Re: Connecting pipes together for primary?

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>



As long as you use a torch and silver solder no problem.  Regular solder
will offer high resistance to RF currents with it's lead/tin content.

Sometimes it's easier to just use #6 AWG ground wire, solid, from Home
Depot.

After conducting a "scrap wire" tuning session, remove the wire, measure it,
and add two more turns length, then you can get the Home Depot wire cut to
the correct length.

Dr. Resonance


>
> Ok, so I am building a new tesla coil. So far I have
> 15kv and 90mA worth of NST's, a saltwater cap to be
> rebuilt, and my secondary will be 6.5" diameter by
> about 29" with 23awg wire (around 1200 or so turns).
> As for my primary, it is pretty tough to get 1/4" OD
> copper pipe here in great lengths. To my calculations,
> I will need around 70 feet or so of the pipe. I can
> get 10' lengths for around 2 bucks, and a 50 foot roll
> is like 40 bucks. Could I, essentially, use 10'
> lengths, with a piece of 1/8" od pipe inside the ends
> of the 1/4" pipe (to make good electrical and physical
> connection), and solder them together? It seems to me,
> that as long as I sand away the solder to be smooth
> with the pipe, it shouldn't be a problem for primary
> arcing. The only other thing i see is the resistance
> going up a bit, and changing the res freq a little
> bit.
>
> Anyone have any input on this, or any links to where I
> can see it done?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Blimpie
>
>
>