RE: more newbie questions

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

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

Why did Tesla make a coil in the first place? I wonder how he figured out
how to do all of this stuff in the 1800's, he must have been really
freaking smart. What was it that he was trying to accomplish? Other than
just the fun of making one, is there any pracitical purpose?

 >>>>>>>>Best thing to do is either go to the library and read up on him, or
search the
internet for more historical backgrounds of tesla.

Why do I have to use a neon sighn transformer? How come you can't use a
transformer from something else?

 >>>>>>>>>>You need a 50/60Hz high voltage transformer.  Nothing else is
really available
to do the job for the size / price.  (microwave oven transformers can be
used which are cheap as
well, but I WOULD ONLY RECOMMEND THESE FOR ADVANCED COILERS as they are
EXTREMELY dangerous and
much more difficult to hook-up, ballast, etc... Stick to a 12kV or 15kV,
30mA NST for your first coil.
Or even try a mini coil like the one on my website which uses a 4kV/20mA NST
which are only about $30.00

http://www.spacecatlighting-dot-com/teslacoil4.htm

Also, I noticed that in Spencer's, that they sell something that likes like
a Telsa coil with a glass globe covering the whole thing. I am sure that
people know what I am talking about. So, is this a Tesla coil?

 >>>>>>>>Basically a high voltage device using a flyback topology. Not a
tesla coil.

My background:

majored in psycology, ba in 1994.
then decided to do something for real, so I decided to get into the
computer field.

 >>>>>>>>>Just be extremely careful.  The primary voltage on even the
smallest tesla coils is strong enough
to be lethal.

I noticed that most people in the
computer field know little about electronics, myself included.

 >>>>>>>>>>The electrical principles involved in tesla coiling are rarely
understood by even computer and digital
engineers.  Heck, digital engineers think a 28VDC bus voltage is HIGH
VOLTAGE   ! ! ! !   ;)

Dan









james brady
richmond, va