ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 08-31-94 22:02 From: Don Kimberlin To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ> -=> Sez Don Kimberlin to Richard Quick <=- DK> ...Thanks for that point. We have a FAQ under continuous DK> revision over in Fido's BROADCAST echo, and I'll sure make DK> certain we don't understate Tesla's involvement in the DK> development of what evolved into "radio." RQ> Very kind, and accurate, of you! ...Always want to get things more correct than the stock, glossed-over "histories." Glad you approve, since you;re obviously expert on the matter... RQ>What is the efficiency of transmitting alternating currents RQ>through a wire compared to the efficieny of radiating RQ>systems? Tesla said that by conduction into the ground and RQ>upper atmosphere he could deliver not only intelligible RQ>signal, but useable power. He realized early on the RQ>inefficiency of radiated signal systems, and focused on a RQ>system that employed wireless conductors instead. .... DK> ...What "conductors?" I can see the earth, of course, as DK> one conductor. There is a "waveguide theory" particularly DK> applicable to low frequency radio, where essentially the DK> earth and the ionosphere form the walls of a "waveguide" DK> around the earth. Would those be the "conductors" Tesla was DK> alluding to? RQ>Yes, more or less. Tesla saw the earth as a good conductor RQ>when he tuned to specific earth resonate frequencies below RQ>30,000 Hz. He stated he could detect natural electrical RQ>standing waves in the ground, and when he tuned his coils to RQ>these natural frequencies, he was able to increase the RQ>amplitude of these standing waves. This is the ground RQ>connection of his system. ...Did he ever say *what* those frequencies were? In radio work, there are some few frequencies that have had to be reserved away from communications work because certain natural phenomena occupy that part of the spectrum. For example, note that your TV set has no Channel 37. That's because it's one of the important spectral lines of, if I remember that smattering of physics, helium, which radio astronomers need to monitor without man-made noise... RQ>For the air terminal, Tesla opened an ionize and conductive RQ>channel to the stratosphere. I believe he used a combination RQ>of X-Rays and hard UV produced by his single terminal bulbs RQ>which were mounted on the air terminal of the transmitter RQ>station. The high-voltage RF current from the air terminal was RQ>passed by this conductive channel directly into the rarified RQ>upper atmosphere where it would conduct freely around the RQ>globe. ...Now, my confined mind gets into a problem. X-rays and UV are, of course, at the opposite end of the frequency spectrum from the LF stuff of the physical coils. While a steep pulse contains higher and higher frequency elements, lighting off something like that will wipe out every radio within a large radius...yet it seemed Tesla achieved some sort of "clean" signal that didn't do that. Also, radiated signals that high in frequency contain an increbibly high energy level -- one that is dangerous to biological structures. In fact, we call it "ionizing radiation," and have all sorts of proscriptions against producing it carelessly. How did Tesla's production of these frequencies not result in danger to biological life? (704)792-9241 (1:379/37.0) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-01-94 04:46 From: Terry Smith To: Don Kimberlin Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ>I was digging around and found some info on Tesla's Colorado RQ>Springs Magnifier that has not been seen around. RQ>P(avg) = 311 W . RQ>F 94 KHz RQ>Vbase 420.00 KV RQ>Base impedance, Rbase 209 ohms RQ>Characteristic Impedance, Zo 7001 ohms RQ>Electrical length of the resonator 70.4 degrees RQ>Velocity factor, Vf 0.0045 RQ>VSWR 33.4 kc 0.1232 k 0.5934 RQ>Voltage Step up 31.5 RQ>Vtop = 13.22 MegaVolts RQ> (Classical Resonator) DK> out of that thing. It certainly would have been receivable DK> around the whole globe! Terry Smith, who carries all the DK> good stuff about loading RF into antennas in his head, will DK> have a ball playing around with those numbers...some of which DK> look rather impossible when thinking in terms of the average DK> and RMS values used in everyday radio communications...we DK> have to remember Tesla Interesting, yes, but nothing like what would be characteristic of any height insulated vertical radiator, with or without typical loading. DK>...How about it, Terry? Can you figure what the field would DK> be like off a 94 kHz loading coil with a top hat? It sure DK> looks to be pretty "standard" in that regard...my first DK> guess says about 1.5 Amps average base current, but 1350 DK> Amps peak base current...what a pulse! Based on 209 ohms and 420 kV, we might expect over 2,000 A at the base. Extrapolating with the ratio of 31.5 and assuming minimal losses, the arc might be around 60 A. That's approaching a gigawatt. As to radiation efficiency, I'd be curious if any data comparable to present day units existed. A 200 ohm base is typical of a 120 degree or so tower. Loading of normal radiators commonly does more to match impedances without higher Q networks, than to boost radiation efficiency. The near zero Vf, and indication (based on what?) of 70 degree wavelength, conflict with normal radiator modelling, as does a VSWR so much greater than 2. I'd be curious, but afraid to even guess. I would speculate that fields from some of the coils might cancel, but that there'd be some radiation from both the long coil, and the arc path. How much I'd guess would depend a lot on construction practices, not shown here. If I had to pick a number to compare with equivalent transmitting power into an efficient radiator, I'd guess this might be similar to around a megawatt, though low duty cycle. Is there any historical field data? (203)732-0575 BBS (1:141/1275) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 06 Sep 94 19:24:14 From: Richard Quick To: Terry Smith Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ My mail services have been poor to worse the last two weeks. No mail picked up for a nearly a week, then getting duplicates, not counting posts missed completely and late messages.... Anyway, Terry Smith and Don Kimberlin were commenting on some info I dug up on Tesla's Colorado Springs Magnifier.... TS> Interesting, yes, but nothing like what would be TS> characteristic of any height insulated vertical radiator, TS> with or without typical loading. DK>...How about it, Terry? Can you figure what the field would DK> be like off a 94 kHz loading coil with a top hat? It sure DK> looks to be pretty "standard" in that regard...my first DK> guess says about 1.5 Amps average base current, but 1350 DK> Amps peak base current...what a pulse! TS> Based on 209 ohms and 420 kV, we might expect over 2,000 A at TS> the base. Extrapolating with the ratio of 31.5 and assuming TS> minimal losses, the arc might be around 60 A. That's TS> approaching a gigawatt. TS> As to radiation efficiency, I'd be curious if any data TS> comparable to present day units existed. A 200 ohm base is TS> typical of a 120 degree or so tower. Loading of normal TS> radiators commonly does more to match impedances without TS> higher Q networks, than to boost radiation efficiency. The TS> near zero Vf, and indication (based on what?) of 70 degree TS> wavelength, conflict with normal radiator modelling, as does TS> a VSWR so much greater than 2. TS> I'd be curious, but afraid to even guess. I would speculate TS> that fields from some of the coils might cancel, but that TS> there'd be some radiation from both the long coil, and the TS> arc path. How much I'd guess would depend a lot on TS> construction practices, not shown here. If I had to pick a TS> number to compare with equivalent transmitting power into an TS> efficient radiator, I'd guess this might be similar to around TS> a megawatt, though low duty cycle. Is there any historical TS> field data? The whole idea of the Colorado Springs Experimental Station was to verify Tesla's previously discovered methods of transmitting communications and electrical power without wires. The system was not designed, built, or operated at as radiating transmitter. The Magnifer circuit was operated at industrial power levels to perfect a method of wireless global transmission thru conduction. References to radiation efficiency completely miss the point of the experiment. Tesla stated over and over that his goal was to supress radiation and increase conductivity. This is why the system was required to produce such high voltages. The posted values were derived from only one of many dozens of experiments Tesla performed with the equipment at hand, and is "typical" in showing the type voltages, currents, and frequencies Tesla worked with at the station between 1899-1900. The famous spark photos from the Colorado Springs lab were taken solely to publicize to power processing ability of the machine, and does not document the primary function of the oscillator/coil system. It could also be surmised that spark length gave a good relative indication of system tune given the absence of any reliable commercial diagnostic equipment in 1899-1900. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 02 Sep 94 17:01:22 From: Richard Quick To: Don Kimberlin Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ>Yes, more or less. Tesla saw the earth as a good conductor RQ>when he tuned to specific earth resonate frequencies below RQ>30,000 Hz. He stated he could detect natural electrical RQ>standing waves in the ground, and when he tuned his coils to RQ>these natural frequencies, he was able to increase the RQ>amplitude of these standing waves. This is the ground RQ>connection of his system. DK> ...Did he ever say *what* those frequencies were? I will research for an exact quote. The impression I get reading his publicly released material is that he considered this information proprietary at the time of his discovery. He frequently repeated that the system operated "below 30,000 Hz". RQ>For the air terminal, Tesla opened an ionized and conductive RQ>channel to the stratosphere. I believe he used a combination RQ>of X-Rays and hard UV produced by his single terminal bulbs RQ>which were mounted on the air terminal of the transmitter RQ>station. The high-voltage RF current from the air terminal was RQ>passed by this conductive channel directly into the rarified RQ>upper atmosphere where it would conduct freely around the RQ>globe. DK> ...Now, my confined mind gets into a problem. X-rays and UV DK> are, of course, at the opposite end of the frequency DK> spectrum from the LF stuff of the physical coils. While a DK> steep pulse contains higher and higher frequency elements, DK> lighting off something like that will wipe out every radio DK> within a large radius...yet it seemed Tesla achieved some DK> sort of "clean" signal that didn't do that. Well, the UV and X-Ray were produced through tubes, and the resultant radiation was used to ionize a conductive channel; but Tesla did not intend to radiate LF signal. The channel provided a direct electrical connection to low pressure (and conducting) upper atmosphere. The very high frequency of the ionizing radiation need not interfere destructively with low frequency conduction. DK> Also, radiated signals that high in frequency contain an DK> increbibly high energy level -- one that is dangerous to DK> biological structures. In fact, we call it "ionizing DK> radiation," and have all sorts of proscriptions against DK> producing it carelessly. How did Tesla's production of DK> these frequencies not result in danger to biological life? Well the very fact that they are ionizing radiation is why Tesla was using them. As to the bio-hazard; my understanding is that the beams were to have been fairly tightly focused, the number of transmitters were to be kept small, and they were to be located away from population centers. Regardless, the strength of this radiation (and the bio-hazard) drops rapidly with distance, and it shuts off completely with a flip of a switch. We are currently using systems worldwide (nuclear) where the radiation bio-hazard is persistant, cannot be shut off, and must be tightly regulated. Six of one... Half dozen of another...... and how does that joke go about Chicken Kiev??? ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-01-94 14:08 From: Ken Stewart To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla? ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ I have wanted to build a Tesla coil for years. How hard is it? I am a beginner at working with electronics who typically goes to Radio Shack for anything needed. Also, I remember a story about a resonator where Tesla's assistant almost caused an earthquake by activating it. Is this a true tale or an urban myth? 919-662-9313 9353 (1:151/147) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 05 Sep 94 13:32:51 From: Richard Quick To: Ken Stewart Subj: Tesla Coil ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ -=> Sez Ken Stewart to Richard Quick <=- KS> I have wanted to build a Tesla coil for years. How hard is KS> it? I am a beginner at working with electronics who KS> typically goes to Radio Shack for anything needed. Well, coil building is not as difficult as some would have you think. Building really GOOD coils that perform with excellent efficiencies requires that you use a modern, experimentally verified design, and modern (plastic) materials; but the actual construction of a coil system itself differs none at all from the coils of old. Radio Shack will be of no use at all in building the coil, tank circuit, or power supply: nearly every coil component will have to be hand-crafted; those components that are not hand-crafted (transformers/power supply) will typically be found surplus. My latest archive on this topic is available from this BBS in the file TESLA7.ZIP. The file is also available at no charge if you write to me and include a SASE and a blank formatted 1.44 floppy. TESLA7.ZIP has: the complete text archive of this thread going back to 10/93, a bunch of GIF files that show my favorite spark gap designs, GIF files showing wiring diagrams and RF choking circuits (with accompanying complete text instructions and parts lists for every GIF), simple but effective secondary coil "rule of thumb" design and construction guidelines, detailed instruc- tions on obtaining/modifying free neon sign xfrmrs to make high efficiency high-voltage Tesla power supplies, detailed instruc- tions on building high-voltage pulse discharging plastic capa- citors. The file also contains the most complete Tesla and Tesla coiling bibliography and parts/supply list I have seen anywhere. If you are interested you will find a wealth of information on the subject (zipped 400K) , at a price you can't beat (free). KS> Also, I remember a story about a resonator where Tesla's KS> assistant almost caused an earthquake by activating it. KS> Is this a true tale or an urban myth? Oh the story is quite true. It was Tesla himself that performed the experiment. It has been told here at least once. I will look back through my archives and see if I can dig it up for reposting. