Re: realistic expectations from mini coil ??

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

Original poster: "Jon Lagler" <rockcrawl-at-enter-dot-net> 

Dan,
  I recognize your website, I must have been there before. I'll be sure to
check it out thoroughly again. I've wanted to build a tabletop coil for
years, and I've finally made the time to do it.
  My transformer is of the typical potted variety, and past experience tells
me it's not worth un-potting it to increase current. I may just look for a
more powerful transformer that fit's within the alotted space if I cannot
get this one to satisfy me. I'll be anxiously waiting for my new toroid to
arrive, I'm sure it will make a great improvement, and your comments
reassured me.

Thanks,
Jon

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 10:00 AM
Subject: RE: realistic expectations from mini coil ??


 > Original poster: "Mccauley, Daniel H" <daniel.h.mccauley-at-lmco-dot-com>
 >
 >
 > Jon,
 >
 > Good to see you working on a minicoil.  They are very rewarding to build
 > and best thing about them, are
 > easily transportable!
 >
 > I believe with a 4kV/30mA transformer, maximum arc length obtainable is
 > approximately 8-10 inches based on
 > performance of others building the same type of coil.  Gary Laus has
 > been hosting a low-key informal 4kV
 > mini-coil contest for the past two years, and the top contenders are
 > only getting about 13-15 inch
 > maximum arcs with modified 4kV/20mA transformers putting out 38mA output
 > current.
 >
 > (If your transformer is open frame, you can easily remove some of the
 > magnetic shunts to increase output current.)
 >
 > 19 inches of output arc is very unlikely (but not impossible) with only
 > a 4kV/30mA NST.  Even 10 inches will be something you have to work at
 > for awhile.  Based on your current specs, 5" seems about right for the
 > coil you are specifying.
 >
 > THE BIGGEST FACTOR I found in increasing arc length in my 4kV minicoil
 > is the size of the toroid.  To get longer arcs,
 > you really need to make your toroid as large as possible.
 >
 > Anyways, here is my website:
 > http://www.easternvoltageresearch-dot-com/teslacoil4.htm
 >
 > Here is Gary Lau's minicoil site (my main competitor)
 > http://www.laushaus-dot-com/tesla/minicoil.htm
 >
 > (Both minicoils above use identical transformers Franceformer 4020SE
 > 4kV/20mA modified to 38mA)
 >
 > Dan
 >
 >
 >