RE: Solid-state gas tube power supplies for TC use

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

Original poster: "Mccauley, Daniel H by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <daniel.h.mccauley-at-lmco-dot-com>


I must have a weird solid-state neon sign power supply.  When I measure the
output I get
a square wave (somewhat ugly) with amplitude of 30kV peak-peak.  Measuring
with an RMS meter
gets 15kV output at approximately 19.5kHz.

Dan




Dan -

Can you share the specific details of your "successful" experiences with
these power supplies, insofar as driving a Tesla coil? Specifications of the
power supply used, circuit details, performance (arc length) of the final
optimized configuration, etc. A link to photos of the operating coil would
be great.

Like many endeavors, "successful" can mean very different things to
different people. I have read postings on this list from individuals who
were ecstatic with a three-inch output from a small coil that when properly
tuned would have generated 18-20 inch arcs.

I have not been "successful" in getting satisfactory output from any of
these solid-state supplies, whether they were the common AC powered "beer
sign" units, or the automotive units with 12 VDC input. Like Nick Field
noted, all that I have seen use a low rep-rate ignition pulse superimposed
on a relatively low voltage that keeps the neon tube ionized after ignition.
You certainly can rectify the output, and charge a small cap with it, but I
couldn't honestly say the results were worth the effort. Sort of like the
small "human-powered" Tesla coil I recently built: hand-cranked alternator
driving a step-up transformer driving a small NST, charging a small mica cap
in a small tank circuit pumping a small 2" diameter secondary. Did it make
sparks? Yes ...... was it "satisfactory" or "successful"?  ..... not by my
standards.

Scott




----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 8:31 PM
Subject: Re: Musically Responsive TC's


  > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<dhmccauley-at-spacecatlighting-dot-com>
  >
  > I HAVE used these supplies rectified for tesla coil use with much
success.
  >
  > If you have never used these supplies successfully, how can you possible
  > claim, "in my experience."
  > All people of this group should realize almost anything is possible with
  > what equipment is available
  > out there.  Just because you never had luck with these things doesn't
mean
  > other people haven't.
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >  > The switching supplies sold as neon tube drivers CANNOT, in my
experience,
  >  > be used as TC supplies, even with the addition of rectification,
smoothing
  >  > etc. The supplies I have seen do not provide a CW HV output, rather
they
  >  > output spikes of HV (6-10kV) 2-4 times a second to strike the tube,
and
  > then
  >  > a CW output of 600-1000V to keep the tube lit.  This means that after
  >  > rectification and smoothing you will get a 1-2kV output, which is
pretty
  >  > marginal territory for any spark gap tesla coil.
  >  >
  >  > The fact that you have to use a DC supply also means you either have
to
  >  > accept a 50% power loss in a resistive HV side ballast, or use a
charging
  >  > choke which will then make the supply as big and heavy, if not more
so,
as
  >  > an equivalent coil and core style neon supply.
  >  >
  >  > _______________
  >  > Nick Field, HVFX
  >  > www.hvfx.co.uk
  >  >
  >  >
  >  >  > Original poster: "Mccauley, Daniel H by way of Terry Fritz
  >  > <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <daniel.h.mccauley-at-lmco-dot-com>
  >  >  >
  >  >  >
  >  >  >
  >  >  > Which can be used as a power supply to drive a tesla coil.  So what
is
  >  > your
  >  >  > point.
  >  >  >
  >  >  > Dan
  >  >  >
  >  >  >
  >  >  >
  >  >  >msnip...