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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!umcp-cs!gymble!lll-crg!dual!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-viking!wasser_1
From: wasser_1@viking.DEC (John A. Wasser)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Jacobs Ladder Fix
Message-ID: <2430@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Jun-85 10:17:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.2430
Posted: Mon Jun  3 10:17:12 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Jun-85 20:00:43 EDT
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 26


	Help for "biomed!lagasse" who had trouble getting the spark
	in his Jacobs Ladder to climb:

	I've built a few Jacobs Ladders with antique Ford spark coils,
	neon sign transformers, etc.  The spark climbs the electrodes
	because the air above the spark is heated by the spark and
	becomes a better conductor.  The trick is to make the widening 
	of the electrodes gradual enough that the improvement in 
	conductivity of the heated air is not offset by the increased 
	width of the gap.

	Make the change in electrode gap as gradual as you can without
	having sparks starting in the middle.

		-John A. Wasser

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