Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!aplcen!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!nic.MR.NET!ns!logajan
From: logajan@ns.network.com (John Logajan)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Anyone know about arc generators? `ffzzapp'
Message-ID: <1990Feb1.180654.12563@ns.network.com>
Date: 1 Feb 90 18:06:54 GMT
References: <2813@goanna.oz.au> <5170071@hplsla.HP.COM> <4079@jarthur.Claremont.EDU>
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rspangle@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (Randy Spangler) writes:
>But how do you get the high frequency with that much voltage?

The high frequency is usually generated on the primary side of the
xformer.  Tesla used spark-gap driven oscillators (I believe).

Normally the turns-ratio of the xformer, primary to secondary, determines
the step-up (or step-down) ratio, but this is not true in circuits that
are in resonance. (Or so the book on Tesla claims.)  Apparently you
can get "extra" step-up in a resonant xformer.  Tesla's spark-gap
apparatus was self-resonant and so tuning wasn't as critical as if you
had an oscillator driven by a fixed reference freq.  Then you would need
to tune the osc or the coil to each other.

-- 
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