Re: Are Monster Toploads Really Needed?

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

Original poster: "albert hassick by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <uncadoc-at-juno-dot-com>

Hi Barry, Tom, all.   I am compiling a schematic of my "toroidless" coil
and will post it soon with Terrys help. Hopefully this will help shed
some light on this subject. I am most curious to Toms reference to
'parasitic capacitance', perhaps that is what is causing my coil to
behave as such.  I will post the schematic very soon.  Thanks everyone
for your input.  Al. 

On Sat, 28 Apr 2001 12:09:55 -0600 "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
writes:
> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" 
> <uncadoc-at-juno-dot-com>
> 
> Hi Bart, John, Terry, All.  Would it be possible for me to scan in 
> a
> diagram of the exact components of my arcing Tesla coil (with no 
> toriod)
> to the list?  I can write down the schematic and all parameters and
> components so that the toriodless mystery can be solved by the more
> knowledgeable list members than I.  I have a Visioneer scanner and 
> can
> scan a schematic drawing but will anyone be able to open the .aim 
> file
> without downloading the visioneer software from the website.  If 
> not,
> then how can I post a scheme of my toriodless coil to the list?  Can 
> I
> convert my scanner file drawing to a jpg?   Anyway,  I can get the 
> same
> length spark from my coil no matter what the topload.  I simply need 
> to
> tune the primary for any given topload and the arcs will be the 
> same
> length.  A beer can atop the secondary will give the same arc length 
> as a
> larger aluminum duct toriod.  These are just my findings, maybe my 
> coils
> are just some kind of mutiods, you know, I made them without any 
> computer
> programs, so maybe, just maybe my coils are dancing to the beat of 
> a
> different drum, and maybe, they should not work at all, but they do! 
>   If
> I can scan my coil and its parameters, then perhaps you guys with 
> the
> computer tools can explain what is going on here!   Al.
> 
> On Mon, 23 Apr 2001 07:58:53 -0600 "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> writes:
> > Original poster: "Barton B. Anderson by way of Terry Fritz 
> > <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <tesla123-at-pacbell-dot-net>
> > 
> > Hi Al,
> > 
> > It may be possible you are seeing no difference on your coil due 
> to
> > "something" about
> > the design. I would be curious as to your coil, power, and 
> charging 
> > system
> > specs if
> > it's not too much trouble.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Bart A.
> > 
>  Tesla list wrote:
> > 
> > > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
> > <uncadoc-at-juno-dot-com>
> > >
> > > Hi all, Is it not possible that a tank circuit with an 
> > appropriately
> > > wound coil could work without a monster toriod topload and give 
> 
> > equally
> > > devastating arcs?  I still stand by my statement that our coil 
> can
> > > produce an equal arc when tuned with a toroid, sphere, or no 
> > topload at
> > > all.  The arc length remains the same as long as the primary is 
> 
> > tuned for
> > > optimum coupling.    Al.
> > >
> > > On Sat, 14 Apr 2001 11:03:40 -0600 "Tesla list" 
> <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> > > writes:
> > > > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz 
> <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
> > > > <FutureT-at-aol-dot-com>
> > > >
> > > > Message to newbies,
> > > >
> > > > I would not want newbies to be misled. Most coils
> > > > will give much longer sparks when the properly
> > > > sized toroid is used.  I have to admit that I've never yet 
> seen 
> > a
> > > > coil
> > > > that does not benefit from the use of a properly sized toroid. 
>   
> > To
> > > > give just one example, my old coil that gave 40" sparks from 
> a
> > > > 12/30 NST, gave only 26" or so with no toroid.  My newer coil 
> 
> > gives
> > > > the longest sparks (42") using a 4" by 13" toroid.  If I 
> replace
> > > > that with
> > > > a 3" by 10" toroid, the sparks are reduced to about 33".  Of 
> > course
> > > > I tune for longest sparks in every case.  Of course a 
> spherical
> > > > topload can give excellent results also.   The bottom line is 
> 
> > that
> > > > not only do Tesla coils benefit from the use of a toroid or 
> > sphere
> > > > on top, they also benefit from having the *properly sized* 
> > topload.
> > > > There is a topload size *range* within which the results will 
> be
> > > > similar.
> > > >
> > > > Of course besides giving longer sparks, toploads also provide 
> 
> > other
> > > > benefits such as; shielding the top secondary turns from 
> corona,
> > > > aiming the sparks horizontally, giving a more spectacular 
> > display,
> > > > brightening the sparks, etc.
> > > >
> > > > Cheers,
> > > > John