Re: new coil

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Esondrmn@xxxxxxx 

In a message dated 1/21/05 3:09:07 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:

Well i tested my new coil and i wasnt all that impressed but hey if it
worked everytime then there wold be no fun in it.....it would only put out
about 2 inch sparks to a tin foil ball hooked directly to the ground on the
coil... Then i was starting to get some decents sparks while adjusting it
and i noticed a small glowing spot and then about 10 appeared all over the
primary coil.......melted the insulation in spots....my dads theory is to
much power for the coil. were going out in a little while to go buy some
parts to reconstruct the primary.......any suggestions on the best
primary.....ive seen flat pankacke like ones or a strait up one or even a
funnel shaped one and also what is the best wire or copper tube to use.

Andrew

Andrew,

I prefer flat spiral primaries.  For lower powered coils, as I believe 
yours is, use bare # 10 copper wire available at the hardware store as 
ground wire - or .25" copper tubing if you want.  Buy one of the white 
plastic cutting boards at the grocery store.  These are usually HDPE which 
is an excellent material for high voltage work.  Cut 1.5" to 2.0" wide 
strips to serve as the radial supports for the primary.  Using 4 to 6 of 
these, line them up evenly and cut notches down in the tops to hold the 
wire or tubing.  Mount these to a plywood base by using screws up from the 
bottom into holes predrilled into the radial supports.  It is best to tap 
the holes for say # 8 screws and then use a screw length that only goes 
maybe .5" into the plastic.  Remember to offset the radials from each other 
so the wire or tubing can form a nice even spiral.  I find it best to mark 
where the supports will go on the base, then cut out most of the material 
in between the supports.  This allows you to put some legs on the base in 
the corners and then bring your tap lead up from the bottom of the primary.

Have fun,

Ed Sonderman