What is Spark gap: Definition and 17 Discussions

A spark gap consists of an arrangement of two conducting electrodes separated by a gap usually filled with a gas such as air, designed to allow an electric spark to pass between the conductors. When the potential difference between the conductors exceeds the breakdown voltage of the gas within the gap, a spark forms, ionizing the gas and drastically reducing its electrical resistance. An electric current then flows until the path of ionized gas is broken or the current reduces below a minimum value called the "holding current". This usually happens when the voltage drops, but in some cases occurs when the heated gas rises, stretching out and then breaking the filament of ionized gas. Usually, the action of ionizing the gas is violent and disruptive, often leading to sound (ranging from a snap for a spark plug to thunder for a lightning discharge), light and heat.
Spark gaps were used historically in early electrical equipment, such as spark gap radio transmitters, electrostatic machines, and X-ray machines. Their most widespread use today is in spark plugs to ignite the fuel in internal combustion engines, but they are also used in lightning arresters and other devices to protect electrical equipment from high-voltage transients.

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  1. Alex Karatzky

    How to optimize spark gap Tesla coils

    My elementary school had its first annual science fair a few weeks ago, so me and my friend signed up and we decided to do it on wireless electricity. So naturally, we built a tesla coil. It took a couple of tries, but we eventually got it to barely illuminate a portion of a fluorescent light...
  2. Alex Karatzky

    How to optimize spark gap Tesla coils?

    My elementary school had its first annual science fair a few weeks ago, so me and my friend signed up and we decided to do it on wireless electricity. So naturally, we built a tesla coil. It took a couple of tries, but we eventually got it to barely illuminate a portion of a fluorescent light...
  3. J

    How does the corona develope into stream and disapear finall

    How does the corona develope into stream and disapear finall
  4. rodv92

    Decreasing gas breakdown distance in a spark gap with UV

    Hello ! I am currently investigating a technique that would allow several spark gaps to breakdown synchronously in an enclosed but not hermetical cavity, flushed with N2 at 1atm and ~25°C My idea was to use "indirect" photoionization (basically a synthetic fused quartz UV flash discharge inside...
  5. yi ru huang

    Spark gap switch and 2N6798 in PSPICE

    Error is like " no PSPICE template for 2N6798 ， spark gap switch how to find the .ilb of spark gap switch and 2N6798? thank for your help.
  6. cnh1995

    Spark Gap Transmitter: EM Wave Generation & Transmission

    I recently read about the early spark gap transmitter..But I don't understand how the EM waves are generated and transmitted..Induction coil creates sparks in the gap but what produces the waves and how are they transmitted?? Need I study electromagnetic waves in detail??
  7. F

    Can Jacob's Ladder Be Calculated? Formulas and Factors to Consider

    Hi there, I would like to ask is it possible to calculate the min. voltage to initiate the spark gap create by the Jacob's Ladder and also the max. distance between two rods to make the spark gap "jump"? Other than that, is it possible to calculate the no. of moles of electrons...
  8. D

    12V battery to create spark gap?

    Hey okay, so I have a 12V source which can provide a max of 10 mA, and I also have a switch that can go from open to close in 1 ms, How can I create an inductive circuit that will create a spark gap between electrodes that are 3mm apart? I did the math and found the breakdown voltage to be...
  9. supak111

    Temp of Nitogen Plasma? (spark gap)

    At what temp does nitrogen becomes plasma? What about oxygen? I am using a spark gap to turn air into plasma, I was wondering what temp is the air that the spark gap is flying through? Does the air in that area keep getting hotter and hotter the longer the spark gap is present?
  10. D

    How Can I Improve My Spark Gap Switch for High-Speed Photography?

    Hi everyone , this is my first post here :) . I am an auto electrician , my hobby is photography. I am interested in high speed photography and have invented a new form of photography in a way . I call it 'superspeed photography' . It involves taking a picture of something that is triggered by...
  11. P

    Spark Gap & Current: Exploring the Impact on Circuits

    Does a spark gap increase the current in a circuit? My thinking is that the surrounding air is ionized and any "stripped" free electrons would add to the current.
  12. R

    Voltage multiplier and spark gap design

    Hi, I am currently working on high voltage system, where I need to create an impluse at the primary side of a potential transformer. I am trying to charge my circuit to at least 10kV using a half wave series voltage mutliper consisting of capacitors and diodes, and discharging them through...
  13. L

    Can Commercially Available Spark Gaps Meet High Power Reliability Standards?

    Anyone have a reference or information on longevity and reliability experiments in high power spark gaps? I am looking at the reliability of a 97GW 78Kamp discharge spark gap I would like to know the erosion factor and fouling rate of different configurations.
  14. J

    Exploring Electric and Magnetic Fields in a Spark Gap Discharge

    Hello All, I have another set of quick questions that may or may not have a quick answer :smile:. When a simple two-electrode spark gap discharges, what shape do the eclectic and magnetic fields take on? If I were to draw the electric and magnetic field vectors, would they be pointing...
  15. W

    Building a Spark Gap Radio Transmitter

    Hey i was wondering if anyone had any sites on how to build a Spark Gap Radio Transmitter, i need to do this for history to show how marconi invented the radio. Thanks- Andrew
  16. I

    EMP generator using a spark gap

    Hi, i live in the UK and currently studying physics at A-level. I have chosen to investigate EMP and its effect on electrical systems for a project. How would i build a generator? Am i right in saying all i would need is a fairly large capacitor and a spark gap? What sized voltage are we talking...
  17. D

    Making a spark gap transmitter

    in one of my electronics classes, as a group we have to design and build a transmitter and receiver to transmit and receive morse code. we can only use a tesla coil and/or a spark gap for transmission. since we have 3 in our group... i am making the spark gap, someone else - a tesla coil, and...
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