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 05 Sep 94 14:08:53 From: Richard Quick To: Ken Stewart Subj: Tesla ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ -=> Sez Ken Stewart to Richard Quick <=- KS> I remember a story about a resonator where Tesla's KS> assistant almost caused an earthquake by activating it. KS> Is this a true tale or an urban myth? Oh the story is quite true. It was Tesla himself that performed the experiment. It has been told here at least once. I will look back through my archives and see if I can dig it up for reposting. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 11-27-93 From: Richard Quick To: George Powell Subj: Re: 10KVA Tesla Coil ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ GP> I bet Tesla was a fun person to live by..made the locals GP> life real interesting.. There are several good (and true) stories about the local disturbances Tesla created. One of the best concerns an electro-mechanical steam powered oscillator he constructed. Now the oscillator was built to provide a constant frequency field current for a RF alternator in his radio work. But he played around with the thing. In New York he had a lab in the loft of the building at 46 East Houston Street (1898). The building had a heavy iron center post in the construction. The base of the post was sunk in the sandy basement floor and terminated near bedrock. The post came up the building center, through the loft, and supported the roof peak. This post carried a considerable portion of the building load. Tesla bolted the oscillator to the post and fired it up. As steam pressure in the boiler increased, so did the energy of the oscillations. He sat in a chair and observed the effects of the mechanical vibrations on objects at hand. After about 30-40 minutes Tesla noticed the building itself begin to sway; then he saw iron-work and wooden beams begin to unseat. He went to shut down the machine. To his dismay he found that the steam line was too hot to approach, and/or the valve had seized. He looked around the lab for a minute or two and finally attacked the problem with an axe, severing the steam line, and blowing clouds of live steam into the building loft. As the steam cleared, he heard a knock at the door. Two of New York's finest stood in the doorway. Tesla was apparently no stranger to dealing with the authorities: He explained to the cops that they had arrived too late for the demonstration, and that an unfortunate problem prevented him from reproducing the test while they waited. He invited them back later in the day, and showed them out. It seems the police at the Mulberry Street headquarters had received frantic calls from people in a radius of several blocks reporting an "earthquake". Walls, sidewalks, and foundations had cracked, windows shattered, street lamps tilted askew, and stuff was falling out of cabinets and shelves. The police realized that while the station itself was only subjected to a slight tremor, officers reporting to the scene of the calls found the intensity increased as they drew near Tesla's lab. It did not take them long to figure out where the disturbance was comming from. As I mentioned, Tesla was no stranger in dealing with authorities. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-04-94 11:05 From: James Meyer To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla Caps 1/2 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ> Flat plate caps have no inductance. Rolled caps contain two RQ> or more plates which are tightly rolled up. Rolled plates RQ> exhibit some properties of coils, they contain a certain RQ> degree of self inductance. Rolled caps don't always have to show a lot of inductance. With a slight modification to your construction techniques, you could make "extended foil" caps with almost no inductance. The inductance of an extended foil cap doesn't change as they get bigger either. Jim (919) 286-4542 (1:3641/1) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 06 Sep 94 17:52:55 From: Richard Quick To: James Meyer Subj: Tesla Capacitors ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ> Flat plate caps have no inductance. Rolled caps contain two RQ> or more plates which are tightly rolled up. Rolled plates RQ> exhibit some properties of coils, they contain a certain RQ> degree of self-inductance. JM> Rolled caps don't always have to show a lot of inductance. JM> With a slight modification to your construction techniques, JM> you could make "extended foil" caps with almost no JM> inductance. The inductance of an extended foil cap doesn't JM> change as they get bigger either. Please tell me more. What slight modifications would be required, and how do those modifications reduce or eliminate self- inductance? As I may have mentioned; the .02 uf 10 KVAC pulse discharging rolled capacitor (instructions which I have posted here several times) are self-resonant around 1.2 MHz. When I build larger caps of this design; the self resonance drops below 1 MHz where it interferes destructively with the tank circuit operation of smaller coils; these smaller coils are where the beginners start. The second design limitation I have encountered is a lowering of the tank circuit Q factor when larger rolled caps are used in the oscillator. I attribute part of this to destructive self-reson- ance, but this can be controlled/reduced by operating the oscillator at lower frequencies, and maintaining a suitable spread between the self-resonate frequency of the cap, and the normal operating frequency of the oscillator. The destructive interference does not seem to account for the large drop in Q factor I read on my scope. One problem with tank circuits is that the circuit Q factor drops off as the physical length of non-primary coil conductors increase. I have run physically large oscillators below 100 kHz, using up to 14 of the homemade .02 uf rolled caps in the circuit at one time, and the Q factor gets pretty poor. The bus wiring alone subtracts plenty of Q (even with great care you get tons of radiant surface area and off-axis inductance); but when I add up all of the plate lengths of the rolled caps, and include these lengths as a factor in the tank circuit wiring, it becomes clear that the wiring length of the circuit exceeds the primary coil length by several times. It seems that this must be avoided. Where physically large layouts are common, that is at lower tank circuit frequencies (say below 175 kHz), I switch to flat stacked capacitors. When I switch, I see tank circuit Qs increase. This capacitor construction (flat plate) avoids the problem of self- inductance (&therefore self-resonance), but I see an increase in tank circuit Q that the self-inductance factor alone does not seem to account for.... It seemed to me the best course to limit the rolled cap design at .02 uf, and for larger capacitors, to switch over to a flat stacked capacitor design. I am not at all trying to detract from the viability of your suggestion, which I would like to hear in more detail, but I am simply trying to outline and clarify some of the problems and design limitations I have encountered in the course of my experimentation. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-06-94 11:53 From: DON KIMBERLIN To: RICHARD QUICK Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ>Yes, more or less. Tesla saw the earth as a good conductor RQ>when he tuned to specific earth resonate frequencies below RQ>30,000 Hz. He stated he could detect natural electrical RQ>standing waves in the ground, and when he tuned his coils to RQ>these natural frequencies, he was able to increase the RQ>amplitude of these standing waves. This is the ground RQ>connection of his system. DK> ...Did he ever say *what* those frequencies were? RQ>I will research for an exact quote. The impression I get RQ>reading his publicly released material is that he considered RQ>this information proprietary at the time of his discovery. He RQ>frequently repeated that the system operated "below 30,000 RQ>Hz". ...That's very clearly what we have come to call the "Very Low Frequency" range or VLF. Just for trivia sidelines, the international definition books call them "myriametric waves," implying a wavelength in space measured in tens of kilometers.. in today's world, there are still some few uses of it. Most notable is the Omega navigation system, while there are a few maritime Morse operations in that region. One most significant one is probably England's GBR on 15.95 kilohertz, which is a direct descendant of GFEX, built in the 1920's as a Morse transmitter to "cover the Empire," running one million watts into an antenna measured in miles near Rugby, England. It may be the last bit of "Jurassic radio" left in the world... RQ>For the air terminal, Tesla opened an ionized and conductive RQ>channel to the stratosphere. I believe he used a combination RQ>of X-Rays and hard UV produced by his single terminal bulbs RQ>which were mounted on the air terminal of the transmitter RQ>station. The high-voltage RF current from the air terminal was RQ>passed by this conductive channel directly into the rarified RQ>upper atmosphere where it would conduct freely around the RQ>globe. DK> ...Now, my confined mind gets into a problem. X-rays and UV DK> are, of course, at the opposite end of the frequency DK> spectrum from the LF stuff of the physical coils. While a DK> steep pulse contains higher and higher frequency elements, DK> lighting off something like that will wipe out every radio DK> within a large radius...yet it seemed Tesla achieved some DK> sort of "clean" signal that didn't do that. RQ>Well, the UV and X-Ray were produced through tubes, and the RQ>resultant radiation was used to ionize a conductive channel; RQ>but Tesla did not intend to radiate LF signal. The channel RQ>provided a direct electrical connection to low pressure (and RQ>conducting) upper atmosphere. The very high frequency of the RQ>ionizing radiation need not interfere destructively with low RQ>frequency conduction. ...OK, my simplistic mind sees it as "modulating" the UV and X-ray with the VLF power, then... DK> Also, radiated signals that high in frequency contain an DK> increbibly high energy level -- one that is dangerous to DK> biological structures. In fact, we call it "ionizing DK> radiation," and have all sorts of proscriptions against DK> producing it carelessly. How did Tesla's production of DK> these frequencies not result in danger to biological life? RQ>Well the very fact that they are ionizing radiation is why RQ>Tesla was using them. As to the bio-hazard; my understanding RQ>is that the beams were to have been fairly tightly focused, RQ>the number of transmitters were to be kept small, and they RQ>were to be located away from population centers. ...OK, that makes good sense. Interesting, of course, that he knew this in an era when people like Curie were only finding out the hard way of the hazards.... RQ>Regardless, the strength of this radiation (and the bio- RQ>hazard) drops rapidly with distance, and it shuts off RQ>completely with a flip of a switch. We are currently using RQ>systems worldwide (nuclear) where the radiation bio-hazard is RQ>persistant, cannot be shut off, and must be tightly regulated. RQ>Six of one... Half dozen of another...... and how does that RQ>joke go about Chicken Kiev??? ...Yes, except in Tesla's plan, there were "beams" apparently to be pointed out toward space? Now, to get the maximum benefit of that with "radio," the launch angle is very low...in the order of ten degrees off the horizon or such. That would mean his trans- mission system would be radiating pretty hazardous stuff at low angles. The location would have to be extremely remote, and not shut off, either... (1:379/37) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 08 Sep 94 23:26:30 From: Richard Quick To: DON KIMBERLIN Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Quoting myself, and talking about Tesla's global system... RQ>For the air terminal, Tesla opened an ionized and conductive RQ>channel to the stratosphere. I believe he used a combination RQ>of X-Rays and hard UV produced by his single terminal bulbs RQ>which were mounted on the air terminal of the transmitter RQ>station. The high-voltage RF current from the air terminal was RQ>passed by this conductive channel directly into the rarified RQ>upper atmosphere where it would conduct freely around the RQ>globe. Then quoting you... DK> ...Now, my confined mind gets into a problem. X-rays and UV DK> are, of course, at the opposite end of the frequency DK> spectrum from the LF stuff of the physical coils. While a DK> steep pulse contains higher and higher frequency elements, DK> lighting off something like that will wipe out every radio DK> within a large radius...yet it seemed Tesla achieved some DK> sort of "clean" signal that didn't do that. Myself again... RQ>Well, the UV and X-Ray were produced through tubes, and the RQ>resultant radiation was used to ionize a conductive channel; RQ>but Tesla did not intend to radiate LF signal. The channel RQ>provided a direct electrical connection to low pressure (and RQ>conducting) upper atmosphere. The very high frequency of the RQ>ionizing radiation need not interfere destructively with low RQ>frequency conduction. DK> ...OK, my simplistic mind sees it as "modulating" the UV and DK> X-ray with the VLF power, then... The point missed again. Tesla designed and built the Magnifing Transmitter directly from patents #645,576 and #649,621 (filed September 2, 1897; #645,576 was issued March 20 1900, #649,621 was issued May 15, 1900). The air terminals of the transmitter and receiver shown in both the patents are in fact directly electrically connected. With sufficient altitude, no ionizing beams are required. There is no radiation of power signal. Tesla is exceedingly clear about this, there is no mistake. In diagrams of his lab demonstration system; operational at the 46 East Houston St. laboratory in 1898 and demonstrated to both Lord Kelvin and Mr. Seeley, Examiner in Chief of the patent office: Tesla used a hermetically sealed glass pipe (~3 dia, 50' long) with a terminal at each end. The glass pipe was pumped down to the atmospheric pressure representing an altitude of "5 miles" (or Tesla stated "135 mm pressure"). Low frequency RF current at 4 megavolts was produced through a conventional Tesla Coil circuit. This high-voltage current freely CONDUCTED through the low pressure air in the tube. The tuned receiving circuit (another tuned coil system) converted the high-voltage current after it had passed through the low pressure gas into a low voltage electrical current which ran common motors, lit incandescent bulbs, etc.. Now these coils and oscillators are in fact the first radio circuits. Marconi took these same circuits (a total of nine Tesla patents) and went on to develop the radiant RF systems which evolved into modern broadcast and reception. Tesla refused to design and build the equipment to this end. He publically set up and demonstrated radiant systems using his four tuned circuits then anounced in the same lectures (Philidelphia, St. Louis) that he had found a better way. People STILL wonder about the purpose and practicality of producing mega-voltages in Tesla's system. The reason is clear and simple. When you up the voltage of low frequency RF current, it conducts very efficiently through low pressure gas. Tesla had no wish to radiate, and thereby waste, the system energy. From a high altitude site, such as Colorado Springs, Tesla found that conduction of RF current was fairly easily obtained. There are records that show he suddenly developed an interest in hydrogen gas production, and ballooning! He apparently sought to lift a lead wire by balloon into the stratosphere to provide the conductive channel for the system. The ionizing radiation (X-Rays & hard UV) forms a channel, like the wire, to connect the metal transmitter terminal to the conductive low pressure stratosphere. DK>... Interesting, of course, that he knew this bio-hazard> in an era when people like Curie were only DK> finding out the hard way of the hazards.... Tesla at first thought X-Rays and hard UV might be medically beneficial. He deliberately exposed himself to the output of his high-energy bulbs. The slow-healing ulcerated burns he sustained convinced him that these rays were harmful. He is on record as one of the first people to recommend limiting high energy radiation exposure. DK> ...Yes, except in Tesla's plan, there were "beams" DK> apparently to be pointed out toward space? Yes, the shortest path to the stratosphere is straight up. DK> Now, to get the maximum benefit of that with "radio," the DK> launch angle is very low...in the order of ten degrees off DK> the horizon or such. That would mean his transmission system DK> would be radiating pretty hazardous stuff at low angles. But this system is not "radio" as todays radio engineers understand it. It is a direct conduction system, closer in many aspects to high voltage 60 cycle transmission, than radio broadcast. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-08-94 07:46 From: Terry Smith To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ> Anyway, Terry Smith and Don Kimberlin were commenting on RQ> some info I dug up on Tesla's Colorado Springs Magnifier.... TS> Interesting, yes, but nothing like what would be TS> characteristic of any height insulated vertical radiator, TS> TS> with or without typical loading. DK>...How about it, Terry? Can you figure what the field would DK> be like off a 94 kHz loading coil with a top hat? It sure TS> Based on 209 ohms and 420 kV, we might expect over 2,000 A at TS> the base. Extrapolating with the ratio of 31.5 and assuming TS> minimal losses, the arc might be around 60 A. That's TS> approaching a gigawatt. TS> As to radiation efficiency, I'd be curious if any data TS> comparable to present day units existed. A 200 ohm base is TS> typical of a 120 degree or so tower. Loading of normal TS> number to compare with equivalent transmitting power into an TS> efficient radiator, I'd guess this might be similar to around TS> a megawatt, though low duty cycle. Is there any historical TS> field data? RQ> The whole idea of the Colorado Springs Experimental Station RQ> was to verify Tesla's previously discovered methods of RQ> transmitting communications and electrical power without RQ> wires. The system was not designed, built, or operated at as RQ> radiating transmitter. RQ> References to radiation efficiency completely miss the point RQ> of the experiment. Tesla stated over and over that his goal RQ> was to supress radiation and increase conductivity. This is RQ> why the Don and I were simply trying to compare apples and oranges, or place the secondary characteristics of this coil in the realm of references we consider when looking at RF devices of substantial fractional wavelengths. It's normal to look at induced and radiated fields of a broadcast antenna, coupling efficiency to the earth, and the earth resistance in conducting that signal. Tesla's signals obviously have some overlap, though it does appear to be a much different balance of parameters than in intentional RF radiators. You must realize how most components or circuits for one nominal purpose can usually be analyzed as to the (albeit, somtimes minute) elements of other types. For example, you can measure series inductance of many resistors, shunt and series resistance of capacitors, inter winding capacitance and series resistance of inductors, etc. RQ> The famous spark photos from the Colorado Springs lab were RQ> taken solely to publicize to power processing ability of the RQ> machine, and does not document the primary function of the RQ> oscillator/coil system. It could also be surmised that spark RQ> length gave a good relative indication of system tune given RQ> the absence of any reliable commercial diagnostic equipment RQ> in 1899-1900. Ahh, you're just jealous that with modern technology, you haven't been able to build something twice as large. <> Terry (203)732-0575 BBS (1:141/1275) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 11 Sep 94 23:53:47 From: Richard Quick To: Terry Smith Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ> Anyway, Terry Smith and Don Kimberlin were commenting on > some info I dug up on Tesla's Colorado Springs Magnifier.... TS> Don and I were simply trying to compare apples and oranges, TS> or place the secondary characteristics of this coil in the TS> realm of references we consider when looking at RF devices TS> of substantial fractional wavelengths. It's normal to look TS> at induced and radiated fields of a broadcast antenna, TS> coupling efficiency to the earth, and the earth resistance TS> in conducting that signal. Tesla's signals obviously have TS> some overlap, though it does appear to be a much different TS> balance of parameters than in intentional RF radiators. OK, It is just strange for me to see you analyze the system looking through the "front end" of the telescope... At least from the way I look at these systems. They are lousy radiators... TS> You must realize how most components or circuits for one TS> nominal purpose can usually be analyzed as to the elements TS> of other types. Oh yes, but often times I see such tasks as, er, well, tasks... RQ> The famous spark photos from the Colorado Springs lab were RQ> taken solely to publicize to power processing ability of the RQ> machine, and does not document the primary function of the RQ> oscillator/coil system. It could also be surmised that spark RQ> length gave a good relative indication of system tune given RQ> the absence of any reliable commercial diagnostic equipment RQ> in 1899-1900. TS> Ahh, you're just jealous that with modern technology, you TS> haven't been able to build something twice as large. <> Ahh, the true test is to use modern technology to build something twice as powerful, and half the size! <> BTW, did you happen to pick up a few weeks back on the thread concerning antenna matching and transmission line efficiencies? It started out with questions about VSWR meters, and what they really read, but it ended up with explanations about VSWR, loss- less transmission line theory, and why systems with high VSWR do not radiate efficiently. It was quite appropriate in explaining why Tesla Coils are poor radiators. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-07-94 20:55 From: James Meyer To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla Capacitors ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ On 09-06-94, RICHARD QUICK wrote to JAMES MEYER and said: RQ> Please tell me more. What slight modifications would be RQ> required, and how do those modifications reduce or eliminate RQ> self- inductance? RQ> I am not at all trying to detract from the viability of your RQ> suggestion, which I would like to hear in more detail, but I RQ> am simply trying to outline and clarify some of the problems RQ> and design limitations I have encountered in the course of my RQ> experimentation. An extended foil cap is wound with the foil extended over the edge of the dielectric so that the connection to the foil can be made continuously along the entire edge of the foil. This means that the charging currents are distributed over the foil much more evenly and the effective series inductance is the same as a piece of wire the same length as the cap. Perhaps a picture right now would be worth a thousand more words. "A" "B" ------------------------------- ^ | dielectric | | r ---| -------------------------------- | o | f | | foil 2 | | l | o | | | | l | i | | | | | l | | | | t | | | | | h | 1 | | | | i | | | | | s ---| -------------------------------- | | "D" | | w ------------------------------- "C" - a y "A" to "B" is the length of the finished cap. (One foot?) "B" to "C" is the length of the foil before rolling. (Several yards?) The cap is made by laying down one sheet of dielectric of the proper size. Next goes one foil plate placed so that one edge extends past the edge of the dielectric by about a quarter to a half inch. The second dielectric sheet is exactly the same size as the first, and it gets laid down so the corners match the corners of the first. The second foil is the same size as the first and it goes on next, but it is extended to the opposite side as the first foil. Of course you want the dielectric sheets larger than the foil by enough to get the arc-over voltage high enough. Then the cap is rolled up. The two foils will be extended from opposite ends of the cap. It's then only a matter of attaching the two terminals to the foils. Since the entire edge of both foils is available, a good high current connection can be made. If you use a hammer to pound the turns of each foil into contact, you could then solder a real heavy piece of copper strap or a threaded brass rod to the foil at each end. This is how physically small caps with low inductance are made. It's also how the large, pulse discharge, caps in the modulator for the linear particle accelerator at the lab are made. I know. I've dissected a couple after they "blew". You could take apart a few old small caps to get an idea about how they're made. The "orange drop" Sprague caps are usually extended foil. Jim (1:3641/1) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 12 Sep 94 00:44:06 From: Richard Quick To: James Meyer Subj: Tesla Capacitors ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ> Please tell me more. What slight modifications would be RQ> required, and how do those modifications reduce or eliminate RQ> self-inductance? JM> An extended foil cap is wound with the foil extended over JM> the edge of the dielectric so that the connection to the JM> foil can be made continuously along the entire edge of the JM> foil. This means that the charging currents are distributed JM> over the foil much more evenly and the effective series JM> inductance is the same as a piece of wire the same length as JM> the cap. .... JM> This is how physically small caps with low inductance are JM> made. It's also how the large, pulse discharge, caps in the JM> modulator for the linear particle accelerator at the lab are JM> made. I know. I've dissected a couple after they "blew". Got it. I saved to post and added it to new TESLA?.ZIP file. You input is greatly appreciated. I will need to think about how it can be applied with the materials I have stocked up (60 mil low density poly and aluminum flashing) which are somewhat stiff. BTW, Do you every come across any working or salvageable surplus capacitors from the accelerator work? ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-08-94 21:12 From: Mark Conway To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ TID: FastEcho 1.40 15032 Hi Richard, Remember me?- I asked you ages ago about advice on how to improve the discharge from my solid state coil. You told me to get rid of the overlaps in the winding of my coil. I ended up rewinding the coil- without any overlaps this time but it seemed to only improve the brush discarge from the terminal slightly. I think now that the problem is that when I made it I had to substitute the core of a tv flyback transformer instead of some fancy ferrite core that you cant get in this part of the world (thats the problem when you live in the middle of nowhere!)