Re: Correa

[revtec]

I don't know anything about electrochemistry in batteries, but I question the ability of a string cells to absorb a fast high energy pulse without impedance, and that this impedence would cause a voltage spike.  Maybe the spike has a different contour than a cap has and that makes the difference.  I don't know.   What I do know is that if you run the tube with only a ballast resistor, the PAGD events are merely a random display of little sparkles on the surface of the cathode, and that a series connected diode cap combination across the the tube to capture a forward pulse will collect nothing.  But, if you put a 3 mfd cap across the tube, the sparkles turn into energetic eruptions on the cathode surface causing the capture cap to charge up to 800v in successive pulses.  (I accidently pushed a series combination of 350v electrolytic capture caps to 800v and got away with it)   My tube is a pair of 3/4 inch aluminum plates separated be a 12 inch dia by 3 in pyrex tube sealed with a 12 inch dia by 3/16 O ring and vac grease. One plate is drilled for a vac connection.  I also have a 9 inch dia version using an acrylic tube.  It works just as well.  Works is a relative term.  Lots of neat visual effects: no obvious OU.   As you pull a vacuum while the tube is energized, you reach a vacuum threshold where the tube lights off.  Maximum activity is not terribly far below this threshold.  If you pull a much harder vacuum then the reactions get lethargic.  The geometry of my tubes allows me to see a haze line in the lavender glow of the tube.  This line may not be visible in a Correa style tube.  Best performance of my equipment is at a haze line height of 5/8 to 3/4 inch above the cathode plate.  At light off the haze line is at 1/8 to1/4 inch above the cathode.    Jeff ----- Original Message ----- From: Zell, Chris To: vortex-l@eskimo.com Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 5:25 PM Subject: Re: Correa                   Now we're getting somewhere!                     Perhaps a huge part of this mystery concerns the critical design of the output.  Too small a capacitor and the pulse action will be inhibited                   because the capacitor will be filled.  Too fast or brief a pulse and the battery may reject most of it as heat rather than accept it as a charge.                     It might be possible to use some sort of audio transformer of high quality to transform the pulses down.  I would think the low impedance                   of  a small battery pack would be reflected back into the tube favorably.  Perhaps one of the new low voltage ultracaps would work                  in such a circuit.