Re: Question on Transformers

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

Original poster: "davep by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <davep-at-quik-dot-com>

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Loudner, Godfrey by way of Terry Fritz
> <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <gloudner-at-SINTE.EDU>

> Hello Alex
 
> I'm not sure, but its probably an induction coil.

	If it takes DC and gives DC its not a transformer,
	properly so called, tho it could be an induction coil.

> As for using it to power a tesla coil, I'll have to leave that question
> to others for an answer.

	Nikola Tesla, among others, ran Tesla coils off induction
	coils.  I have.

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tesla list [SMTP:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 10:56 PM
> > To:   tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > Subject:      Question on Transformers

> > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> > <TeraJoule-at-aol-dot-com>
> >
> > Hello.
> >
> >     I am new to coiling, and I am looking to build a small coil first.  I
> > looked to my high school physics department today.  They have an unlabeled
> > transformer that takes D.C. and makes it A.C.

	cf above on definition of a transformer.
	(the word get misused a lot....  8)>>)

>> I put 7 volts at 3 amps into it

	20W.
	Small, but ok for a small coil...

>> and the resulting voltage was able to jump a 1cm-2cm air gap.  I am
>> assuming it produces over 3,000 volts

	A deal over, IIR my breakdown tables.
	Suggest finding a set of tables for such.

	A bit low, but suitable for a small Tesla coil.

>> because of the dielectric break-down of air.  My problem lies in the fact
>>that I do not know the cycles per second

	Not strictly critical.  If an oscilloscope is to hand,
	measure it...

>> or even the exact voltage it produces.

	Hunt about for a table of breakdown voltages.

	(Anyone?
	Is there one such on the site?
	Should there be?)

	It's an easy (ish) measurement to make, and instructive.
	(IIR, 1 cm means 5k or so...)

>> I was wondering if perhaps there were a few assumptions I could make
>> to determine the capacitor size I would need for the TC.

	I should think an acceptable performance could be had by
	skipping the freq of the supply, or picking a number
	(say 100 Hz or so) and going with that.  Then tune things
	up....

	Or i may be talking rot...

	best
	dwp