Re: 1st Tesla Coil WONT LIGHT HELP PLEASE!

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

Original poster: John <fireba8104-at-yahoo-dot-com> 

Hi Ravi,
First thing go with the higher voltage transformer, lower voltages can be a 
pain in the A$$. The spark gap should be firing, close it down to the point 
where the gap can almost fire with just the neon. When the gap isn't firing 
it tends to destroy your caps. Considering that you have entered in a 
science fair it might be a wise precaution to invest some time in making 
several extra(can't hurt).Probably the most important thing in coiling is 
having the primary and secondary circuits in tune with each other. In other 
words they must have the same frequency. Frequency in a L C system in 
dictated by the formula 1/2pi(LC). Applying this to the above statements 
1/2pi(LpCp)=1/2pi(LsCs) or after canceling the like terms (LpCp)=(LsCs). If 
it's still giving you trouble then at least you know where to turn.

Play nice,
John
N.J


Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:
Original poster: "Nightmare"



Hi, this is ravi, i just made my first TC and it wont light, i wired
everything up right but it still wont light! It was grounded and
everything. I plug it in and nothing happens. I tested the transformer by
plugging it in and the terminals arc to each other like a jacobs ladder and
it works, but nothing happens when i plug it in! All i hear is the humming
of the transformer Please help. I ve experimented and done all i can . I
need this done by next Friday for science fair so please help. The spark
gap doesnt fire either, ive tried 2 different transformers and the same
thing. Please email me off group for picctures since it doesnt support
attatchments. Here are my coil specs:
Secondary: 22inx3in 18in windings
Primary: ~7-8 turns of 1/4in copper tubing with various adj! usted taps with
clip.
Caps: 4 soda bottles covered in foil wrapped in elec. tape. filled with
salt water. all connected with ring terminals
Spark gap: 2 1.25in dia copper pipes 3.25in long
Transformer: 1st is 7.5kV 30mA 60Hz 2nd one i tried is 4.0-4.5kV 30mA 50/60Hz
Toroid, 3in air cond duct with 2 pie plates like this >--< in center to
hold in place 9 in inner dia 15 in outer dia.
Everything is conected with ring terminals and 600V hardware wire, and
gator clips for primary.
I used the schematics on deepfriedneon-dot-com exept with diff. gap and bottle
caps instead of MMC's. Please help me I've done all i can. Again, if you
need pics please email me seperately and i will send them. Thank A LOT!!!!


A desperate 8th Grader,

Ravi


Thanks A LOT for the help. Thanks A LOT again

Ravi