A tragic coil

• To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
• Subject: A tragic coil
• From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
• Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 08:22:42 -0600
• Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

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From:  MARK [SMTP:moyson-at-tig-dot-com.au]
Sent:  Tuesday, February 17, 1998 4:56 PM
To:  Tesla List
Subject:  A tragic coil

Hello everyone!
I have just made a new coil from left over materials. DISASTER..... no spark
from the secondary and the capacitor keeps exploding. I cant find the problem.
Here are its specs.
Powered by a car battery and ignition coil about 10Kv output.
A static spark gap in series with the primary of 7 turns (.5 inch spacing
between turns) of uninsulated copper wire .8mm diameter 
A capacitor 630v .01uf in parallel with primary behind the spark gap (next
to coil) 
A very old secondary (already wound by someone else) uninsulated copper wire
3.2" diameter and 20"tall... 168 turns spaced by 5mm.PVC pipe type.
Disharge terminal is just a sheet of aluminium ( for the moment)

Although this is a poor set up (put together in 15 mins with leftover junk
from other coils) I have never had results this bad. I am not prepared to
canibalize my other coils but am prepared to buy a few key items (not too
expensive)
What should I do ??????????? All sugestions welcome.
Mark Moyson.

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