Spark length calculation

[K40T1C]

I have a question about sparks... what determines how long of a gap a spark can jump... is it the voltage.... amperage.... wattage...what.... thanks in advance for all the help that im sure you guys will give... also given all the information... is there a (mathematical) way to estimate how far the spark will jump

[dragon finder]

im not shure about mathmatical but i just tested with different lenths by unscrewing the screws it worked for me experimentation is the key to a sucsesful potato cannon

[sergeantspud2]

i did a search on google and found This. hope it helps

[K40T1C]

I understand that dragon but i am a very exact person... when i do something... i research it, draw schetches, see what other people think, draw blue prints, build it... also i dont want to have to keep drilling holes in my beauty...anyways that was just kinda a side thought... what I really want to know is what determines how far a spark can jump... but thank you anyways dragon.. and in response to ur answer spud, i'm kinda lost on that thing, do you know what it means by Breakdown...???

[dragon finder]

yes i do know what it means to breake down // break·down Audio pronunciation of "breakdown" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (brkdoun)
n.


1. The act or process of failing to function or continue.
2. The condition resulting from this: a breakdown in communication.
2. Electricity. The abrupt failure of an insulator or insulating medium to restrict the flow of current.
3. A typically sudden collapse in physical or mental health.
4. An analysis, an outline, or a summary consisting of itemized data or essentials.
5. Disintegration or decomposition into parts or elements.
6. A noisy, energetic American country dance.
(http://www.dictonary.com) ok i got it of dictionary.com but i didn't want to write it out k

[K40T1C]

wow okay um thanks... im still kinda at a loss about kindof hard to follow... if one of you would mine trying to translate it so that my weak mind can comprehend it, that would be awesome

[dragon finder]

this page might help it's for vande grph generators but it might calculate lower voltages http://www.carnicom.com/elf33.htm sorry if it doesn't help but i tried

[boilingleadbath]

By "breakdown" they mean the procces by which the air fails at being an insulator. This is when a spark occurs.

As to the spark length of a peizo or other such device, see <a href="http://www.kronjaeger.com/hv/hv/msr/spk/">this</a>.

[K40T1C]

Thanks, but unfortunatley all of these are for dry air... and propane is another matter... maybe ill build some kind of test chamber where i can easily move the electrodes back and forth and can fine tune the voltage

[boilingleadbath]

As it said in one of those sites, the spark length is equal to constant*V/gas density. The density of propane is 1.8 g/l compared to the 1.4g/l for air... thus the addition of the propane to the situation shortens the spark gap ~1.5%.
That's not very darn much.

[K40T1C]

thanks, so i guess the answer to my orginal question of what makes it change, is that it is the voltage... thank you every one for the help...

[Flying_Salt]

I would just play with it and see how far I could move the pieces of metal and make the spark jump across. But that's just me...

[Montauk512]

It's about 50,000 volts per inch, wattage doesnt matter

[frankrede]

It's about 50,000 volts per inch, wattage doesnt matter

O rly?I though someone told me 100,000v, but eh what do I know.

[SpudBlaster15]

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