Re: Primary construction

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

Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance-at-jvlnet-dot-com> 


Yes, I know exactly what you mean.  It's something about the best laid plans
o' mice & men.

Dr. Resonance

 > >
 > >
 > >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
 >
 >
 >