RE: [TCML] Tesla coil keeps shutting off

["Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>]

8mm for the gap is getting toward the large side...  Is it possible that the NST is already compromised, particularly if you might ever have had the gap wider?  Do both NST HV terminals arc to the case in the same way, and pull the same length arcs?  It sounds to me like either the NST is bad, or the gap is not assembled properly and is set wider than you believe.  Also possible though unlikely, is some unseen arcing somewhere in your primary/tank wiring.

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Jarrah
> Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 11:19 PM
> To: 'Tesla Coil Mailing List'
> Subject: RE: [TCML] Tesla coil keeps shutting off
> 
> 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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