Re: first coil help

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "jpeakall by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jpeakall-at-mcn-dot-org>

Ryan,

Set up a ground rod close to the coil, and see if you get any output. If you
are lighting a flou. bulb, you should. Next tune the primary to where you
get the best output by seeinf how far you can  move the rod away from the
coil and still get a spark. Once there, set your spark gap close and then
determine where you get best performance, which should be just a little
smaller than where the gap starts to give eraatic performance. You could
prolly use more tank cap, but should be able to get some decent sparks out
of that setup.

I still can't tell abot your primary. What is it's diameter, and I assume
it's a helical (wrapped around a form) type? If it is, it should be in the
range of 6"-8" diameter. If it's too large in dialmeter, you may be getting
poor coupling.

And what kind of gap, and what construction, size, details is your spark
gap?

Good luck,

Jonathan Peakall
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2001 7:18 PM
Subject: first coil help


> Original poster: "James Mathisrud by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jrmathis-at-pressenter-dot-com>
>
> there are 16 1/4in diameter primary turns, spaced at 1/4 in. im using a
> fluorescent bulb, and my caps are 6
> beer bottles filled with about 10oz ea.of saltwater. not sure how to test
> the capacitance, will look into
> that. im using 1-15kv30ma nst
>
> thanks for your help jonathan, and the rest of coilers on this list
>
> Tesla list wrote:
>
> > Original poster: "James Mathisrud by way of Terry Fritz
> <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jrmathis-at-pressenter-dot-com>
> >
> > im a new coiler, and i have been trying to tune my first coil, and have
had
> > a few
> > problems. i am getting it to resonate, i know this because the lightbulb
is
> > glowing, but i just can't seem to get any sparks to breakout, i have a
> > small sphere
> > discharge terminal, the secondary is 4.5in, 800 winds #22, its tapped at
11
> > turns,
> > because that seems to be the best spot from the testing ive been doing,
im
> > using
> > salt water caps, i have an air blast gap.thats set at about 1/2 in, im
> not sure
> > what the average spacing is supposed to be, but i keep opening it
farther and
> > farther, and the power of the coil seems to be increasing please advise
> > before i
> > break something!
> >
> > also, imy ground is a 1in copper water pipe, and is wetted down before
each
> > use its
> > been driven about 1.5 feet into the ground i don't know if this may be
> > affecting it
> > or not. thanks for your help
> > Ryan
>
>
>
>