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sep-94.txt



ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 08-31-94  22:02
  From: Don Kimberlin                            
    To: Richard Quick                               
  Subj: Tesla Coils
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
RQ> -=> Sez Don Kimberlin to Richard Quick <=-

DK> ...Thanks for that point.  We have a FAQ under continuous
DK> revision over in Fido's BROADCAST echo, and I'll sure make
DK> certain we don't understate Tesla's involvement in the
DK> development of what evolved into "radio."

RQ> Very kind, and accurate, of you!

...Always want to get things more correct than the stock,
glossed-over "histories."  Glad you approve, since you;re
obviously expert on the matter...

RQ>What is the efficiency of transmitting alternating currents
RQ>through a wire compared to the efficieny of radiating
RQ>systems? Tesla said that by conduction into the ground and
RQ>upper atmosphere he could deliver not only intelligible
RQ>signal, but useable power. He realized early on the
RQ>inefficiency of radiated signal systems, and focused on a
RQ>system that employed wireless conductors instead. ....

DK> ...What "conductors?"  I can see the earth, of course, as
DK> one conductor.  There is a "waveguide theory" particularly
DK> applicable to low frequency radio, where essentially the
DK> earth and the ionosphere form the walls of a "waveguide"
DK> around the earth. Would those be the "conductors" Tesla was
DK> alluding to?

RQ>Yes, more or less. Tesla saw the earth as a good conductor
RQ>when he tuned to specific earth resonate frequencies below
RQ>30,000 Hz. He stated he could detect natural electrical
RQ>standing waves in the ground, and when he tuned his coils to
RQ>these natural frequencies, he was able to increase the
RQ>amplitude of these standing waves. This is the ground
RQ>connection of his system.

...Did he ever say *what* those frequencies were?  In radio work,
there are some few frequencies that have had to be reserved away
from communications work because certain natural phenomena occupy
that part of the spectrum.  For example, note that your TV set
has no Channel 37.  That's because it's one of the important
spectral lines of, if I remember that smattering of physics,
helium, which radio astronomers need to monitor without man-made
noise...

RQ>For the air terminal, Tesla opened an ionize and conductive
RQ>channel to the stratosphere. I believe he used a combination
RQ>of X-Rays and hard UV produced by his single terminal bulbs
RQ>which were mounted on the air terminal of the transmitter
RQ>station. The high-voltage RF current from the air terminal was
RQ>passed by this conductive channel directly into the rarified
RQ>upper atmosphere where it would conduct freely around the
RQ>globe.

...Now, my confined mind gets into a problem.  X-rays and UV are,
of course, at the opposite end of the frequency spectrum from the
LF stuff of the physical coils.  While a steep pulse contains
higher and higher frequency elements, lighting off something like
that will wipe out every radio within a large radius...yet it
seemed Tesla achieved some sort of "clean" signal that didn't do
that. Also, radiated signals that high in frequency contain an
increbibly high energy level -- one that is dangerous to
biological structures.  In fact, we call it "ionizing radiation,"
and have all sorts of proscriptions against producing it
carelessly.  How did Tesla's production of these frequencies not
result in danger to biological life? (704)792-9241  (1:379/37.0)

ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 09-01-94  04:46
  From: Terry Smith                                 
    To: Don Kimberlin                               
  Subj: Tesla Coils
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
RQ>I was digging around and found some info on Tesla's Colorado
RQ>Springs Magnifier that has not been seen around.

RQ>P(avg) =  311 W .
RQ>F               94 KHz
RQ>Vbase          420.00 KV
RQ>Base impedance, Rbase   209 ohms
RQ>Characteristic Impedance, Zo    7001 ohms
RQ>Electrical length of the resonator    70.4 degrees
RQ>Velocity factor, Vf  0.0045
RQ>VSWR    33.4          kc 0.1232      k 0.5934 
RQ>Voltage Step up    31.5
RQ>Vtop =  13.22 MegaVolts   
RQ> (Classical Resonator)

DK> out of that thing.  It certainly would have been receivable
DK> around the whole globe!  Terry Smith, who carries all the   
DK> good stuff about loading RF into antennas in his head, will
DK> have a ball playing around with those numbers...some of which
DK> look rather impossible when thinking in terms of the average
DK> and RMS values used in everyday radio communications...we 
DK> have to remember Tesla

Interesting, yes, but nothing like what would be characteristic
of any height insulated vertical radiator, with or without
typical loading.  