- and I think that the frequency response of the tv core is not as good. Anyway I decided to make a tesla coil from a 15 kV 30 mA neon instead- I used beer bottles as you suggested (12 of them) in a tank of salt water. The coil I am using is #24 wire (swg gauge) wound on a 3 inch piece of plastic downpipe. The windings are about 20 inches in length. For the primary I use 5mm braid wire (I wound this wire on an old plastic flower pot). The spark gap I am using consists of 2 brass doorknobs facing together. I havent fine tuned it yet but so far I am getting spark about 9 inches long - Im really pleased with it. Boy dont those spark gaps make a noise when they are firing! I would like to have a go at making a bigger coil next. I have read all your files on capacitors but I dont know if I am yet ready to make one of your polythene caps. What I am thinking of doing is having a go at making a glass cap with glass and aluminium foil cap. To get a capacitance of 0.2 mf I figure I will need 11 square metres of 3 mm thick glass. I was wandering if you have any experience or design hints for making glass plate caps - do you think that 3 mm glass will be thick enough? I tried making a plate glass test cap but I kept getting sparking from one aluminium plate to another even though I had them over an inch from the ends of the glass plate - maybe I didnt have the plates dry enough? By the way- what kind of discharge do you get with plate glass caps? With the salt water caps the spark I get is purplish and spindly as you said it would be. Would I get sparks like in your video If I use glass plate caps? Any advice would be really appreciated! P.S I have watched both your videos several times now-brilliant videos! Best Regards, Mark 64-9-489-6750 (3:772/195) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 12 Sep 94 00:36:24 From: Richard Quick To: Mark Conway Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ -=> Sez Mark Conway to Richard Quick <=- MC> Anyway I decided to make a Tesla coil from a 15 kV MC> 30 mA neon instead- I used beer bottles as you suggested (12 MC> of them) in a tank of salt water. The coil I am using is #24 MC> wire (swg gauge) wound on a 3 inch piece of plastic MC> downpipe. The windings are about 20 inches in length. For MC> the primary I use 5mm braid wire ( I wound this wire on an MC> old plastic flower pot). The spark gap I am using consists MC> of 2 brass doorknobs facing together. I havent fine tuned it MC> yet but so far I am getting spark about 9 inches long - I'm MC> really pleased with it. You should be! Excellent project! MC> Boy dont those spark gaps make a noise when they are firing! WHAT DID YOU SAY???? <> MC> I would like to have a go at making a bigger coil next. Boy do I know this feeling!!! MC> I have read all your files on capacitors but I dont know if MC> I am yet ready to make one of your polythene caps. I would advise experimenting with poly (plastic) dielectric capacitors next. MC> What I am thinking of doing is having a go at making a glass MC> cap with glass and aluminium foil cap. To get a capacitance MC> of 0.2 mf I figure I will need 11 square metres of 3 mm MC> thick glass. I was wandering if you have any experience or MC> design hints for making glass plate caps - do you think that MC> 3 mm glass will be thick enough? I hate to do this to you but... All of my figures are in United States of America values (inches, pounds, etc...) Common plate or window glass has a DC breakdown voltage (dielectric strength) of 200 volts per mil. One "mil" equals .001 inches. In the Tesla Tank circuit the working dielectric strength must be divided by three. Figure the glass will hold up to 70 volts AC pulse (Tesla tank circuit specs require AC Pulse ratings which equals about one third of a standard DC rating). The dielectric constant for most glass is between 6 - 8 with most common window (plate) glass running about 7.6... MC> I tried making a plate glass test cap but I kept getting MC> sparking from one aluminium plate to another even though I MC> had them over an inch from the ends of the glass plate - MC> maybe I didnt have the plates dry enough? Most likely they were not clean enough. The plates and dielectric must be absolutely clean. It also helps to submerge the plates and dielectric in clean mineral oil to supress corona and flashover. MC> BTW - what kind of discharge do you get with plate glass MC> caps? With the salt water caps the spark I get is purplish MC> and spindly as you said it would be. Would I get sparks like MC> in your video If I use glass plate caps? Glass has a high RF dissapation factor. This means it is not as efficient as plastic for use as a Tesla primary capacitor di- electric. Go with plastic. Plastic capacitors are the only way to get rid of the "violet spindlies". No you would not get sparks like mine with plate glass capacitors. I use plastic dielectrics submerged in mineral oil. MC> Any advice would be really appreciated! I hope I was of some help. MC> P.S I have watched both your videos several times MC> now. Brilliant videos! Thank you very much for the complement!!!! Sounds like you have really advanced in this field! Keep up the good work! ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-09-94 11:19 From: DON KIMBERLIN To: RICHARD QUICK Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ TS> I'd be curious, but afraid to even guess. I would speculate TS> that fields from some of the coils might cancel, but that TS> there'd be some radiation from both the long coil, and the TS> arc path. How much I'd guess would depend a lot on TS> construction practices, not shown here. If I had to pick a TS> number to compare with equivalent transmitting power into an TS> efficient radiator, I'd guess this might be similar to around TS> a megawatt, though low duty cycle. Is there any historical TS> field data? RQ>The whole idea of the Colorado Springs Experimental Station RQ>was to verify Tesla's previously discovered methods of RQ>transmitting communications and electrical power without RQ>wires. The system was not designed, built, or operated at as RQ>radiating transmitter. The Magnifer circuit was operated at RQ>industrial power levels to perfect a method of wireless global RQ>transmission thru conduction. SET MENTAL_BLOCK.SYS /on ...Oh, boy, do I have trouble with that, Richard. As you note, "radiation" does imply propagation of magnetic or static fields through space. But "conduction" implies propagation of induction fields through the earth. Then, we have some sort of Tesla experiments involving what has to be radiating X-rays and such toward the ionosphere. ...Please sort out my feeble mind. While I have no problem with understanding Tesla could have been working on both radiation and conduction as I know them, it seems like the descriptions don't separate the two...unless there is some higher plane of understanding I need to get to. (Yes, the two are related, but usually we're concentrating on one and trying to suppress the other...) RQ>References to radiation efficiency completely miss the point RQ>of the experiment. Tesla stated over and over that his goal RQ>was to supress radiation and increase conductivity. This is RQ>why the system was required to produce such high voltages. ...Again, when it's conduction, the emphasis is on current, not voltage...at least for ordinary mentalities...can you help get my perspective right for this understanding? (1:379/37) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 12 Sep 94 01:35:56 From: Richard Quick To: DON KIMBERLIN Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ>The whole idea of the Colorado Springs Experimental Station RQ>was to verify Tesla's previously discovered methods of RQ>transmitting communications and electrical power without RQ>wires. The system was not designed, built, or operated at as RQ>radiating transmitter. The Magnifier circuit was operated at RQ>industrial power levels to perfect a method of wireless RQ>global transmission thru conduction. DK> SET MENTAL_BLOCK.SYS /on DK> ...Oh, boy, do I have trouble with that, Richard. As you DK> note, "radiation" does imply propagation of magnetic or DK> static fields through space. But "conduction" implies DK> propagation of induction fields through the earth. Well to be fair I will say it took me years to get this. I have had some sucess in duplicating Tesla's coil experiments to help my mind over some of the "theory" roadblocks. Nothing clears the head like few experiments. The problem is not that it is so complex; it is that it is so easy it goes over one's head. First, look at this like a power company engineer. Conduction to a power engineer means that you have conductors. If you need to step voltages up or down then you use inductors (transformers). DK> Then, we have some sort of Tesla experiments involving what DK> has to be radiating X-rays and such toward the ionosphere. Start by dropping this, and substitute a wire instead of a radiation beam. Tesla implied that the system will work with a lighter than air balloon floating in the stratosphere. The balloon would be tethered by a wire connected to the top of the voltage producing coil. The system requirement is that the oscillator output be electrically directly electrically connected to the low pressure gas in the stratosphere. Wire or beam ionized channel makes no difference, we simply need a connection. RQ>References to radiation efficiency completely miss the point RQ>of the experiment. Tesla stated over and over that his goal RQ>was to supress radiation and increase conductivity. This is RQ>why the system was required to produce such high voltages. DK> ...Again, when it's conduction, the emphasis is on current, DK> not voltage...at least for ordinary mentalities...can you DK> help get my perspective right for this understanding? Long distance 60 cycle transmission uses voltage, not current, to transmit the power. The problem has to be looked at from an electrical engineering view (raw power transmission by conductor), not a strictly radio engineering view. Voltage transmits substantial power. Current is transformed into voltage near the generators. It is transmitted by conductor and stepped back down at the receiving end to obtain the current. In Tesla's more modern system he is using advanced coil configurations; but he is still doing the same thing. The tank circuit and coil make up a RF transformer. The only difference really between this and his early 60 cycle work is that the coil transmformers are tuned and resonate. Current fed into the transformer is stepped up. Because the tank circuit produces a higher oscillation than 60 cycle, the resultant high voltage will conduct in low pressure gas... a wire is not always needed to conduct this high voltage; in fact if you ionize high pressure gas (sea level) with a radiation beam... no wires are needed at all.... The high voltage and RF frequencies means that large amounts of energy can be conducted freely through low pressure gas (a-la waveguide) where there is no radiating wave propagation. Low voltage, low frequency, electricity does not conduct well through low pressure gas; but when you raise the voltage and frequency up (from 60 cycle), the conductivity goes up as well. Over 4 megavolts at these frequencies, and the upper stratosphere looks like a 30,000 foot thick copper buss bar over our heads; at least if you are putting Tesla's Magnifier output through it. In order to globally conduct electricity: first you have to be able to produce a sufficient voltage and frequency to allow conduction (in the upper atmosphere); then you need to make a good, direct, electrical connection to get your energy to this conductor. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-15-94 09:30 From: Don Kimberlin To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla/Marconi Compared ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ> -=> Sez Don Kimberlin to Richard Quick <=- RQ> DK> ...There's no doubt that Tesla was a genius in his own RQ> DK> right and did lots of pioneering work. However, we also RQ> DK> find that *many* principles of the physical sciences and RQ> DK> applications of them occurred to people almost RQ> DK> simultaneously RQ>True without argument. .... [...long response giving corrected info about the effect and timing of Tesla's demonstrations, experiments and patents deleted for space] ... RQ> DK> During the 1895 to 1901 period, Marconi worked on RQ> DK> improving his new-found "wireless telegraph," RQ>That should read "worked on his new-stolen wireless telegraph" ...So it would seem, now having the date information you supplied. DK> However, a number of English opportunists attempted to steal DK> his ideas and competed with Marconi for the Navy business. RQ>Can you really steal from a thief? I wonder... ...Let's then say it was a "den of thieves" over there at the time. (Side story" I am at the moment working on an article for publication about the electric telegraph, and the number of "wanna-bes" that popped up once the picture of what would work cleared up, was incredible....everybody wanted to get on the bandwagon. Seems true with every step function in technology....) DK> He finally received British patent 12,039 DK> on July 2, 1897. Patent 7,777 (delayed in issue till 1901) DK> covered a selective tuning device to resonate the antenna DK> circuit of a spark transmitter. RQ>False. These Marconi patents went to the United States Supreme RQ>Court... and were overturned. .... ...OK, great. Problem may be that those were British patents, which, of course, the US court has no jurisdiction over. I have to find the words to rationalize that, and make it clear Marconi got different treatment in the two countries... [...] RQ> The original case: "Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of RQ> America v. Atlantic Communication Company, et al" was filed RQ> in the New York Circuit Court in 1915. ... ...Was Atlantic Communications Company Tesla's company, or that of a Tesla licensee or such? I'm working on transatlantic and intercontinental communications in general as part of other writings here. Over the years, a lot of "paper tigers" popped up at every turn, and Atlantic Communications was not one I'd heard of yet. I'd like to know if it was Tesla's, or an affiliate's, or one of the many companies floated to try to get off the ground...can you provide any references that focus on that company and its business? (Hopefully digested ones and not thge entire court proceedings...) [...] RQ>When will your friends see to it that the errors propagated in RQ>their text books are corrected??? ...Regrettably, as you already well know, the "textbooks" are full of the Marconi-biased history. I have copied all your remarks, and do have the opportunity to submit changes to the material you commented on, where it can be published in at least one small corner some of the industry will read. ...It's going to take a bit of