Nikola Tesla - Free-Energy Devices

HIGH FREQUENCY AND HIGH POTENTIAL CURRENTS. 193come convinced that the present methods will be short-lived. Forthe production of light,at such least, heavy machinery wouldseem to be unnecessary. The energy required is very small, andif light can be obtained as efficiently as, theoretically, it appearspossible, the apparatus need have but a very small output.There being a strong probability that the illuminating methodsof the future will involve the use of itvery high potentials, seemsvery desirable to perfect a contrivance capable of converting theenergy of heat into energy of the requisite form. Nothing tospeak of has been done towards this end, for the thought thatelectricity of some 50,000 or 100,000 volts pressure or more, evenif obtained, would be unavailable for practical purposes, has deterredinventors from working in this direction.In Fig. 126 a plan of connections is shown for convertingcurrents of high, into currents of low, tension by means of thedisruptive discharge of a condenser. This plan has been used byFIG. 127.me frequently for operating a few incandescent lamps requiredin the laboratory. Some difficulties have been encountered in thearc of the discharge which I have been able to overcome to a greatextent ;besides this, and the adjustment necessary for the properworking, no other difficulties have been met with, and it was easyto operate ordinary lamps, and even motors, in this manner.The line being connected to the all ground, the wires could behandled with perfect impunity, no matter how high the potentialat the terminals of the condenser. In these experiments a hightension induction coil, operated from a battery or from an alternatecurrent machine, was employed to charge the condenser but;the induction coil might be replaced by an apparatus of adifferentkind, capable of giving electricity of such high tension. Inthis manner, direct or alternating currents may be converted, andin both cases the current-impulses may be of any desired frequency."When the currents charging the condenser are of the