 DK>...How about it, Terry? Can you figure what the field would   
 DK> be like off a 94 kHz loading coil with a top hat? It sure    
 DK> looks to be pretty "standard" in that regard...my first      
 DK> guess says about 1.5 Amps average base current, but 1350     
 DK> Amps peak base current...what a pulse!

Based on 209 ohms and 420 kV, we might expect over 2,000 A at the
base. Extrapolating with the ratio of 31.5 and assuming minimal
losses, the arc might be around 60 A.  That's approaching a
gigawatt.  

As to radiation efficiency, I'd be curious if any data comparable
to present day units existed.  A 200 ohm base is typical of a 120
degree or so tower. Loading of normal radiators commonly does
more to match impedances without higher Q networks, than to boost
radiation efficiency.  The near zero Vf, and indication (based on
what?) of 70 degree wavelength, conflict with normal radiator
modelling, as does a VSWR so much greater than 2.  

I'd be curious, but afraid to even guess.  I would speculate that
fields from some of the coils might cancel, but that there'd be
some radiation from both the long coil, and the arc path.  How
much I'd guess would depend a lot on construction practices, not
shown here.  If I had to pick a number to compare with equivalent
transmitting power into an efficient radiator, I'd guess this
might be similar to around a megawatt, though low duty cycle.  Is
there any historical field data?  (203)732-0575 BBS (1:141/1275)

ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 06 Sep 94  19:24:14
  From: Richard Quick                                
    To: Terry Smith                                  
  Subj: Tesla, Col.Sprng
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
My mail services have been poor to worse the last two weeks. 
No mail picked up for a nearly a week, then getting duplicates, 
not counting posts missed completely and late messages....

Anyway, Terry Smith and Don Kimberlin were commenting on some
info I dug up on Tesla's Colorado Springs Magnifier....

TS> Interesting, yes, but nothing like what would be 
TS> characteristic of any height insulated vertical radiator, 
TS> with or without typical loading.  

 DK>...How about it, Terry? Can you figure what the field would   
 DK> be like off a 94 kHz loading coil with a top hat? It sure    
 DK> looks to be pretty "standard" in that regard...my first      
 DK> guess says about 1.5 Amps average base current, but 1350     
 DK> Amps peak base current...what a pulse!

TS> Based on 209 ohms and 420 kV, we might expect over 2,000 A at
TS> the base. Extrapolating with the ratio of 31.5 and assuming
TS> minimal losses, the arc might be around 60 A.  That's 
TS> approaching a gigawatt.  

TS> As to radiation efficiency, I'd be curious if any data 
TS> comparable to present day units existed.  A 200 ohm base is
TS> typical of a 120 degree or so tower. Loading of normal 
TS> radiators commonly does more to match impedances without 
TS> higher Q networks, than to boost radiation efficiency.  The
TS> near zero Vf, and indication (based on what?) of 70 degree
TS> wavelength, conflict with normal radiator modelling, as does
TS> a VSWR so much greater than 2.  

TS> I'd be curious, but afraid to even guess.  I would speculate
TS> that fields from some of the coils might cancel, but that 
TS> there'd be some radiation from both the long coil, and the
TS> arc path.  How much I'd guess would depend a lot on 
TS> construction practices, not shown here.  If I had to pick a
TS> number to compare with equivalent transmitting power into an
TS> efficient radiator, I'd guess this might be similar to around
TS> a megawatt, though low duty cycle.  Is there any historical
TS> field data?  

The whole idea of the Colorado Springs Experimental Station was
to verify Tesla's previously discovered methods of transmitting 
communications and electrical power without wires. The system was
not designed, built, or operated at as radiating transmitter. The
Magnifer circuit was operated at industrial power levels to
perfect a method of wireless global transmission thru conduction.

