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BrianG · 12.03.2006, 01:52 AM

There are several factors that could attribute to the insonsistency you cited:

1: Moisture content in the air will make a difference. More moisture lowers the air resistance so it will arc easier so the electrodes can be further apart.

2: A transformer's output voltage rating is the value when pulling a certain amount of current. If you add a heavier load, the secondary voltage will drop. Pull less than the rating and the voltage will increase. Perfect example are those "wall warts". Ever measure a "9v" supply with no load? It's more like 12-15v. Once you load it to it's rated current, the output drops to near 9v. An exception to this is if there is a built-in regulator of course.

3: A transformers output voltage depends on the input voltage and the turns ratio. For instance; if a transformer is rated to put out 15,000v when a 110v input is applied, that is a 136.36:1 ratio. If the primary is at 120v, the secondary is actually over 16,300v.

Add all these variables and it could make a substantial difference. I'm not saying that Wikipedia is absolutely correct, but it does sound fairly close from my electronics classes oh so many years ago. :)

	(#66)
BrianG RC-Monster Admin Offline Posts: 14,609 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Des Moines, IA	12.03.2006, 01:52 AM There are several factors that could attribute to the insonsistency you cited: 1: Moisture content in the air will make a difference. More moisture lowers the air resistance so it will arc easier so the electrodes can be further apart. 2: A transformer's output voltage rating is the value when pulling a certain amount of current. If you add a heavier load, the secondary voltage will drop. Pull less than the rating and the voltage will increase. Perfect example are those "wall warts". Ever measure a "9v" supply with no load? It's more like 12-15v. Once you load it to it's rated current, the output drops to near 9v. An exception to this is if there is a built-in regulator of course. 3: A transformers output voltage depends on the input voltage and the turns ratio. For instance; if a transformer is rated to put out 15,000v when a 110v input is applied, that is a 136.36:1 ratio. If the primary is at 120v, the secondary is actually over 16,300v. Add all these variables and it could make a substantial difference. I'm not saying that Wikipedia is absolutely correct, but it does sound fairly close from my electronics classes oh so many years ago. :)