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Re: DC powered tesla coil (fwd)



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 16:21:44 GMT
From: Jim Fosse <jim.fosse-at-bjt-dot-net>
To: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Re: DC powered tesla coil (fwd)

On Wed, 22 Jul 1998 22:18:05 -0600 (MDT), Tesla List
<tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>, you wrote:

>
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 12:55:23 EDT
>From: Esondrmn-at-aol-dot-com
>To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: Re: DC powered tesla coil (fwd)
>
>In a message dated 98-07-21 02:26:13 EDT, you write:
>
><< 
> Hi all,
> I just joined the list. As a beginner, I have my load of questions to
> ask to you expert coilers (I confess, haven't built a working one yet!).
> 
> 1. I was wondering about charging the tank cap with DC voltage supplied
> by a neon transformer and a half or full-wave rectifier. This would
> allow charging larger caps with smaller transformer because the spark
> gap wouldn't fire 50 or 60 times per second but less frequently, let's
> say every second. I guess that the peak power delivered to the coil
> shouldn't be much different as it depends, IMO, on the peak voltage
> before the spark gap fires and not how often this occurs. Is that
> correct? Any other parameter unchanged, does the repetition rate of the
> tank cap discharge affect the quality (lenght, brightness, etc) of the
> streamers jumping out the toroid?
> 
> 2. I happen to have some inductive ballast of the type used with
> fluorescent tubes. Can they have any use in coiling (perhaps as RF
> chokes)?
> 
>
>Max,
>
>Your English is great, no need to apologize.  Several folks on this list have
>built DC powered Tesla coils.  Yes, the rep rate does have a great affect on
>the spark length from the coil.  The difference between single shot firing and
>say a rep rate of 300 per minute might be two or three times in output spark
>length.  I have not built a DC powered coil but notice a great difference
>between low speed operation of my rotary spark gap and higher speeds.
>
>I believe you will need some inductance between the DC power supply and the
>Tesla tank circuit to prevent the spark gap from shorting out the DC supply.
>Others who have built these things can provide more specific information.
>
>Ed Sonderman

Max,
	On my present coil ( 6.25" diameter 24" long wound with A.W.G.
$27) I get a 13" discharge when running it with a flyback DC power
supply at about 5 discharges per second. When I run it with a 15kV
60mA neon, I get 50" (1.27m) discharges!

Thanks John F for the specs to your 65" discharge coil! I've only 15"
to go to meet your record.

	cheers,

	jim