Re: Primary construction

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

Original poster: Esondrmn-at-aol-dot-com 

In a message dated 9/16/03 9:29:20 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:


>Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance-at-jvlnet-dot-com>
>
>
>This points out one of the great dangers of beginners in fabricating a
>"fixed" primary and not using some "scrap wire" to explore the full possible
>tuning range with their caps.
>
>My advise is to remove your present primary and wind up a quick primary of
>perhaps 30 turns of scrap wire (ga. not important for quick tuning test) and
>sand off a bare spot at each turn (stagger a big to prevent flashovers from
>pri turn to turn).  Your can even use some scrap cardboard with slots cut in
>it as a quickie primary support.
>
>With a full 30 turns you can explore the output at 30% variac setting at
>each tap until you find the proper resonance point.  Then you will know what
>type of primary to wind as a final "finished product" of copper tubing ---
>add 2 additional turns in case changes are necessary.  This also allows you
>to quickly calculate the max. dia size of your sub-base assembly before
>building one too large or with too many primary turns that act as an
>auto-transformer and sometimes try to flash over in the outer windings.
>
>Terry's advise might work, but if not, then go back and do the complete test
>before you lose all your patience.
>
>Don't feel bad --- I've been tripped up with too few turns available also
>back in the 60's on some earlier coils.
>
>Dr. Resonance


Dr.,

I am a firm believer in designing the system correctly in the beginning.  I 
like to build Tesla coils as much as most everyone on this list.  In fact, 
when I get the materials together and start construction, I am as happy as 
a kid and work many late nights for as long as it takes to get everything 
done.  However, I spend a lot of time up front and go through all the 
design process several times before I start.  I guess I am lazy in some 
respect, but I like to know it will work right the first time.  I take a 
lot of time to do it right the first time so I don't get frustrated and 
have to rebuild things that did not work as expected.  So - my advice - is 
to design it three times (check the math) and build it once.  -- Then spend 
the next six months modifying it to get longer sparks :)

Ed Sonderman