Re: Just a FEW questions from a newbie

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Just a FEW questions from a newbie
From: Peter Dalinis <pdalinis-at-xnet-dot-com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 12:20:47 -0600
Subscriber: pdalinis-at-xnet-dot-com Sat Jan 11 10:48:22 1997
Tesla List wrote:


> >For my first coil, I am looking for a design that gives off 1 foot
> >sparks.  If I get more, that
> >is fine too :) What secondary size am I looking at?  2feet long by
> >3inches dia?

> For 1 foot sparks, You could use a 15KV, 30 or 60 ma Neon transformer.
> These are cheap and readily available. Just call or go to any local sign
> shop that deals in Neon signage and ask them what they do with their old,
> out-of-warranty neon sign transformers. Some places just throw them out
> because they can't sell them without providing a warranty of some kind..;)
> However, most places that I have called usually keep the old ones in a box
> in the back room and save them for teachers, instructors, COILERS, anybody
> who wants them. They usually let them go for a small fee ($10-$25).
> On the size: The best height-to-diameter (h-d) ratio for coils under 8" in
> diameter is around 4:1. So, if you're making a 3" dia coil, it would be
> best to use a height of 12".

I have heard lots of differnt stuff on this... everything from use 26awg
-at-
18inches... to useing 22awg -at- 12"....  Am I just going to waste wire
by having it too long?  Or bring the 1/4wave frequency down too much?




 
> >Capacitors.  Will doornob caps work a-ok?  Perhaps a few in series and
> >parrallel?
> >Where can I go about getting some?  (no worthwhile hamfests in winter in
> >chicago)
> 
> There is a great surplus company called "All electronics". They
> occasionally get some high-voltage products in for pretty good prices.
> Example: in their summer '96 catalog (the last one i got...they're not very
> good at sending out the latest ones...;) they have HV Mica caps from 600V
> to 2,000V in 3 different styles in values from .0003 to .02 MFD for 25
> cents each! Their # is 1-800-826-5432.

I called them for a catalog.  I assume that these caps will work?
about what am I looking at for a target cap value for this curcuit?
5mf, .5mf, .05mf, etc..?



> >Spark Gaps.  I found some docs for a rotary one, and a stationary one.
> >The stationary
> >one looks easier for me to build is it ideal (airblast.txt)?  Will an
> 
> I have that very same text file. It came with a .GIF that illustrated how
> it was built. That may work fine for you, however it is very noisy and the
> electrodes don't last long. Unfortunately, neither an aquarium pump or a
> airbrush compressor provide enough airflow to effectively "quench" the
> spark. The result is the gap electrode life is dramatically shortened. The
> best design I've seen for a stationary spark gap is one designed by Richard
> Quick. It's affectionately referred to as the Richard Quick spark gap (go
> fig). I can send you construction details if you're interested.

Please do send this to me... I appreciate it...


Once again, THANKS!!!

Pete