RE: [TCML] Tesla coil keeps shutting off

["Jarrah" <jarrah_reay@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I doubt that the total gap in the RQ is to wide. I have tried adjusting,
making it quite small and this has no effect on whether it will turn off. It
is currently set around 6-8mm. I am using Cornell Dubilier caps (15 wired in
series to make 10nF at 30kV).
I can just flick the switch off and back on again and it will "work".
I just went an ran the experiment you mentioned (I kicked myself that I
hadn't thought of already doing so) and the transformer seems to be working
fine. I can draw a spark between the two poles after the tesla coil shuts
off. I must admit I wasn't expecting that, I thought the transformer was the
most likely source of the problem but that doesn't seem to be the case.

-----Original Message-----
From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Lau, Gary
Sent: Sunday, 7 February 2010 2:24 PM
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: RE: [TCML] Tesla coil keeps shutting off

It's really hard to troubleshoot without at least being in the same room,
but - what kind of cap do you have?  Could it be that the cap develops a
short after operating for a certain period of time?  

For the RQ gap - what's the total gap spacing?  Just wondering it you have
it set too wide.

Can you draw a spark between the NST HV terminals after things stop working?
How long after you shut it off, do you need to wait before it works again?

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Jarrah
> Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 9:10 PM
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [TCML] Tesla coil keeps shutting off
> 
> Hi, Iv just finished building my second tesla coil and am having problems
> keeping it working. All the wiring seems fine but it will only run for a
> couple of seconds and then the spark gap stops firing. The NST keeps
humming
> which I'm pretty sure means that its primary is still getting power. It is
a
> 15kV/30mA standard electric works NST from 1990, which doesn't have any
> indications of having a GFCI (not that I would know what to look for I
> admit). It has a RQ style spark gap that is quenched by two large computer
> fans.
> 
> 
> 
> Any ideas for what might be causing this? Any advice would be greatly
> appreciated.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Jarrah Reay

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