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Re: Building my first TC
> >I have finally got two parts for my tesla coil. Neon sign transformer
> >and secondary coil. I would be grateful if somebody could calculate
> >turns and other specs for primary coil (flat pancake). I would also like to
> >have tips about building capacitor (what type?).
> >Transformer:
> >Input voltage : 230V, 50Hz
> >Input current: 0.78A
> >Output voltage: 4000-PE (what the hell that means?)
> >Output current: 35mA
> >Output power. 180W (output voltage must be about 5140V)
> >Impedance: 146940 ohms (calculated)
> >Suitable cap.: 0.02166uF = 217nF (calculated)
> >Secondary coil:
> >Diameter: 4.8cm
> >Length: 22,3cm
> >Wire diameter: 0.26mm (with insulation)
> >Turns: about 860
> >Inductance: about 6800uH (calculated)
> Well, I am also a beginer but my first coli works so... The only thing I
> would like to point out is that personaly I don't like the flat primary, it
> don't seem to work as good as a rising helix type. Other coilers may prove
> me wrong but in my case when I raised my coil I went from a hiss to nice
> sparks. My guess is the field is more concentrated to the secondary when it
> rises up past the lower last few windings, I at the moment are looking and
> experimenting with different types of a primary coil. I will post my findings.
Ok, ill try to make helix primary coil, if you think it is better.
What should be the rising angle of helix coil?
> On the secondary, try to stick only to magnet wire with a coating, not
> insulated wire, it tends to give you fewer turns to height ratio (I know
> this from experience). Magnet wire can be had almost free if you talk to the
> right person, I went to a motor rewinder and got mine for free. Try someone
> like that first before buying a whole role.
I am using magnet wire (enamelled copper). I bought it 200 meters and
they didnt charge me for the wire, they charged me for winding it to
another reel.
> I am getting ready to get more but I am going to buy this batch because it is
> a couple miles of wire that comes in a buckett and exits the top. Buckett good
> for a cap:) I have 851 turns and I used a 4" diameter PVC pipe, make no
> mistake, use only thin wall pipe or something similar. If you use PVC, coat
> the pipe with varnish before you wind it. Your output (35MA) on your
> transformer is low, I get that from 110VAC 12KV Neon transformers, try 2
> in parallel or look into another with more current.
I have two transformers; 4000V 35mA (soft type, when current is 35mA
output is only about 2000V) and 2000V 40mA. These transformers are
pretty expensive, about 80$ each (I got them for free, my friend's
mother works in neon sign company).
I wound my secondary to cardboard tube and coated it then with about
ten layers of varnish.
> Anyone please correct me if I am wrong here.
> Also what type of spark gap do you use??? I am still having this battle myself.
I think I will use "normal" spark gap, not rotary.