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Re: Theory vs. Measurement
Hi everyone,
I'd just like to say that I also like to be able to do
at least ballpark predictions for coils I wind etc. One of my prime
motivations in writing my article (whatever its flaws) was my
discovery of Medhurst's self-C formula for single-layer coils. While
I've subsequently learned of my shortcomings on Tesla coil theory (one
of the reasons I joined the list), I spent months hunting out a
formula that I could use to _always_ design a coil for a given
frequency. I found no such formula that worked with such consistency
anywhere else. In fact most predicted completely incorrect
frequencies for _all_ of my coils. In the same breath I have to say
that Ed Harris synthesized one that works rather well.
Also, I found that a burning curiosity to know how things worked
after some hands-on inevitably led to murky theoretical waters, many
of which bore fruit. This is simply carrying on from when I wound my
first "shocking" coil when I was 8. Valves and transistors followed
very shortly afterward. I have always been a strong experimentalist
and will willingly toss out bad ideas if either experiment shows them
up or someone shows me I am demonstrably wrong. I feel I too have made
much progress, although not without countless hours of mental
anguish.
Finally, one of my hopes was that by measuring and posting data,
others who are more mathematically astute than I would have something
useful to work with that would ultimately be to the benefit of us all.
Many regards everyone,
Malcolm