References to radiation efficiency completely miss the point of
the experiment. Tesla stated over and over that his goal was to
supress radiation and increase conductivity. This is why the
system was required to produce such high voltages.

The posted values were derived from only one of many dozens of
experiments Tesla performed with the equipment at hand, and is
"typical" in showing the type voltages, currents, and frequencies
Tesla worked with at the station between 1899-1900.

The famous spark photos from the Colorado Springs lab were taken
solely to publicize to power processing ability of the machine,
and does not document the primary function of the oscillator/coil
system. It could also be surmised that spark length gave a good
relative indication of system tune given the absence of any
reliable commercial diagnostic equipment in 1899-1900.

ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 02 Sep 94  17:01:22
  From: Richard Quick                                
    To: Don Kimberlin                                
  Subj: Tesla Coils
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
RQ>Yes, more or less. Tesla saw the earth as a good conductor
RQ>when he tuned to specific earth resonate frequencies below 
RQ>30,000 Hz. He stated he could detect natural electrical
RQ>standing waves in the ground, and when he tuned his coils to
RQ>these natural frequencies, he was able to increase the
RQ>amplitude of these standing waves. This is the ground
RQ>connection of his system.

 DK> ...Did he ever say *what* those frequencies were?  

I will research for an exact quote. The impression I get reading
his publicly released material is that he considered this
information proprietary at the time of his discovery. He
frequently repeated that the system operated "below 30,000 Hz".

RQ>For the air terminal, Tesla opened an ionized and conductive
RQ>channel to the stratosphere. I believe he used a combination
RQ>of X-Rays and hard UV produced by his single terminal bulbs
RQ>which were mounted on the air terminal of the transmitter
RQ>station. The high-voltage RF current from the air terminal was
RQ>passed by this conductive channel directly into the rarified
RQ>upper atmosphere where it would conduct freely around the
RQ>globe.

 DK> ...Now, my confined mind gets into a problem.  X-rays and UV 
 DK> are, of course, at the opposite end of the frequency         
 DK> spectrum from the LF stuff of the physical coils.  While a   
 DK> steep pulse contains higher and higher frequency elements,   
 DK> lighting off something like that will wipe out every radio   
 DK> within a large radius...yet it seemed Tesla achieved some    
 DK> sort of "clean" signal that didn't do that. 

Well, the UV and X-Ray were produced through tubes, and the
resultant radiation was used to ionize a conductive channel; but
Tesla did not intend to radiate LF signal. The channel provided a
direct electrical connection to low pressure (and conducting)
upper atmosphere. The very high frequency of the ionizing
radiation need not interfere destructively with low frequency
conduction.

 DK> Also, radiated signals that high in frequency contain an
 DK> increbibly high energy level -- one that is dangerous to
 DK> biological structures.  In fact, we call it "ionizing        
 DK> radiation," and have all sorts of proscriptions against      
 DK> producing it carelessly.  How did Tesla's production of      
 DK> these frequencies not result in danger to biological life?

Well the very fact that they are ionizing radiation is why Tesla
was using them. As to the bio-hazard; my understanding is that
the beams were to have been fairly tightly focused, the number of
transmitters were to be kept small, and they were to be located
away from population centers.

Regardless, the strength of this radiation (and the bio-hazard)
drops rapidly with distance, and it shuts off completely with a
flip of a switch. We are currently using systems worldwide
(nuclear) where the radiation bio-hazard is persistant, cannot be
shut off, and must be tightly regulated. Six of one... Half dozen
of another...... and how does that joke go about Chicken Kiev???  

ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 09-01-94  14:08
  From: Ken Stewart                                
    To: Richard Quick                              
  Subj: Tesla?
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
I have wanted to build a Tesla coil for years.  How hard is it? 
I am a beginner at working with electronics who typically goes to
Radio Shack for anything needed.  Also, I remember a story about
a resonator where Tesla's assistant almost caused an earthquake
by activating it.  Is this a true tale or an urban myth?
919-662-9313 9353 (1:151/147)

ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 05 Sep 94  13:32:51
  From: Richard Quick                                
    To: Ken Stewart                                  
  Subj: Tesla Coil
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
 -=> Sez Ken Stewart to Richard Quick <=-

 KS> I have wanted to build a Tesla coil for years.  How hard is  
 KS> it?  I am a beginner at working with electronics who         
 KS> typically goes to Radio Shack for anything needed.  

Well, coil building is not as difficult as some would have you
think. Building really GOOD coils that perform with excellent
efficiencies requires that you use a modern, experimentally
verified design, and modern (plastic) materials; but the actual
construction of a coil system itself differs none at all from the
coils of old. 

Radio Shack will be of no use at all in building the coil, tank
circuit, or power supply: nearly every coil component will have
to be hand-crafted; those components that are not hand-crafted
(transformers/power supply) will typically be found surplus.

My latest archive on this topic is available from this BBS in the
file TESLA7.ZIP. The file is also available at no charge if you
write to me and include a SASE and a blank formatted 1.44 floppy.
TESLA7.ZIP has: the complete text archive of this thread going
back to 10/93, a bunch of GIF files that show my favorite spark
gap designs, GIF files showing wiring diagrams and RF choking
circuits (with accompanying complete text instructions and parts
lists for every GIF), simple but effective secondary coil "rule
of thumb" design and construction guidelines, detailed instruc-
tions on obtaining/modifying free neon sign xfrmrs to make high
efficiency high-voltage Tesla power supplies, detailed instruc-
tions on building high-voltage pulse discharging plastic capa-
citors. The file also contains the most complete Tesla and Tesla
coiling bibliography and parts/supply list I have seen anywhere.
If you are interested you will find a wealth of information on
the subject (zipped 400K) , at a price you can't beat (free).

 KS> Also, I remember a story about a resonator where Tesla's     
 KS> assistant almost caused an earthquake by activating it. 
 KS> Is this a true tale or an urban myth?

Oh the story is quite true. It was Tesla himself that performed
the experiment. It has been told here at least once. I will look
back through my archives and see if I can dig it up for
reposting.

ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ 
  Date: 05 Sep 94  14:08:53
  From: Richard Quick                                
    To: Ken Stewart                                  
  Subj: Tesla
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
 -=> Sez Ken Stewart to Richard Quick <=-

 KS> I remember a story about a resonator where Tesla's     
 KS> assistant almost caused an earthquake by activating it. 
 KS> Is this a true tale or an urban myth?

Oh the story is quite true. It was Tesla himself that performed
the experiment. It has been told here at least once. I will look
back through my archives and see if I can dig it up for
reposting.

ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 11-27-93  
  From: Richard Quick              
    To: George Powell                        
  Subj: Re: 10KVA Tesla Coil
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
 GP> I bet Tesla was a fun person to live by..made the locals
 GP> life real interesting..

There are several good (and true) stories about the local
disturbances Tesla created.

One of the best concerns an electro-mechanical steam powered
oscillator he constructed. Now the oscillator was built to
provide a constant frequency field current for a RF alternator
in his radio work. But he played around with the thing.

In New York he had a lab in the loft of the building at 46 East
Houston Street (1898). The building had a heavy iron center post
in the construction. The base of the post was sunk in the sandy
basement floor and terminated near bedrock. The post came up the
building center, through the loft, and supported the roof peak.
This post carried a considerable portion of the building load.

Tesla bolted the oscillator to the post and fired it up. As steam
pressure in the boiler increased, so did the energy of the
oscillations. He sat in a chair and observed the effects of the
mechanical vibrations on objects at hand. 

After about 30-40 minutes Tesla noticed the building itself begin
to sway; then he saw iron-work and wooden beams begin to unseat.
He went to shut down the machine. To his dismay he found that the
steam line was too hot to approach, and/or the valve had seized.
He looked around the lab for a minute or two and finally attacked
the problem with an axe, severing the steam line, and blowing
clouds of live steam into the building loft.