work to rewrite it and condense it down to the short form you saw the original in, but it can be done. I think, in all fairness, we have to say that Tesla saw the technology more as a means of power transmission than as a communications medium, however. Now, at the outset, he may have seen both. After all, the textbooks on electrical communications start out saying the process amounts to transmitting power from one point to another, albeit in miniscule amounts compared to electrical power work. However, it seems Tesla's focus veered toward power transmission rather than communications...whether the reason was competition in communications or not...again, thanks for condensing it a good bit and helping me hopefully help others with a clearer understanding of where Tesla fits into the parallel streams of power and communications development! (704)792-9241 (1:379/37.0) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-18-94 18:06 From: Richard Quick To: Brett Lilley Subj: Tesla Capacitors ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ -=> Sez Brett Lilley to Richard Quick <=- BL> Hi Richard, I have followed the Teslar thread here with BL> interest even to the cost of obtaining copies of your videos BL> via Jim Oliver. They are most impressive although I make a BL> plea no doubt endorsed by other viewers, PLEASE INVEST IN A BL> TRIPOD FOR YOUR CAMERA. I get sea sick watching them :-( This is the first complaint I have heard. As for a tripod... These act as both antennas, and direct conductors picking up inteference and ground currents and delivering them directly to the camcorder chassis. The video quality becomes so poor with the camcorder mounted on the tripod that the tape is worthless. > RQ> Flat plate caps have no inductance. BL> Wrong! all capacitors have inductance as well as series and BL> shunt resistance and of course capacitance. It is just that BL> flat plate caps have much less inductance and at LF BL> frequencies it provides insignificant reactance. However BL> even at LF frequencies an effect known as Skin effect can BL> result in a significant effective series resistance, more BL> about that later. OK, I guess I should have said, "In this use flat plate caps have negligible inductance." BL quoting RQ > The second design limitation I have encountered is a lowering > of the tank circuit Q factor when larger rolled caps are used > in the oscillator. I attribute part of this to destructive > self-resonance, but this can be controlled/reduced by > operating the oscillator at lower frequencies, and maintaining > a suitable spread between the self-resonate frequency of the > cap, and the normal operating frequency of the oscillator. The > destructive interference does not seem to account for the > large drop in Q factor I read on my scope. BL> You are encountering skin effect. True, there is skin effect, but it would not account for this. Skin effect is something that I have covered extensively here about a year ago. BL> At frequencies higher than about 100khz current flow in a BL> conductor only occurs near the surface thus reducing the BL> effective cross sectional area and increasing the effective BL> series resistance. This effect will occur in all parts of BL> your primary tank circuits and in the secondary coil. The BL> usual method of countering this is to use conductors with a BL> large surface area for a given cross section. Exactly as I wrote about last year. The tank circuit designs have been scaled to take advantage of skin effect. Thin wall copper tubing, large strap and multi-strand DC transmission wire for buss wiring. Litz wire offers no advantage in these particular circuits as far as I can see. Cheaper, heavy duty battery type cable (sometimes doubled or tripled up) works quite well it seems. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-18-94 18:12 From: Richard Quick To: James Meyer Subj: Tesla Capacitors ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ> BTW, Do you every come across any working or salvageable RQ> surplus capacitors from the accelerator work? JM> We use things until they're used up... We are experiencing a JM> number of failures in the .05 uF, 50KV, caps that make up JM> the banks that we use for generating pulses. I've dissected JM> a couple of the ones that have failed "gracefully". Some of JM> them dissect themselves into pieces too small to do JM> *anybody* any good. 8-) Yeah, I've seen that! JM> Anyway, the caps are made up of four physically smaller, JM> electrically larger, sections in series. Usually only one JM> section is defective. We wouldn't consider rebuilding them, JM> but the next time I get my hands on one that has failed and JM> is still in one piece, I'll trade you one slightly tired cap JM> for one spectacular video tape. JM> If you can't actually use any of the sections, at least JM> you'll be able to tear it apart to see how they go together. Oh, no! This would be perfect. I am quite familiar with this construction, and even if I could salvage one or two good sections I will put it in Tupperware, cover it with oil, and put it into service. Would not be the first time... Just let me know when you get one or two. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-18-94 19:05 From: Richard Quick To: Mark Conway Subj: Tesla coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ -=> Sez Mark Conway to Richard Quick <=- MC> Hi Richard, Got a couple more questions to ask you. Please, go right ahead. MC> I have been running my tesla coil without a safety gap or MC> bypass capacitor in the circuit as I just wanted to see if MC> it worked. I have stopped running it now as I dont want to MC> blow the neon. Yes, you can run without a safety gap, bypass filters, and RF choking. But you are correct, if you keep it up your neon will fail prematurely. MC> Looking thru your postings I cannot find much info on how to MC> build the safety gap. I notice in your circuit diagram that MC> the middle of the safety gap is grounded. How do you do MC> this when you make the safety gap? Do you have a sheet of MC> metal or something between the two elctrodes of the gap and MC> the sparks jump to this? The safety gap need not be complex, precision, or expensive. A couple of ajustable screws or bolts mounted on some insulators with a grounded brass or copper plate between them works just fine. I like to use threaded (adjustable) brass or copper electrodes for added conductivity, but it is not really necessary. The xfmr core, safety gap center post, and the base of the Tesla secondary coil all connect with heavy strap to a heavy, dedicated, RF grounding system. Your coil won't need anything massive for a ground... yet! MC> Also I am unable to find any of those doorknob caps that you MC> use for your bypass capacitor. Since the capacitance of MC> these caps is so small do you think it would be ok if I made MC> a small capacitor out of aluminium foil and glass? Glass has a very high RF dissipation factor. Since we are attempting to dissipate kickback energy at this end of the circuit, glass and aluminum capacitors will work beautifully here! ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-16-94 17:11 From: Bruce Kingsbury To: Don Kimberlin Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ DK> ...Oh, boy, do I have trouble with that, Richard. It would seem you're being deliberately obtuse. As I understand it (without having done any research myself) Tesla's objective was to create an ionised and conductive channel from the ground to the already-conveniently-ionised ionosphere so that he could use the ionosphere to _conduct_ relatively low-frequency AC. DK> ...Again, when it's conduction, the emphasis is on current, DK> not voltage...at least for ordinary mentalities...can you DK> help get my perspective right for this understanding? So why don't the power companies run 110v cables all the way from the power station to the consumer? After all, those big trans- formers are not cheap! The ground and ionosphere may be good conductors, but neither are superconductors. To move power efficiently, you use the highest practical voltage and thus the lowest possible current. 64-7 847-5513 * (3:774/1300) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-17-94 21:52 From: Mark Conway To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ TID: FastEcho 1.40 15032 Hi Richard, RQ> I would advise experimenting with poly (plastic) dielectric RQ> capacitors next. Thanks for the advice on the capacitors. I am looking around for polythene and aluminium flashing at the moment. One thing I'm not sure of is what mineral oil is- is it used for lubricating machines or what? Would clean motor oil have the same insulating properties as mineral oil or would the additives in it mean that it would not be suitable for high voltage insulation? Best Regards, Mark 64-9-489-6750 (3:772/195) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-13-94 10:07 From: Terry Smith To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ TS> of substantial fractional wavelengths. It's normal to look TS> at induced and radiated fields of a broadcast antenna, TS> coupling efficiency to the earth, and the earth resistance TS> in conducting that signal. Tesla's signals obviously have RQ> OK, It is just strange for me to see you analyze the system RQ> looking through the "front end" of the telescope... At least RQ> from the way I look at these systems. They are lousy RQ> radiators... In addition to (dramatic) spark generation, didn't Tesla pursue the angle of ground conduction for power transmission? The local signal from an AM broadcast antenna relies on ground conduction rather than free space radiation. Do you know of any significant changes he may have made between the sparkers and power transmission coils? TS> Ahh, you're just jealous that with modern technology, you TS> haven't been able to build something twice as large. <> RQ> Ahh, the true test is to use modern technology to build RQ> something twice as powerful, and half the size! <> Let's see: rectangular wire as developed for speaker voice coils, combined with high dielectric strength modern insulators and coil forms, perhaps would make it possible? I hate that black dielectric epoxy coat that is sometimes used to dope transformers built too small to meet leakage specs with environmental exposure, though. Looks ugly. RQ> BTW, did you happen to pick up a few weeks back on the RQ> thread concerning antenna matching and transmission line RQ> efficiencies? It started out with questions about VSWR RQ> meters, and what they really read, but it ended up with RQ> explanations about VSWR, loss-less transmission line theory, RQ> and why systems with high VSWR do not radiate efficiently. Tesla coils do appear to have a lot of inductive elements with high mutuals, but they have to be coupled efficiently to the load (ionized impure air) at some moments in time to transfer huge sparks. I'm not sure which thread you mean, and it may have been one I missed. Most Fido threads on coax matching are at their zenith when someone figures out there are peak and null points due to transformer effect in some lengths of coax, which are significant when pinning some other CBer's antenna lead in. I don't pursue those too actively. If they seemed to be under discussion by folks who knew the differences among vector voltmeters, network analyzers, "hot" and cold impedance bridges, and who had the basic math and physics to discuss complex impedances in their real (R) and imaginary (j) components, I'd try a little harder to notice them. It's pretty difficult to discuss real matching and power transfer with someone who can't measure complex impedance elements and power accurately at the Tx out and antenna in. (203)732-0575 BBS (1:141/1275) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-19-94 16:12 From: Richard Quick To: Don Kimberlin Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ>The whole idea of the Colorado Springs Experimental Station RQ>was to verify Tesla's previously discovered methods of RQ>transmitting communications and electrical power without RQ>wires. The system was not designed, built, or operated at as RQ>radiating transmitter. The Magnifier circuit was operated at RQ>industrial power levels to perfect a method of wireless RQ>global transmission thru conduction.... ... RQ>The high voltage and RF frequencies means that large amounts RQ>of energy can be conducted freely through low pressure gas RQ>(a-la waveguide) where there is no radiating wave propagation. DK> ...Hmmm...I'm right with you fine up to this point, but it DK> sure seems that "conduction channel" would have to be focused DK> toward the ionosphere somehow... I am not sure that Tesla was aware of the existance of the ionosphere, nor that it matters much. Practical lab experiments of scale test systems can be performed by any coiler worth his salt. A four inch diameter coil (transmitter) and a six inch diameter coil (receiver) can be set up in transmitter/receiver configuration. The four inch coil is heavily top loaded with capacitive air terminal (toroid) to prevent spark breakout. Top loading the four inch coil will also reduce to coil resonate frequency to the point where a frequency match can be made with the unloaded, or slightly loaded, six inch coil. I connect the base of the two coils to a common ground, and run an 8 foot long florescent tube, or two tubes with the ends pressed and taped together, between the two air terminals of the coils. Real power can be transmitted through the tube. I have no problems pumping through a killowatt or two. At a threshold voltage, which depends on gas pressure and composition, the low pressure gas becomes self ionizing, and conducting. DK> ... and I don't know of any focusing devices Tesla used for DK> that...otherwise, I'm right here with you -- I think... I am afraid I cannot give a precise answer to this question of beam focusing devices. Alas there are acknowledged holes in the documentation of Tesla's advanced work. Many of these gaps were deliberate on Tesla's part to throw off the competition. Yet we get closer and closer every year. Serious study, and experi- mentation, leads us to bridges over these gaps. In all of the work I have personally conducted, I have found no flaws in Tesla's basic logic. DK> ...Was the Magnifier a focusing device for the conductive DK> beam? No, the Magnifier is a name for a specific three coil arrangement which represents a power processing efficiency breakthrough. Tesla always strove for high efficiency, and the Magnifier gave it to him in a RF resonate tuned transformer of enormous power. DK> ...But, now that we have it going up, how do we tap into it DK> to get it down? I would have to assume that the receiver plugged in the same way as the transmitter. An interesting thing about this system is that it uses a resonator for the final stage to deliver the high EMF output. In the same simplified scale experiment I briefly described above, the receiving coil is still processing energy even if the conductive channel (low pressure tube) is not connecting the air terminals. A "free" (not inductively coupled to the transmitter system) resonator will pick up and resonate on ground current alone. No air terminal conductive channel is required for the system to deliver some considerable energy to the receiver through ground conduction alone. Enough voltage is present on the air terminal of the receiving coil to cause it to spark freely, light bulbs, etc.. I have gotten bulbs to light on a tuned receiving coil 1/4 mile away from a shielded transmitter. The input energy to the transmitter was only one killowatt, there was no raditaion: the "pickup" or receiving coil was connected to a 50' length of aluminum flashing sunk in creek bottom. There are some interesting properties to Tesla's open ended resonators. It appears that a large scale system would deliver enough energy from the ground connection alone to open up a conductive channel to the stratosphere (via X-Ray, UV bulbs on the air terminal of the receiver). ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-19-94 16:31 From: Richard Quick To: Don Kimberlin Subj: Tesla/Marconi Compared ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ> DK> During the 1895 to 1901 period, Marconi worked on RQ> DK> improving his new-found "wireless telegraph," RQ>That should read "worked on his new-stolen wireless RQ>telegraph" DK> ...So it would seem, now having the date information you DK> supplied. DK> He finally received British patent 12,039 DK> on July 2, 1897. Patent 7,777 (delayed in issue till 1901) DK> covered a selective tuning device to resonate the antenna DK> circuit of a spark transmitter. RQ>False. These Marconi patents went to the United States RQ>Supreme Court... and were overturned. .... DK> ...OK, great. Problem may be that those were British DK> patents, which, of course, the US court has no jurisdiction DK> over. Yes, this is unfortunate, and correct. The U.S. Supreme Court decision was not binding overseas. RQ>The original case: "Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of RQ>America v. Atlantic Communication Company, et al" was filed RQ>in the New York Circuit Court in 1915. ... DK> ...Was Atlantic Communications Company Tesla's company, or DK> that of a Tesla licensee or such? Alas, but by the time this case was filed, Tesla was for all purposes bankrupt. I end up picking bones on this, but the truth is simply that Tesla was an inept business manager. He was suspicious, and he would not trust anyone else to handle his business negotiations for him. The combination prevented many new ideas, inventions, and techniques from comming into general use. Tesla started a company, Tesla Electric, which soon fell hopelessly into debt. Tesla sold his patents for a one-time fee, and lost control over the patents, and any future royalties. The particular patents were transfered by sale and takeover to Atlantic Communications. DK> I think, in all fairness, we have to say that Tesla saw DK> the technology more as a means of power transmission than as DK> a communications medium, however. Now, at the outset, he DK> may have seen both. After all, the textbooks on electrical DK> communications start out saying the process amounts to DK> transmitting power from one point to another, albeit in DK> miniscule amounts compared to electrical power work. DK> However, it seems Tesla's focus veered toward power DK> transmission rather than communications... I would disagree. I think there was clearly balance between the two. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-19-94 20:18 From: Richard Quick To: Mark Conway Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ MC> Thanks for the advice on the capacitors. No problem at all! MC> One thing I'm not sure of is what mineral oil is - is it MC> used for lubricating machines or what? Well in this country, mineral oil is a pharmaceutical (medical) grade of pure petroleum oil. It is sold in drugstores as an intestinal lubricant (laxative), and for skin care (women use it to remove makeup). It is heavy, clear, and has little or no smell (odorless). Another use for this product is to oil down baby bottoms to prevent diaper rash. MC> Would clean motor oil have the same insulating properties as MC> mineral oil or would the additives in it mean that it would MC> not be suitable for high voltage insulation? I have used cheap, clean, motor to cover the salt water in salt water capacitors; but for the plastic capacitors I spend the extra money and go with the higher quality, pure, mineral oil. It is a sure bet that mineral oil is the base of most cheap motor oils. If you use motor oil use a non-detergent oil of a single grade (not a multi-viscosity) which generally contain fewer additives. A good alternative would be high grade, PCB free, transformer oil, which is sometimes available from oil companies in large pails. Another petroleum product that I have looked at, but never used, is hydraulic fluid. Regardless of which specific oil you choose, try to buy it in pails or drums if you plan to build a sizeable capacitor. Did I get you right when you said you wanted to build a .2 microfarad capacitor? ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-18-94 00:43 From: Andre Dault To: Richard Quick Subj: Re: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ -=> Quoting Richard Quick to Mark Conway <=- MC> P.S I have watched both your videos several times MC> now. Brilliant videos! Videos????? Videos on what exactly.. Telsa coils????? Andre Dault (1:163/572) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-21-94 16:07 From: Richard Quick To: Andre Dault Subj: Re: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ -=> Quoting Andre Dault quoting Mark Conway to Richard Quick <=- MC> P.S I have watched both your videos several times MC> now. Brilliant videos! AD> Videos????? Videos on what exactly.. Telsa coils????? Yes, Tesla coils. I have a two (or four) hour VHS video tape that has made the rounds around the world. It features my 10" diameter Tesla coil powered by a 10KVA pole pig (power distribution transformer) run backwards ( 20,000 volts at 1/2 amp ) into the coil tank circuit. Needless to say the spark production from the coil's homemade discharge terminal was worthy of recording, and as there has been a lot of interest I have traded and sold a few copies. The three part post that includes my collection of Tesla references has the tape info, disclaimer, and my mailing address. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-19-94 20:58 From: Stan Phillips To: Don Kimberlin Subj: Tesla, Col.sprng 1/ 2 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ DK> ...Oh, boy, do I have trouble with that, Richard. As you DK> note, "radiation" does imply propagation of magnetic or DK> static fields through space. But "conduction" implies DK> propagation of induction fields through the earth. Hi there, from what I have read, Tesla was aware that the ionosphere was conductive and was attmepting to use it as a kind of universal high voltage feed. Feed power into the ionospere and recover it the same way. Apparenly, when he died, he was initiating experiments with powerful UV lights to provide a conducting path from the ground to the ionosphere. While in this day and age, it would be VERY dangerous to use it for power, it may be a means of world wide radio communications. (Not very efficient when you consider the power needed and the fact that all aircraft would have to keep out of the way. It would be a major hazard) RQ>Well to be fair I will say it took me years to get this. ... RQ>First, look at this like a power company engineer. Conduction RQ>to a power engineer means that you have conductors. ... DK> Then, we have some sort of Tesla experiments involving what DK> has to be radiating X-rays and such toward the ionosphere. RQ>Start by dropping this, and substitute a wire instead of a RQ>radiation beam. Tesla implied that the system will work with a RQ>lighter than air balloon floating in the stratosphere. The RQ>balloon would be tethered by a wire connected to the top of RQ>the voltage producing coil. The system requirement is that the RQ>oscillator output be electrically directly electrically RQ>connected to the low pressure gas in the stratosphere. Wire or RQ>beam ionized channel makes no difference, we simply need a RQ>connection. DK> [...] DK> ...Again, when it's conduction, the emphasis is on current, DK> not voltage...at least for ordinary mentalities...can you DK> help get my perspective right for this understanding? RQ> Long distance 60 cycle transmission uses voltage, not RQ> current, to transmit the power. The problem has to be looked RQ> at from an electrical engineering view (raw power RQ> transmission by conductor), not a strictly radio engineering RQ> view. RQ> Voltage transmits substantial power. Current is transformed RQ> into voltage near the generators. It is transmitted by RQ> conductor and stepped back down at the receiving end to RQ> obtain the current. RQ> In Tesla's more modern system he is using advanced coil RQ> configurations; but he is still doing the same thing. The RQ> tank circuit and coil make up a RF transformer. The only RQ> difference really between this and his early 60 cycle work is RQ> that the coil transformers are tuned and resonate. ... RQ> The high voltage and RF frequencies means that large RQ> amounts of energy can be conducted freely through low RQ> pressure gas (a-la waveguide) where there is no radiating RQ> wave propagation. DK> ...Hmmm...I'm right with you fine up to this point, but it DK> sure seems that "conduction channel" would have to be focused DK> toward the ionosphere somehow...and I don't know of any DK> focusing devices Tesla used for that...otherwise, I'm right DK> here with you -- I think... RQ> Low voltage, low frequency, electricity does not conduct RQ> well through low pressure gas; but when you raise the voltage RQ> and frequency up (from 60 cycle), the conductivity goes up as RQ> well. Over 4 megavolts at these frequencies, and the upper RQ> stratosphere looks like a 30,000 foot thick copper buss bar RQ> over our heads; at least if you are putting Tesla's Magnifier RQ> output through it. ... DK> ...Was the Magnifier a focusing device for the conductive DK> beam? RQ> In order to globally conduct electricity: first you have to RQ> be able to produce a sufficient voltage and frequency to RQ> allow conduction (in the upper atmosphere); then you need to RQ> make a good, direct, electrical connection to get your energy RQ> to this conductor. DK> ...Ok, no problem. I'm sure you will explain how the beam was DK> focused in your reply. DK> ...But, now that we have it going up, how do we tap into it DK> to get it down? ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-21-94 17:42 From: Richard Quick To: Terry Smith Subj: Tesla, Col.sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ -=> Sez Terry Smith to Richard Quick <=- TS> of substantial fractional wavelengths. It's normal to look TS> at induced and radiated fields of a broadcast antenna, TS> coupling efficiency to the earth, and the earth resistance TS> in conducting that signal. Tesla's signals obviously have RQ> OK, It is just strange for me to see you analyze the system RQ> looking through the "front end" of the telescope... At least RQ> from the way I look at these systems. They are lousy RQ> radiators... TS> In addition to (dramatic) spark generation, didn't Tesla TS> pursue the angle of ground conduction for power TS> transmission? Yes, and I have conducted several sucessful duplications of Tesla's experiments in this area. Ground conduction is most definately half of Tesla's global circuit. TS> The local signal from an AM broadcast antenna relies on TS> ground conduction rather than free space radiation. Interesting. Does this apply to ungrounded battery powered receivers? TS> Do you know of any significant changes he may have made TS> between the sparkers and power transmission coils? The configurations were basically the same. The power supply and tank circuits connections were changed around and around, and around if you read his notes. Basically the sparker (for photographs, tank circuit tuning) was set up with a damped wave signal. For power transmission Tesla used CW exclusively. Photos of the outside of the lab show several sets of wires servicing the building; telephone, low voltage AC, and DC from a local streetcar system. For sparks he would hook his low voltage AC to the custom Westinghouse transformer, throw a large rotary gap across this capacitor bank, and fire away. CW was available from a DC motor/generator set. DC in, high frequency CW (isosynchronous) AC out. