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Re: First light


From: 	George W. Ensley Jr.[SMTP:erc-at-coastalnet-dot-com]
Sent: 	Friday, January 09, 1998 3:33 PM
To: 	Tesla List
Subject: 	Re: First light


>
>From: LINEMAN23K[SMTP:LINEMAN23K-at-aol-dot-com]
>Sent: Thursday, January 08, 1998 7:24 PM
>To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: First light
>
>I have been researching TC's for about a year now but have finally finished
>building my first Tesla coil.  I am getting 49" streamers with seldom
strikes
>at 52".  I would like to thank everyone on the list for their
contributions.
>Although I have posted the list but a few times, I have always gotten
answers.
>The majority of my questions were answered from other posts and the search
>feature on the archives (Thanks Chip, good idea).
>
> What I would like to know is, how does my coil stack up against other
coils
>with the same input power?  Here are my coil's specs:
>
> Power supply: 2 15KV-at-60mA  NST's
>                       no variac
>
> Filter network: Saftey gap, grounded center electrode
>                       2 15KVDC doorknob caps in series to ground (each
leg)
>                       1  3.5" toroid 25 turns #14 in series with
>                       1 aircore inductor 2"o.d.x6" PVC wound with #28
magnet
>                          wire and a 50W 3K ohm resistor (each leg).
>                       1 25A line filter (before NST's)
>
> Spark gap:      RQ type in parrallel with HV bushings
>                       11 electrodes 0.75x6"spaced 0.025" in 6" PVC (capped
>and slits
>                            cut for air flow).
>                         1 Vacuum cleaner motor
>
> Caps:               4 Rolled 0.011uF (2 series sets of 2, in parrallel)
>                         3 20mil sheets 16"x96" of LDPE
>                         Al roofing flashing 12"x 91"
>                         Transformer oil (Texaco)
>                         Kraft paper between each
>
> Primary:            17 turns 0.25" copper tubing spaced 0.25"
>                         15 degree bank
>
> Secondary:         8.5"o.d. (dried and sealed in and out)
>                           34" winding length #20 magnet wire 1000 turns
>sealed
>
> Top load:             Toroid 4"x20" crafted from styro. and Al tape (looks
>nice)
>
> Misc.:                 #6 sol. copper hookup wire for tank ckt.
>                            0.05" wide brass strips for cap connections
(hobby
>store)
>                            #14 HV wire for tap lead (neon sign shop)
>
> I am tapped at ~14 turns on primary for best spark.  I know I need more
caps
>and a larger wire for my tap lead but if someone sees something else I
should
>do to improve my coil, please let me know.
>
> Thanks again
> Rusty Duncan
>
>
>
Rusty,

Sounds like it's working pretty good to me.

Other than what you mentioned I would say up the size of the toroid to
6"x30" to raise the breakout voltage a bit. Then as a last resort up the Q
of the caps by going commercial.

As a reference I had a 6" coil with a 12kv 120ma xfmr.  The long sparks were
at best 67" and average was 50"-60". Input to the neon was probably 130V.

george....