom540, Tue Jul 11 2006, 12:42AMDoes anyone know if the topload material makes any diffrence in spark length or power output? My coil has a steel topload and it gets warm during operation. I was wondering if it may be robbing power from the coil and maybe reducing spark length.
Re: Topload Material
HV Enthusiast, Tue Jul 11 2006, 12:49AM
I wouldn't use steel. Steel is magnetically soft and if it is indeed heating, especially if its pretty large, you are losing power to it. Stay with aluminum.
However, if it works to your satisfaction, then don't change it.
HV Enthusiast, Tue Jul 11 2006, 12:49AM
I wouldn't use steel. Steel is magnetically soft and if it is indeed heating, especially if its pretty large, you are losing power to it. Stay with aluminum.
However, if it works to your satisfaction, then don't change it.
Re: Topload Material
Tom540, Tue Jul 11 2006, 01:07AM
Well now knowing that I could possibly get bigger sparks I'm going to have to change it to aluminum. The mosfets are dead in it as of now anyways so it'll give me something to do while I get replacements.
Tom540, Tue Jul 11 2006, 01:07AM
Well now knowing that I could possibly get bigger sparks I'm going to have to change it to aluminum. The mosfets are dead in it as of now anyways so it'll give me something to do while I get replacements.
Re: Topload Material
Marko, Tue Jul 11 2006, 01:26AM
If you think it wastes your power you can lift it off the secondary on a pole or put somewhere on the side, just to see if there is any effect.
Marko, Tue Jul 11 2006, 01:26AM
If you think it wastes your power you can lift it off the secondary on a pole or put somewhere on the side, just to see if there is any effect.
Re: Topload Material
Desmogod, Tue Jul 11 2006, 02:12AM
Judging by your post it looks like you are running solid state, and if that indeed is your topload in the pic, it is way too large to be using on an SSTC. SSTC's like toploads only a fraction bigger than the diameter of the secondary. Try a smaller topload too.
Desmogod, Tue Jul 11 2006, 02:12AM
Tom Blitch wrote ...
Well now knowing that I could possibly get bigger sparks I'm going to have to change it to aluminum. The mosfets are dead in it as of now anyways so it'll give me something to do while I get replacements.
Well now knowing that I could possibly get bigger sparks I'm going to have to change it to aluminum. The mosfets are dead in it as of now anyways so it'll give me something to do while I get replacements.
Judging by your post it looks like you are running solid state, and if that indeed is your topload in the pic, it is way too large to be using on an SSTC. SSTC's like toploads only a fraction bigger than the diameter of the secondary. Try a smaller topload too.
Re: Topload Material
Steve Ward, Tue Jul 11 2006, 03:52AM
Well, a SSTC will work fine with a bigger topload, but it doesnt *improve* performance over a smaller toroid.
I agree, if the toroid gets warm, it is probably losing power to eddy currents induced in it from the top turns of the secondary.
Steve Ward, Tue Jul 11 2006, 03:52AM
Well, a SSTC will work fine with a bigger topload, but it doesnt *improve* performance over a smaller toroid.
I agree, if the toroid gets warm, it is probably losing power to eddy currents induced in it from the top turns of the secondary.
Re: Topload Material
Tom540, Tue Jul 11 2006, 04:27AM
the secondary is 3.5' x 23" 30AWG wire and the topload is 5"x12". The oly reason i used this material is because it looked easier to put to gether and could be soldered with a torch which I had to do since it's made up of 4 elbow joints that kept comming apart.
Tom540, Tue Jul 11 2006, 04:27AM
the secondary is 3.5' x 23" 30AWG wire and the topload is 5"x12". The oly reason i used this material is because it looked easier to put to gether and could be soldered with a torch which I had to do since it's made up of 4 elbow joints that kept comming apart.
Re: Topload Material
teravolt, Tue Jul 11 2006, 04:57AM
as long as it is metalic I don't think it maters. and i would think that eddy currents would occur in any conductive material. Has is been a problem with torids. Please correct me if I am rong
teravolt, Tue Jul 11 2006, 04:57AM
as long as it is metalic I don't think it maters. and i would think that eddy currents would occur in any conductive material. Has is been a problem with torids. Please correct me if I am rong
Re: Topload Material
Steve Conner, Tue Jul 11 2006, 09:57AM
I take issue with the "SSTCs don't like big toroids" thing. I believe bigger toroids will increase the size and hotness of sparks, but it also demands more from your electronics. The coil draws more current and there's more risk of forced recovery from mistuning, so if your electronics are weak, they'll probably die. Also the E-field in the vicinity gets stronger which can cause your driver to suffer interference, freak out, and destroy the power devices from misdriving.
If the toroid is really too big, then the power devices will explode before they can pump it up to enough voltage to make sparks, even if the electronics are working perfectly.
Steve Conner, Tue Jul 11 2006, 09:57AM
I take issue with the "SSTCs don't like big toroids" thing. I believe bigger toroids will increase the size and hotness of sparks, but it also demands more from your electronics. The coil draws more current and there's more risk of forced recovery from mistuning, so if your electronics are weak, they'll probably die. Also the E-field in the vicinity gets stronger which can cause your driver to suffer interference, freak out, and destroy the power devices from misdriving.
If the toroid is really too big, then the power devices will explode before they can pump it up to enough voltage to make sparks, even if the electronics are working perfectly.
Re: Topload Material
HV Enthusiast, Tue Jul 11 2006, 11:27AM
Your "rong"
Material is a huge factor. Steel, mu metal, etc... are soft magnetic materials and would have much higher losses at 100's of khz then materials such as copper and aluminum.
HV Enthusiast, Tue Jul 11 2006, 11:27AM
wrote ...
as long as it is metalic I don't think it maters. and i would think that eddy currents would occur in any conductive material. Has is been a problem with torids. Please correct me if I am rong
as long as it is metalic I don't think it maters. and i would think that eddy currents would occur in any conductive material. Has is been a problem with torids. Please correct me if I am rong
Your "rong"
Material is a huge factor. Steel, mu metal, etc... are soft magnetic materials and would have much higher losses at 100's of khz then materials such as copper and aluminum.
Re: Topload Material
Desmogod, Wed Jul 12 2006, 02:23AM
I would say that's probably my issue, lol
Desmogod, Wed Jul 12 2006, 02:23AM
Steve Conner wrote ...
if your electronics are weak, they'll probably die.
if your electronics are weak, they'll probably die.
I would say that's probably my issue, lol
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