As the steam cleared, he heard a knock at the door. Two of New
York's finest stood in the doorway. Tesla was apparently no
stranger to dealing with the authorities: He explained to the
cops that they had arrived too late for the demonstration, and
that an unfortunate problem prevented him from reproducing the
test while they waited. He invited them back later in the day,
and showed them out.

It seems the police at the Mulberry Street headquarters had
received frantic calls from people in a radius of several blocks
reporting an "earthquake". Walls, sidewalks, and foundations had
cracked, windows shattered, street lamps tilted askew, and stuff
was falling out of cabinets and shelves. The police realized that
while the station itself was only subjected to a slight tremor, 
officers reporting to the scene of the calls found the intensity
increased as they drew near Tesla's lab. It did not take them
long to figure out where the disturbance was comming from. As I
mentioned, Tesla was no stranger in dealing with authorities.

ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 09-04-94  11:05
  From: James Meyer                                 
    To: Richard Quick                              
  Subj: Tesla Caps 1/2
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
RQ> Flat plate caps have no inductance. Rolled caps contain two
RQ> or more plates which are tightly rolled up. Rolled plates 
RQ> exhibit some properties of coils, they contain a certain 
RQ> degree of self inductance.

      Rolled caps don't always have to show a lot of inductance.
      With a slight modification to your construction techniques,
      you could make "extended foil" caps with almost no
      inductance.  The inductance of an extended foil cap doesn't
      change as they get bigger either. Jim  (919) 286-4542       
      (1:3641/1)
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 06 Sep 94  17:52:55
  From: Richard Quick                                
    To: James Meyer                                  
  Subj: Tesla Capacitors
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
 RQ> Flat plate caps have no inductance. Rolled caps contain two  
 RQ> or more plates which are tightly rolled up. Rolled plates    
 RQ> exhibit some properties of coils, they contain a certain     
 RQ> degree of self-inductance.

 JM> Rolled caps don't always have to show a lot of inductance.
 JM> With a slight modification to your construction techniques,
 JM> you could make "extended foil" caps with almost no
 JM> inductance. The inductance of an extended foil cap doesn't
 JM> change as they get bigger either.

Please tell me more. What slight modifications would be required,
and how do those modifications reduce or eliminate self-
inductance?

As I may have mentioned; the .02 uf 10 KVAC pulse discharging
rolled capacitor (instructions which I have posted here several
times) are self-resonant around 1.2 MHz. When I build larger caps
of this design; the self resonance drops below 1 MHz where it
interferes destructively with the tank circuit operation of 
smaller coils; these smaller coils are where the beginners start.

The second design limitation I have encountered is a lowering of
the tank circuit Q factor when larger rolled caps are used in the
oscillator. I attribute part of this to destructive self-reson-
ance, but this can be controlled/reduced by operating the
oscillator at lower frequencies, and maintaining a suitable
spread between the self-resonate frequency of the cap, and the
normal operating frequency of the oscillator. The destructive
interference does not seem to account for the large drop in Q
factor I read on my scope.

One problem with tank circuits is that the circuit Q factor drops
off as the physical length of non-primary coil conductors
increase. I have run physically large oscillators below 100 kHz,
using up to 14 of the homemade .02 uf rolled caps in the circuit
at one time, and the Q factor gets pretty poor. The bus wiring
alone subtracts plenty of Q (even with great care you get tons of
radiant surface area and off-axis inductance); but when I add up
all of the plate lengths of the rolled caps, and include these
lengths as a factor in the tank circuit wiring, it becomes clear
that the wiring length of the circuit exceeds the primary coil
length by several times. It seems that this must be avoided.

Where physically large layouts are common, that is at lower tank
circuit frequencies (say below 175 kHz), I switch to flat stacked
capacitors. When I switch, I see tank circuit Qs increase. This
capacitor construction (flat plate) avoids the problem of self-
inductance (&therefore self-resonance), but I see an increase in
tank circuit Q that the self-inductance factor alone does not
seem to account for.... It seemed to me the best course to limit
the rolled cap design at .02 uf, and for larger capacitors, to
switch over to a flat stacked capacitor design.

