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Registered Member #3026
Joined: Fri Jul 23 2010, 02:46PM
Location: Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Posts: 54
I have a very good functioning SGTC with the following specs: NST 7500 volts @60 ma. Primary is 6 turns very heavy, solid copper wire in a 7 inches diameter coil. Secondary is 437 feet on 3 1/2†pvc. Capacitors are 16 beer bottles in a tub of salt water. Terminal capacitor is a single pie pan. This set up has worked very well, but I wanted to get rid of the beer bottles. I measured the capacitance of the bank at 0.02mf, so I reasoned that my mmc bank should come up to .02 mf. I hooked 16 GE 42L caps in series to give me .02mf. (each one is .33 mf) However, my spark gap became pathetically weak and no discharge at all from my top load. How can this be?? Can anyone help a non mathematician
Registered Member #2416
Joined: Sun Oct 04 2009, 04:23AM
Location: Oceanside, CA
Posts: 91
Did you try retuning your primary?
Build a .0318uf (micro farad) capacitor bank, assuming your transformer is running on 60Hz. So try only 10 of those caps you have in series, but make sure they can handle the voltage.
See the transformer design calculator here. You need to make a LTR (larger than resonant) capacitor bank.
I hope this helps. BTY, how long were your sparks when using the salt caps?
Registered Member #1408
Joined: Fri Mar 21 2008, 03:49PM
Location: Oracle, AZ
Posts: 679
I've gotten some really NICE sparks 'n arcs from saltwater caps. there are some elemental issues and one is that you have to check the condition of the assembly (solution level, etc) on a consistent basis.
I'm enclosing some graphic scans of some of the original Leyden Jar written material. It's not too difficult to read. This is what I followed when I put some together and they really worked! Study this stuff (remember it was written a LONG time back) and follow the "little things" in their construction and you'll have a solid performer - so long as you stay on top of their condition. ]leyden-jar.zip[/file]
Registered Member #3026
Joined: Fri Jul 23 2010, 02:46PM
Location: Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Posts: 54
Thanks, Tony! My sparks were a good six inches long! I was very pleased for a first coil. Is it possible to have too much capacitance?? I will check out the web site.
Registered Member #2416
Joined: Sun Oct 04 2009, 04:23AM
Location: Oceanside, CA
Posts: 91
Nice, but with a better capacitor bank you should be able to get much longer arcs. Yes, it is possible to have too much capacitance, and it wont be as efficent. Your NST is supplying 7.5kv at 60mA so that's 450 watts. You should be able to get 25 inches or more with a large toroid on top. Good luck!
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getting rid of salt water caps
