Re: New Coil/First Run (15 1/4" dia)

To: tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: New Coil/First Run (15 1/4" dia)
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Sat, 03 May 1997 09:19:28 -0500
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net
Subject:     Re: New Coil/First Run (15 1/4" dia)
      Date:  Fri, 02 May 1997 17:39:27 -0500
      From:  Chuck Curran <ccurran-at-execpc-dot-com>
        To:  Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
       CC:   Michael Bauer <mbauer-at-execpc-dot-com>
References: 
           1


Tesla List wrote:
> 
> Subject:  Re: New Coil/First Run (15 1/4" dia)
>   Date:   Tue, 29 Apr 1997 05:11:15 -0400
>   From:   Michael Bauer <mbauer-at-execpc-dot-com>
>     To:   Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> 
> I glad to hear you finally were able to get sparks.  It sounds like you
> have it pretty well tuned in order for it to work so well at first power.
> You mentioned that you have both caps in parallel.  Did you need to have
> both to make the primary tune up, or just trying to get as much capacitance
> in the primary a possible?  

Michael:
        I was inteding to start with just one cap but I really was out
far on
the primary during initial tuning in the basement.  I decided to go for
the full effect and put in both right away.  Now I have several turns
left on the outside of the primary not in use for resonance.

> On another note, do you always run your coils outside?  

        Yes, always outside--I would hate to fry too many things in the
house
so I go outside, even all last year with the 8" diameter secondary coil
system.  I found it was also easier to pound in a series of 8' ground
rods outside and I didn't have to drill holes through the new tile in
the kitchen floor!! :^)  Just kidding

> I imagine your garage isn't large enough for huge sparks, so outside
> makes sense.  

At this time it should read  "attempted hugh sparks"

> My house and garage are only 20 feet apart with a basketball
> hoop and a fence to also limit the outdoor area.  I have one of those city
> lots with the garage in back and driveway along side the house, so there is a
> limit of how big a spark I can throw without hitting something damaging.  I
> also have 3 ham radio antennas in the back yard that really need to be
> disconnected.  My coil is nearly done with only main feed wiring and toroid
> to complete.  I have the rotary and primary wiring done, and have had
> the rotary sparking away without the secondary coil installed so I know my
> caps can hold for a while.  I am getting temporarily sidetracked to work on
> the control panel for my school project instead of finishing the coil
> itself. Does your spark discharge affect the camcorder operation, like make
> sparkles in the picture?  Was your wife present for the first powerup?  Was she
> impressed?  

        My two daughters came out and watched and cheered but not the
wife for
the first run.  She will wait until it's debugged.  Oh, I found I had
put in a quick blow fuse in the rotary motor circuit by mistake so now
all is well and ready for test #2.  I will be running the Carter
universal motor on DC now in order to get a bit more RPM. I will have
about 0-84 volts DC no load available from the 60 volt AC 10 amp variac
driven tranformer.  60 volts AC provided 1800 RPM or 360 bps so I am
targeting 2250 RPM for 450 bps.   

> My wife would be skeptical that I should ever turn the power on again.

        Yea, not much interest here either in that area, just tolerance! 
Tomorrow a big Hamfest located about 3 miles from here in Cedarburg,
WI., you should plan on it.  Probably a 30 minute drive from your
house.  I'll be there when the doors are unlocked!

Chuck Curran