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Re: Low Voltage Primary

Hi Ross,

	I think it will work fine theoretically.  I have taken GM ignition coils
and removed the iron cores so that I can run them as true Tesla coils
(single shot) and have obtained 13.25 inch sparks from them.  These have a
few hundred primary turns and "a lot" of secondary turns.

http://www.pupman-dot-com/listarchives/1998/November/msg00694.html

You may want to search the archives at www.pupman-dot-com for "GMHEICSLR"

These are very similar to what you propose for low frequency (10kHz), low
voltage (1500 V) coils.  However, be very cautious!!  I originally started
the GM coil project to make a simple "beginner's coil".  However, the low
frequency makes these ignition-coil Tesla coils pack a vicious shock if you
touch them!!  It became obvious that the shock was far too much for a
beginner to play with and it may be in the lethal range.  Low frequency
coils are really nasty shock wise and do not have that "you won't feel it"
advantage.  I "tested" it at 2 inch arcs and it really hit me!!  A 13 inch
arc would probably send me through the wall if it didn't kill me first (2.5
joules).

So there is nothing wrong with low frequency, low voltage Tesla coils
theoretically and they have been demonstrated.  However, don't touch them!!

Cheers,

	Terry
	Still holding the GMHEICSLR at 13.25 inches. :-))



At 07:10 PM 07/21/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>
>	Hi all,
>
>	I am interested in using low voltages for the tank circut.  If one were
>to use a 240V tank circut, one would save the cost of transformers and
>caps, not to mention putting immense amounts of current through the
>primary coil.  (all this stemmed from reading a paragraph about "it
>ain't the volts but the amps that matters").  However, plugging numbers
>into wintesla gave some disappoiting numbers:  since the capacitance of
>the main cap would need to be around 230 uF, the primary's resonating
>frequency is very low, around 1.7 kHz.  Using standard 1/4 wavelength
>calculations, this gives a secondary amounting to 13000 or so turns
>(wintesla).  After admitting that a spark gap will not be easily
>constructed (I have a few ideas, ranging from ionized gas to statues of
>Buddha) My question is:  Is it possible to use the recommended 600-1000
>turns and still get the coil in good tune since the 1/4 wavelength idea
>has be disproven?  Anyone have any ideas?   Keep in mind that my
>knowledge of coiling is sparse at best.
>
>	Thanks,
>	Ross
>