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Registered Member #162
Joined: Mon Feb 13 2006, 10:25AM
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3140
As far as I know, spark gap technology and theory hasn't evolved much since the early days of wireless, so most ofl the information that you Google is relevant.
From the little experience I have, iron/steel SG electrodes are cheap and easy to get (dome nuts etc.) but being ferromagnetic they're not ideal. The WORST shape for a spark-gap is thin/pointy because 'pointy' electrodes -need the largest gap for a given breakdown voltage giving a relatively high ON resistance (energy losses) -cannot remove heat from the arc quickly and so overheat/melt/burn/vapourise the vapourised metal ions 'hanging around' in the gap reduce the firing voltage
Tungsten, being the highest melting-point conductor that we can easily obtain (with a reasonable work function) is one of the best choices of spark gap material. Forced air will also help cool the electrodes AND blow ions away from the gap. For a TC, no matter how crappy the SG, forced air makes a HUGE difference.
For a low prf Marx etc you could just use thumbtacks etc..
Registered Member #75
Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 09:30AM
Location: Montana, USA
Posts: 711
Acorn nuts seem to be the spark gaps of choice for Marx generators. They are sphrical, and since you can attach them to a screw it is easy to fine tune the gap distance.
Registered Member #242
Joined: Thu Feb 23 2006, 11:37PM
Location: Erie PA
Posts: 210
Is there a rule of thumb to use for determining the diameter of the electrodes? Anybody else have experience with getting tungsten from welding supply shops? I think I'm gonna look into that.
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Spark Gap Materials