I am not at all trying to detract from the viability of your
suggestion, which I would like to hear in more detail, but I am
simply trying to outline and clarify some of the problems and
design limitations I have encountered in the course of my
experimentation. 
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 09-06-94  11:53
  From: DON KIMBERLIN                              
    To: RICHARD QUICK                               
  Subj: Tesla Coils
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
RQ>Yes, more or less. Tesla saw the earth as a good conductor
RQ>when he tuned to specific earth resonate frequencies below
RQ>30,000 Hz. He stated he could detect natural electrical
RQ>standing waves in the ground, and when he tuned his coils to
RQ>these natural frequencies, he was able to increase the
RQ>amplitude of these standing waves. This is the ground
RQ>connection of his system.

DK> ...Did he ever say *what* those frequencies were?

RQ>I will research for an exact quote. The impression I get 
RQ>reading his publicly released material is that he considered
RQ>this information proprietary at the time of his discovery. He
RQ>frequently repeated that the system operated "below 30,000 
RQ>Hz".

...That's very clearly what we have come to call the "Very Low
Frequency" range or VLF.  Just for trivia sidelines, the
international definition books call them "myriametric waves,"
implying a wavelength in space measured in tens of kilometers..
in today's world, there are still some few uses of it.  Most
notable is the Omega navigation system, while there are a few
maritime Morse operations in that region.  One most significant
one is probably England's GBR on 15.95 kilohertz, which is a
direct descendant of GFEX, built in the 1920's as a Morse
transmitter to "cover the Empire," running one million watts into
an antenna measured in miles near Rugby, England.  It may be the
last bit of "Jurassic radio" left in the world...

RQ>For the air terminal, Tesla opened an ionized and conductive
RQ>channel to the stratosphere. I believe he used a combination
RQ>of X-Rays and hard UV produced by his single terminal bulbs
RQ>which were mounted on the air terminal of the transmitter
RQ>station. The high-voltage RF current from the air terminal was
RQ>passed by this conductive channel directly into the rarified
RQ>upper atmosphere where it would conduct freely around the
RQ>globe.

DK> ...Now, my confined mind gets into a problem.  X-rays and UV
DK> are, of course, at the opposite end of the frequency
DK> spectrum from the LF stuff of the physical coils.  While a
DK> steep pulse contains higher and higher frequency elements,
DK> lighting off something like that will wipe out every radio
DK> within a large radius...yet it seemed Tesla achieved some
DK> sort of "clean" signal that didn't do that.

RQ>Well, the UV and X-Ray were produced through tubes, and the
RQ>resultant radiation was used to ionize a conductive channel;
RQ>but Tesla did not intend to radiate LF signal. The channel
RQ>provided a direct electrical connection to low pressure (and
RQ>conducting) upper atmosphere. The very high frequency of the
RQ>ionizing radiation need not interfere destructively with low
RQ>frequency conduction.

...OK, my simplistic mind sees it as "modulating" the UV and
X-ray with the VLF power, then...

DK> Also, radiated signals that high in frequency contain an
DK> increbibly high energy level -- one that is dangerous to
DK> biological structures.  In fact, we call it "ionizing
DK> radiation," and have all sorts of proscriptions against
DK> producing it carelessly.  How did Tesla's production of
DK> these frequencies not result in danger to biological life?

RQ>Well the very fact that they are ionizing radiation is why
RQ>Tesla was using them. As to the bio-hazard; my understanding
RQ>is that the beams were to have been fairly tightly focused,
RQ>the number of transmitters were to be kept small, and they
RQ>were to be located away from population centers.

...OK, that makes good sense.  Interesting, of course, that he
knew this in an era when people like Curie were only finding out
the hard way of the hazards....

RQ>Regardless, the strength of this radiation (and the bio-
RQ>hazard) drops rapidly with distance, and it shuts off
RQ>completely with a flip of a switch. We are currently using
RQ>systems worldwide (nuclear) where the radiation bio-hazard is
RQ>persistant, cannot be shut off, and must be tightly regulated.
RQ>Six of one... Half dozen of another...... and how does that
RQ>joke go about Chicken Kiev???