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-21-94 15:48 From: Richard Quick To: Andre Dault Subj: Tesla Coil Project ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ -=> Sez Andre Dault to Richard Quick <=- AD> Did you ever here of a rotating spark gap were you have AD> about three contacts being spun by a motor??? i have one AD> schematic that implies using one of these. Yes, I am very familiar with rotating spark gaps. These gaps are commonly used with step up transformers that do not have current limiting shunts in the core. They usually have six or more electrodes mounted around a disk, which is spun by a high speed (fixed or variable rate) electric motor. Rotary gaps are not usually used on coils powered with neon sign transformers. A neon sign transformer {xfrmr or xfmr} has built in current limiting of the secondary windings. This current limiting is done by placing plates of soft iron (core material) between the primary coil and secondary coil on the step up xfmr core. These plates are usually stacked into a block about 1 inch square. By placing the square block in the core between the windings, a magnetic "short circuit" or shunt is formed. This shunt diverts field flux away from the secondary coil, and pratically limits the current the secondary winding can produce under load. These type xfrmrs are often called "magnetic leakage" type. When you place a large high voltage pulse discharging capacitor across a step up xfmr, as in the Tesla tank circuit, the xfmr "sees" a dead short. Some type of current limiting is recommended (but not always necessary) to protect the xfmr. In the case of the neon, the xfmr is internally load protected. Plate, potential, or power distribution type xfmrs are also used in Tesla work. These type xfmrs have no internal current limiting, and are designed for efficient energy throughput. In coiling work these type xfmrs are usually run with external current limiting or "ballast"... Regardless, once the main system spark gap fires, these type xfmrs do not want to "let go". The xfmr output voltage drops under the high current load of the Tesla tank circuit spark gap; but the xfmr output current will increase. This makes the arc at the main system gap difficult to break. If the gap does not break, the pulse discharge capacitor is not allowed to recharge. A mechanical break, or rotary spark gap, is a common solution when using plate, potential, or power distribution type ("pole pig") xfmrs for producing high voltages for Tesla work. I run a small rotary gap on my coil in all of the really high powered work documented on the video. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-22-94 06:02 From: Terry Smith To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ DK> ...Again, when it's conduction, the emphasis is on current, DK> not voltage...at least for ordinary mentalities...can you DK> help get my perspective right for this understanding? RQ> Long distance 60 cycle transmission uses voltage, not RQ> current, to transmit the power. The problem has to be looked RQ> at from an electrical power engineering point of view. That's highly inaccurate. Power is quite simply the product of both voltage and current, assuming no phase difference. In long distance power transmission, I^2R losses are minimized by using high E, low I. When the ratios are transformed, power stays constant with ideal matching. Other than the techniques used, this is the same whether 60 Hz or RF. RQ> Voltage transmits substantial power. Current is transformed RQ> into voltage near the generators. It is transmitted by RQ> conductor and stepped back down at the receiving end to RQ> obtain the current. RQ> In Tesla's more modern system he is using advanced coil RQ> configurations; but he is still doing the same thing. The RQ> tank circuit and coil make up a RF transformer. The only RQ> difference is the two coils are tuned and resonate. Again, neither voltage nor current results in power. If some characteristic impedance exists in the transmission media, whether coax, the ionosphere, or transformer source and load Z's, the ratio of E to I must match that impedance to avoid losses, and transfer all available power. In some cases, we can choose a convenient impedance, and operate a ratio of E/I to match it, while in other cases nature tells us what we must match in order to avoid losses. The product of E*I remains constant, minus matching and transmission losses (which may yield heat, or reduce circuit input power). Using the ionosphere as a conductor would simply require measuring its natural impedance, much as broadcasters measure earth surface impedance and losses at various frequencies. Even human bodies have known electrical characteristics. One typical average is used as the basis for leakage detectors (1500 ohms, with a small cap shunt). Even the ionized air receiving a coil's spark output has some measurable Z. That's a momentary dynamic condition, but your tuned coils match it at that moment when they're working their best. The matching is a RATIO of E/I, not one or the other (there may also be complex phase angle factors present). Terry (203)732-0575 BBS (1:141/1275) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-22-94 06:25 From: Terry Smith To: Bruce Kingsbury Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ BK> So why don't the power companies run 110v cables all BK> the way from the power station to the consumer? After BK> all, those big transformers are not cheap! BK> The ground and ionosphere may be good conductors, but BK> neither are superconductors. To move power BK> efficiently, you use the highest practical voltage and BK> thus the lowest possible current. Nope. It's an economic balancing act, of three primary factors. High voltage reduces current for a given power, reducing I^2R losses for a given conductor size. Higher voltage increases insulation, spacing, and transformer and other insulation and protection based costs. Higher current increases need for larger conductors, terminals, and heavier transformer windings, within safe thermal limits, or for an acceptable level of losses. Higher losses, to heat, decrease transmission efficiency, losing marketable product (power over time). Each of these has some cost, which varies relatively with distance and power, and nature of the area (175 KV is awkward in a city). Reduce them to an algebraic cost relationship for a given type of installation, differentiate, and you have an optimized overall COST system. In some cases, throw in other practical limits of technology or safety, by which the calculus theory would be bounded. TERRY (203)732-0575 (1:141/1275) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-21-94 16:29 From: Don Kimberlin To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla Capacitors ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ BL> At frequencies higher than about 100khz current flow in a BL> conductor only occurs near the surface thus reducing the BL> effective cross sectional area and increasing the BL> effective series resistance. This effect will occur in all BL> parts of your primary tank circuits and in the secondary BL> coil. The usual method of countering this is to use BL> conductors with a large surface area for a given cross BL> section. RQ> Exactly as I wrote about last year. The tank circuit designs RQ> have been scaled to take advantage of skin effect. Thin wall RQ> copper tubing, large strap, and multi-strand DC transmission RQ> wire for buss wiring. Litz wire offers no advantage in these RQ> particular circuits, at these particular frequencies, as far RQ> as I can see. Cheaper, heavy duty battery type cable (some- RQ> times doubled or tripled up) works quite well it seems. SET PULL_QUICK'S_LEG.SYS /on /whispering_in_the_ear_mode ...Pssst! Let me know next time you get ready to purchase. I want to buy a bunch of copper mine futures. Tell me and I'll split the profits with you! Heheheeee.... (704)792-9241 (1:379/37.0) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-21-94 14:04 From: Don Kimberlin To: Bruce Kingsbury Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ BK>DK> ...Oh, boy, do I have trouble with that, Richard. BK> It would seem you're being deliberately obtuse. As I BK> understand it (without having done any research myself) BK> Tesla's objective was to create an ionized and conductive BK> channel from the ground to the already-conveniently-ionized BK> ionosphere so that he could use the ionosphere to _conduct_ BK> relatively low-frequency AC. ...Just trying to get the picture in simple terms and words. The thing I'm having trouble with now is how to get it back *down,* once you have it up there... DK> ...Again, when it's conduction, the emphasis is on current, DK> not voltage...at least for ordinary mentalities...can you DK> help get my perspective right for this understanding? BK> So why don't the power companies run 110v cables all the way BK> from the power station to the consumer? After all, those big BK> transformers are not cheap! BK> The ground and ionosphere may be good conductors, but neither BK> are superconductors. To move power efficiently, you use the BK> highest practical voltage and thus the lowest possible BK> current. ...That's my concern: The current-carrying capability of the ionosphere can't be much; thus the voltage would have to be something absolutely incredible in order to transmit any meaningful amount of power. Let's try to quantify it a bit. Suppose you cold generate a megavolt - one million volts. To get it to transmit meaningfully useful power, disregarding all losses at the moment, you've have to get one ampere of beam current, which is an *awful* lot for an ionized gas to conduct..and you'd wind up with only one megawatt, not a lot of power from the viewpoint of electrical power people. ...And, I still haven't heard how to get it back down once it's up there. Any notion of whether Tesla ever solved that end of the link problem? (704)792-9241 (1:379/37.0) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-19-94 21:04 From: John Waalkes To: Joel Gray Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ JG> the info you seem to have access to and I would like to JG> explore further. The Biography was a paperback and light JG> reading with not much in depth stuff. I'd like to know more. JG> Thanks for the assistance. You could try the Tesla museum in Colorado Springs Colo. They have a good selection of books concerning him and his inventions. As an aside, he did some of his high-energy experiments in the Springs, one of which resulted in blowing up the city's only dyno. 913-897-6667 (1:280/35) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-25-94 16:15 From: Don Kimberlin To: Terry Smith Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ TS> DK> ...Again, when it's conduction, the emphasis is on TS> DK> current, not voltage...at least for ordinary TS> DK> mentalities...can you TS> DK> help get my perspective right for this understanding? TS> RQ> Long distance 60 cycle transmission uses voltage, not TS> RQ> current, to transmit the power. TS>... Power is quite simply the product of both TS> voltage and current, assuming no phase difference. In long TS> distance power transmission, I^2R losses are minimized by TS> using high E, low I. When the ratios are transformed, power TS> stays constant with ideal matching. Other than the TS> techniques used, this is the same whether 60 Hz or RF. ...Phew! Thanks for jumping in. I was concerned there's some form of Transcendental Impedance Matching yet to be revealed to me. (704)792-9241 (1:379/37.0) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-25-94 16:23 From: Don Kimberlin To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ RQ> TS> Do you know of any significant changes he may have made RQ> TS> between the sparkers and power transmission coils? RQ> The configurations were basically the same. The power supply RQ> and tank circuits connections were changed around and around, RQ> and around if you read his notes. Basically the sparker (for RQ> photographs, tank circuit tuning) was set up with a damped RQ> wave signal. For power transmission Tesla used CW RQ> exclusively. Photos of the outside of the lab show several RQ> sets of wires servicing the building; telephone, low voltage RQ> AC, and DC from a local streetcar system. For sparks he would RQ> hook his low voltage AC to the custom Westinghouse trans- RQ> former, throw a large rotary gap across this capacitor bank, RQ> and fire away. CW was available from a DC motor/generator RQ> set. DC in, high frequency CW (isosynchronous) AC out. ...Now that could be yet another interesting aside. What you just described is what the radio people called an "alternator," for which Alexanderson at GE in the US and Goldschmidt in Germany are generally credited. Now, don't get me wrong. I can find Ferranti-made AC power generators from early English electric power history. It took a time before people could get a nice uniform sinusoidal waveform out of the earliest alternators (so the first ones couldn't be paralleled), but the matter of higher frequency AC and a pure waveform came along later. Any notion where Tesla fit into that path? (704)792-9241 (1:379/37.0) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-25-94 22:30 From: Terry Smith To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ TS> of substantial fractional wavelengths. It's normal to look TS> at induced and radiated fields of a broadcast antenna, TS> coupling efficiency to the earth, and the earth resistance TS> in conducting that signal. Tesla's signals obviously have RQ> Tesla's experiments in this area. Ground conduction is most RQ> definately half of Tesla's global circuit. Would you believe you may be about to get tempted to find a copy of the Code of Federal Regulations? They're available to purchase from the Government Printing Office (or more expensive update services), and for review at all Federal Depository Libraries (commonly at several larger universities in each state, which get free documents in exchange for agreeing to support public access), and sometimes at other larger libraries. You're about to become interested in several Paragraphs in Title 47, Section 73. (FCC R&R) TS> The local signal from an AM broadcast antenna relies on TS> ground conduction rather than free space radiation. RQ> Interesting. Does this apply to ungrounded battery powered RQ> receivers? Yes, but now it's my turn to suggest you flip the telescope around. This topic alone could become a 2 year thread. To use an overly simplified model, consider the size of a quarter to half wavelength across the frequency range of Tesla's projects through AM broadcast. (1 wavelength at 1 MHz is 985') Consider the size of an AM receiver's antenna. Can you picture the receiving antenna sampling a small area of the field surrounding the Earth's surface, which is acting as an RF conductor? TS> Do you know of any significant changes he may have made TS> between the sparkers and power transmission coils? RQ> The configurations were basically the same. The power supply RQ> and tank circuits connections were changed around and RQ> around, and around if you read his notes. Basically the RQ> sparker (for photographs, tank circuit tuning) was set up RQ> with a damped wave signal. For power transmission Tesla used RQ> CW exclusively. In the CW power transmission experiments, are there any lab notes or published comments on phase angles or coupling methods to or from the earth? What frequencies were used? 47CFR73.184(f) Graph 1-20 show relative field intensity versus distance for different ranges of medium frequency signals, "unattenuated", and as attenuated by salt water and various soil types. 