Re: Tesla Coils and generators

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

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

At 08:32 AM 7/7/2003 -0600, you wrote:
>Original poster: "Chris Roberts by way of Terry Fritz 
><teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <quezacotl_14000000000000-at-yahoo-dot-com>
>
>Hi everyone,
>Is it possible to run a moderate (around 3 to 5 kva) telsa coil off of a 
>generator? The equipment would still be the usual pole pig ballasted by 
>arc welder setup, grounded to earth ground, etc. It would however, not be 
>reliant on rarer 240V wiring, for easier portability and such. Any 
>inherent problems with this? Thanks.
>
>
>-Chris

You bet it's possible.. It's been done more than once, e.g. for movie 
filming, where all the power comes from portable generators.

Watch out for transients (of whatever source) coming back to the alternator 
and breaking down the insulation in the windings.  A long extension cord 
from generator to coiling area might not be a bad idea, serving as a filter 
of sorts.

A side benefit, for those running synchronous motor driven rotary gaps, is 
that as the engine speed (and output frequency) varies under load, it will 
automatically track.

I also don't know whether I'd want to risk one of those new Honda inverter 
generators (they're a DC source internally, with a solid state inverter to 
make AC... makes them very efficient and quiet at low loads, since the 
engine doesn't have to run at synchronous speed).  They might be more EMI 
sensitive.