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Re: Low Voltage Primary

Wouldn't it be better to leave the cores in. OK it wouldn't really be a
TC but surely it would work better.

Tesla List wrote:
> 
> Original Poster: Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>
> 
> 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
> >