Re: Test equipment

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

Original poster: "Scott Hanson by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <huil888-at-surfside-dot-net>

John -

Of course, an "audio signal generator" won't do you any good for Tesla coil
use. You need an RF signal generator, most of which have enough range to
cover the audio frequencies.

Typical Tesla coil operating frequencies are as low as 60 kHz for very large
coils, to around a megahertz for very small coils. You'll want a generator
that covers this range.

There are many test oscillators and function generators from many different
manufacturers available on the surplus market.The Hewlett Packard 651 series
test oscillators are excellent for Tesla coil tuning work, and can
frequently be found surplus or on eBay for very reasonable prices. This is
an older series solid-state oscillator, but the large tuning dial is much
easier to use than later, smaller H-P units like the 3312A series function
generators.

Although an LCR meter is nice to have, an oscilloscope is much more useful
for Tesla coil tuning. Without a 'scope, the RF oscillator alone isn't of
much use. I'd suggest looking for a nice clean used 100 MHz scope to
complement your signal generator.

Scott Hanson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 8:49 AM
Subject: Test equipment


 > Original poster: "John Richardson by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jprich-at-up-dot-net>
 >
 > Hi Everyone,
 >
 > I am looking for a few items for the "Basement Lab", and figured I would
 > try here.  First, I am looking for an older audio signal generator,
 > preferably an old tuber HP, since everyone I have talked to says this is
 > the best to use for secondary testing.  I also lost an e-Bay bid on a 60's
 > vintage ESI 250 LCR bridge, the type with the "magic eye", and am looking
 > for similar or same.  If anyone happens to have one or both of these
items,
 > please contact me off list, or if you know of someone who does have,
please
 > let me know.
 >
 > Thanks,
 >
 > John Richardson
 > <mailto:jprich-at-up-dot-net>jprich-at-up-dot-net
 >
 > BTW-Franceformer 4/20 on e-Bay for you mini-coil competitors.
 >
 >
 > ---
 > [This E-mail scanned for viruses by SURFSIDE INTERNET]
 >
 >

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