RE: Disappointing Results

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

Original poster: "David Kyle by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <dave-at-kyleusa-dot-com>

Hi Bart,

Thanks for the suggestion but the wiring is correct.  I am now beginning
to agree with the other list members that I choose far too large a
capacitance value for my very very puny supply. I am willing to bet that
a 2000pf doorknob would be more in line for this project.
I had used this spark coil for a Tesla coil years ago when I was in
Junior High and in hindsight I recall I had 5 doorknobs from old TV sets
in parallel. I have no idea what the value was but just guessing it had
to be between 1000pf and 2000pf. Of course I knew practically nothing
about theory and tuning was random but it still made about 2 to 3 inch
sparks.
I am going to order a new cap today and will let you know the results
when I get it fired up again.
Dave

=========================================
Dave Kyle
Austin, TX USA
Email: dave-at-kyleusa-dot-com


-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com] 
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 8:55 AM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Disappointing Results

Original poster: "Barton B. Anderson by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <tesla123-at-pacbell-dot-net>

Hi David -

It sounds to me as if you have the cap parallel to the primary? The cap
should be placed in
series with the primary with the gap and transformer parallel to both.

Take care,
Bart

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "David Kyle by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<dave-at-kyleusa-dot-com>
>
> I fired up the desktop model T spark coil powered coil with very
disappointing
> results. It appears that the pulse caps I am using simply short out
the spark
> coil as I get no spark across my spark gap even when it is nearly
closed. So
> here is the question: is it my choice of capacitor or have I selected
too
high
> a capacitance value for such a low power coil.
>
>
>
> I know very little about the pulse caps I am using other than they are
rated at
> .05uf at 10KVDC. I put 5 in series to yield a .01uf at 50KVDC. The cap
does
> measure out at the correct value and does not have measurable
resistance
with a
> multi-meter. There is no question that when the cap is put across the
coil it
> simply shorts it out.
>
>
>
> The spark coil might be good for about one milliamp but I had not
expected .01
> would short it out. What value might be more appropriate? Would a
doorknob cap
> be a better solution for a very low power coil?
>
>
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> =========================================
> Dave Kyle
> Austin, TX USA
> Email: dave-at-kyleusa-dot-com
>
>