47CFR73.190 Figure R3 is a reduced scale (to fit a bound book) version of the FCC M3 soil conductivity map. This shows estimated conduvities for land around the US. 47CFR73.190 Figures 5 & 8 might be more confusing without some RF background, but would probably also interest you, regarding vertical patterns and radiation efficiency for various wavelength radiators. There's also a fair amount of text and math formula if you look in nearby Paragraphs, which cross reference these figures. Parts of it might interest you, but parts of it are math related to theoretical interference protection models which might not mean much without some background study (and aren't as relevant to Tesla). The research and development of these RF conduction Earth models hadn't been done yet in Telsa's era. If you compare geographic regions from the R3 map, with losses over distance in Graph 1 (low end of the AM band), I suspect you'll rapidly build a picture in your head as to relative efficiency of Tesla's proposed system over distance (or, the level of losses it might accrue), for possible comparison with the basic Ohms Law I^2R losses in the "Westinghouse" power grid using wire conductors. What soil conductivity do you see around Tesla's lab locations? Try to picture (based on R3) how much variation there'd be among areas like Eastern CO, Kansas, and Nebraska, inland New England, coastal New England, and Gulf Coast Texas. (upon return from library...) Do you think Tesla had any idea how this would vary? Terry (203)732-0575 (1:141/1275) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-25-94 12:43 From: Don Kimberlin To: Stan Phillips Subj: Tesla, Col.sprng 1 / 2 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ SP>DK> ...Oh, boy, do I have trouble with that, Richard. As you SP>DK> note, "radiation" does imply propagation of magnetic or SP>DK> static fields through space. But "conduction" implies SP>DK> propagation of induction fields through the earth. SP> Hi there, from what I have read, Tesla was aware that the SP> ionosphere was conductive and was attempting to use it as a SP> kind of universal high voltage feed. Feed power into the SP> ionospere and recover it the same way. Apparenly, when he SP> died, he was initiating experiments with powerful UV lights SP> to provide a conducting path from the ground to the SP> ionosphere. ... ...Hmmm...wonder how the UV lights would provide a "downlink" as well as an "uplink?" SP> While in this day and age, it would be VERY dangerous SP> to use it for power, it may be a means of world wide radio SP> communications. (Not very efficient when you consider the SP> power needed and the fact that all aircraft would have to SP> keep out of the way. It would be a major hazard) ...That's for sure. About worldwide radio, I have some (to me, anyway) rather fascinating views of what was done to build radio systems in that time of quite insensitive receivers and detectors, and no particular amplification available. One can see why early radio gravitated to VLF, and immense power levels, all for the purpose of providing stable, large received signals. Believe it or not, the Last of the Dinosaurs of Radio seems to bave been built as late as 1927 -- running a megawatt on SIXTEEN KILOhertz! I've got enough data on it now to write up an article in the next several months. That stuff purely fascinates me, since it is so completely foreign to today's notion of microelectronics as "telecommunications".... (704)792-9241 (1:379/37.0) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-22-94 20:09 From: Brett Lilley To: James Meyer Subj: Tesla Capacitors ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ > On 09-11-94, BRETT LILLEY wrote to RICHARD QUICK and said: BL> You are encountering skin effect. At frequencies higher than BL> about 100khz current flow in a conductor only occurs near the BL> surface thus reducing the effective cross sectional area and BL> increasing the effective series resistance. > Your argument would benefit from at least an equation that > showed "skin depth" verses frequency. For thin wires or foils, > the percentage of increase in AC resistance at 100 Khz is > *much* less than for thicker wires. Yes I agree, putting it simply if current only flowing in a conductor to depth X and conductor is 2X in dia then Rac/Rdc = 1 If dia is 4X then Rac/Rdc will be about 2. NOTE this is simplified to make my point the exact figures will be different! > I'll post the equation later when I can find the proper > reference book at work. Jim If you can post this as a single simple equation then you're a far better man than me. If you are short of a reference then one source is: RADIO ENGINEERS' HANDBOOK by F.E.Terman Sc.D around page 28 in my edition. Bye. (64 7 3575355) (3:774/600.4) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-25-94 09:27 From: Mark Conway To: Richard Quick Subj: Tesla Coils ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ TID: FastEcho 1.40 15032 Hi Richard, RQ> U.S.P. mineral oil is a pharmacuetical (medical) grade of RQ> pure petroleum oil. It is sold in drugstores as an intestinal RQ> lubricant (laxative), and for skin care (women use it to RQ> remove makeup). It is heavy, clear, and has little or no RQ> smell (odorless). Another use for this product is to oil down RQ> baby bottoms to prevent diaper rash. Ok - this should be enough info for me to find the same sort of stuff over here. By the way - when you say laxative- do people actually drink the oil!? or is it used in a more "sinister" fashion? RQ> Did I get you right when you said you wanted to build a .2 RQ> microfarad capacitor? No, I made a typo. I am going to try and make a 0.02 mfd capacitor. Richard - I sent you another fido post a few days ago but it looks like its gotten lost in the system again. In the post I asked you about your safety gaps. The tesla coil I have been using has not had a safety gap as I was in a hurry to see if it would work.(By the way- in your first video when you are testing one of your coils by driving it wity two 15kv, 30 mA neons I cannot see a safety gap either). I cannot find much info in your postings about the safety gap- is it just two doorknobs with a grounded piece of flat metal sheet between the electrodes? In your first video when you show your power box it is not easy to see what the safety gap looks like. Another thing I asked about was the bypass capacitors. You use doorknob caps which we cant seem to get over here. I was wandering if I could just make a plate glass cap and use this for the bypass capacitor as the required capacitance is quite low. Do you think that this type of capacitor would have the required properties for a bypass cap. Or do you think that I would be better to get a whole lot of 3 kv disc capacitors which are available over here and connect them up to make the required capacitance? Best Regards, Mark, 64-9-489-6750 (3:772/195) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-28-94 13:24 From: Terry Smith To: Don Kimberlin Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ DK> ...Again, when it's conduction, the emphasis is on current, DK> not voltage...at least for ordinary mentalities... RQ> Long distance 60 cycle transmission uses voltage, not RQ> current, to transmit the power. TS>... Power is quite simply the product of both voltage and TS> current, assuming no phase difference. TS> When the ratios are transformed, power stays constant with TS> ideal matching. Other than the techniques used, this is the TS> same whether 60 Hz or RF. DK> ...Phew! Thanks for jumping in. I was concerned there's DK> some form of Transcendental Impedance Matching yet to be DK> revealed to me. If there were some better means of ratio transformation than motor-generators, or oscillatory converters, DC could be added to the list too. As to that TIM, would we then be competing with the transient intermod audio dynamics folks? ======= New branching topic which you had no idea would come off a Tesla discusion: I spent last weekend at a campground in upper NY state, near a couple of quartz crystal mines. One of the people I met was a US educated Jamaican lady, with interests in Wicca, Rastafari, and healing through the Chakras (sp?). The latter is a philosophy which defines body function into seven physical and spiritual centers, and associates each with mineral crystals of certain colors. One who is weak in one or more of the 7 centers of human function is cured by holding or wearing crystals of a suitable color to match whatever the individual deficiency might be. The healing is acheived by matching the frequency of the crystals to weakened body patterns. I've heard of this a number of times before, and have generally thought of it as a ritualistic practice of drug induced 3rd worlders, acting a bit crazy. After a couple of extended discussions with this well spoken, educated, modern day medicine lady of sorts, I spent a significant amount of the driving time heading home speculating how much of this belief in crystals would impact human function purely through a placebo effect, or whether there might be some more direct link too subtle for us to have spotted through traditional medical-electronic scientific research. In electronics, we do use some of the same crystal materials to regulate the frequency of vibrations. Brain wave patterns are recognized mostly in the 4-17 Hz range, from what I can recall of studies years ago. Some patterns I seem to recall being slower than that. Crystal natural resonant frequencies tend to be in the 20 kHz to 100 MHz range, well above human audio or light sensitivities, and quite separate from EEG recognized brain wave patterns as I recall learning about them. Thinking back and trying to recall pieces of biochemical physiology, it's obvious there are many electrochemical reactions taking place in a human, at speeds faster than what I recall being defined by medically recognized functional pattern speeds. Is there any reason such internal electrochemical patterns aren't widely recognized, such as scrambled mixes not readily identi- fiable due to changes under various human conditions or among individuals, or such low levels as to be difficult to isolate from "noise"? Could there be a physical link between such biochemical function within humans and physical vibratory resonant frequencies in natural mineral crystals? If so, why isn't a connection widely recognized outside of what might be called faith healers? How would one prove a hypothesis that there is a connection, but on a subtle enough level to not show up in most medical research to as valid? Conversely, how would one show that there is no connection other than an emotional placebo effect? Do you know of any research documentation on this subject? Terry (203)732-0575 (1:141/1275) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-28-94 19:04 From: Stan Phillips To: Don Kimberlin Subj: Tesla, Col.sprng 1/ 2 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ DK> ...Hmmm...wonder how the UV lights would provide a "downlink" DK> as well as an "uplink?" The same way that normal phone conversations go both ways on the same telephone line? DK> Believe it or not, the Last of the Dinosaurs of RAdio seems DK> to bave been built as late as 1927 -- running a megawatt on DK> SIXTEEN KILOhertz! Not so much a Dinosaur as a means of very long range communi- cations, and about the only means of communcating with submarines (below water). From Gibraltar, one could key to sub's in the med, using the transmitter in Rugby (England). The keying relays at Rugby were massive and very noisy circuit breakers that could not operate very fast. Another thing was that people living local to Rugby had many built-in recievers such as knives and forks in the kitchen draw. These would sing at 16Khz. Some claimed that the fillings in their teeth detected the signal. All drainpipes and plumbing had to be bonded or they would sing too. While one could light a bulb off a simple loop, it was not too good as the bulb went on and off, and in anycase, one could always light a bulb with the 200Khz transmitter at Droitwich (if you lived near enough). As an aside from this, it was not uncommon in the early days of Transistors to wind a loop tuned to the local AM station to power a small transistor radio!!!!! (1:229/15) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-30-94 18:04 From: James Meyer To: Brett Lilley Subj: Tesla Capacitors ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ On 09-22-94, BRETT LILLEY wrote to JAMES MEYER and said: BL> You are encountering skin effect. At frequencies higher than BL> about 100khz current flow in a conductor only occurs near BL> the surface thus reducing the effective cross sectional area BL> and increasing the effective series resistance. The skin effect starts at *any* AC frequency. The higher the frequency the greater the effect. At 60 Hertz, the powerline frequency, the skin effect is already doing its thing. Guess what the skin depth is at 60 Hz? Give up? It's about a half inch. Believe it or not! Making a 60 Hz conductor larger in diameter than about one inch wastes a lot of copper near the center of the wire because it's not carrying much current at all. If you need a really hefty conductor for 60 Hz, you'd be better off making it a pipe with half inch thick walls. The skin depth is the distance from the surface of a conductor to the point where the AC current density has dropped off to 63.2% of the value at the surface. To figure the skin depth in inches and in copper, divide the constant 2.6 by the square root of the frequency in Hertz. Jim, 919-286-4542 (1:3641/1) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Date: 09-29-94 07:50 From: Bruce Kingsbury To: Don Kimberlin Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ DK> ...That's my concern: The current-carrying capability of DK> the ionosphere can't be much; thus the voltage would have to DK> be something absolutely incredible in order to transmit any DK> meaningful amount of power. No, because at high frequency and voltage, ionised gasses conduct very well. 64-7 847-5513 * (3:774/1300)