...Yes, except in Tesla's plan, there were "beams" apparently to
be pointed out toward space?  Now, to get the maximum benefit of
that with "radio," the launch angle is very low...in the order of
ten degrees off the horizon or such. That would mean his trans-
mission system would be radiating pretty hazardous stuff at low
angles. The location would have to be extremely remote, and not
shut off, either...  (1:379/37)

ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Date: 08 Sep 94  23:26:30
  From: Richard Quick                                
    To: DON KIMBERLIN                                
  Subj: Tesla Coils
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
Quoting myself, and talking about Tesla's global system...

RQ>For the air terminal, Tesla opened an ionized and conductive
RQ>channel to the stratosphere. I believe he used a combination
RQ>of X-Rays and hard UV produced by his single terminal bulbs
RQ>which were mounted on the air terminal of the transmitter
RQ>station. The high-voltage RF current from the air terminal was
RQ>passed by this conductive channel directly into the rarified
RQ>upper atmosphere where it would conduct freely around the
RQ>globe.

Then quoting you... 

 DK> ...Now, my confined mind gets into a problem.  X-rays and UV
 DK> are, of course, at the opposite end of the frequency
 DK> spectrum from the LF stuff of the physical coils.  While a
 DK> steep pulse contains higher and higher frequency elements,
 DK> lighting off something like that will wipe out every radio
 DK> within a large radius...yet it seemed Tesla achieved some
 DK> sort of "clean" signal that didn't do that.

Myself again...
 
 RQ>Well, the UV and X-Ray were produced through tubes, and the
 RQ>resultant radiation was used to ionize a conductive channel;  
 RQ>but Tesla did not intend to radiate LF signal. The channel    
 RQ>provided a direct electrical connection to low pressure (and  
 RQ>conducting) upper atmosphere. The very high frequency of the  
 RQ>ionizing radiation need not interfere destructively with low  
 RQ>frequency conduction.

 DK> ...OK, my simplistic mind sees it as "modulating" the UV and
 DK> X-ray with the VLF power, then...

The point missed again. Tesla designed and built the Magnifing
Transmitter directly from patents #645,576 and #649,621 (filed
September 2, 1897; #645,576 was issued March 20 1900, #649,621
was issued May 15, 1900). The air terminals of the transmitter
and receiver shown in both the patents are in fact directly
electrically connected. With sufficient altitude, no ionizing
beams are required. There is no radiation of power signal.
Tesla is exceedingly clear about this, there is no mistake. 

In diagrams of his lab demonstration system; operational at the
46 East Houston St. laboratory in 1898 and demonstrated to both
Lord Kelvin and Mr. Seeley, Examiner in Chief of the patent
office: Tesla used a hermetically sealed glass pipe (~3 dia, 50'
long) with a terminal at each end. The glass pipe was pumped down
to the atmospheric pressure representing an altitude of "5 miles"
(or Tesla stated "135 mm pressure"). Low frequency RF current at
4 megavolts was produced through a conventional Tesla Coil
circuit. This high-voltage current freely CONDUCTED through the
low pressure air in the tube. The tuned receiving circuit
(another tuned coil system) converted the high-voltage current
after it had passed through the low pressure gas into a low
voltage electrical current which ran common motors, lit
incandescent bulbs, etc..

Now these coils and oscillators are in fact the first radio
circuits. Marconi took these same circuits (a total of nine Tesla
patents) and went on to develop the radiant RF systems which
evolved into modern broadcast and reception. Tesla refused to
design and build the equipment to this end. He publically set up
and demonstrated radiant systems using his four tuned circuits
then anounced in the same lectures (Philidelphia, St. Louis) that
he had found a better way.

People STILL wonder about the purpose and practicality of
producing mega-voltages in Tesla's system. The reason is clear
and simple. When you up the voltage of low frequency RF current,
it conducts very efficiently through low pressure gas. Tesla had
no wish to radiate, and thereby waste, the system energy.