Re: I'm a little confused

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Thomas DeGregorio <tommacs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Okay I will summarize my 6 inch coil:

Transformer:
    15kV
    60mA
    120V
    60Hz
    900VA
    250K ohms
    max spark 51in.
    PFC 165.8uF

Tank Cap:
    res. 10.6nF
    LTR 20.2
    I'm using 18.8nF

Primary:
    tubing dia .35in
    tubing spacing .35in
    inner hole dia 8in
    angle 6 degrees
    has 16 turns
    .4uH through 97.7uH

Secondary:
    23AWG
    1066 total turns
    height 25in
    dia 6.25in
    4:1 ratio
    35mH
    10.8pF

Topload:
    toriod 1
        outer dia 4.25in
        cross section 17in
    toriod 2
        outer dia 4.25in
        cross section 21in
total cap 40pF

sparkgap:
    asynchronous
    1500RPM
    10 Electrodes
    240BPS

On Jun 2, 2005, at 7:49 PM, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: Thomas DeGregorio <tommacs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>     Okay I am fairly new to coiling I started this winter. I can't
> seem to make my coils efficient though. I think my main problem is
> the secondary coil LC circuit. I know that on both of my coils the
> primary is perfectly fine. If you wish to see my coils I will more
> then likely show them.
>    My problem seems to be pure confusion. I've read many things on
> tesla coils and heard some different opinions. What I mainly heard is
> that a coil should be around 800 to 1000 turns so I wound both my six
> inch and 2 inch coil in that range. Then for my 2 inch coil I made it
> 13 inches high it was not a true 2 inch dia (2.25) and it's wound
> with 28AWG. Same with my six inch coil I made it 25 inches high since
> is not a true 6 inch dia (6.25) and is wound with 23AWG. Both coils
> cannot get anywhere in the max spark length range. My 2 inch coil can
> only get about 12 inch sparks  running at 270W and my 6 inch coil can
> only get 32 inch sparks running at 900W. What I would like to know is
> what am I doing wrong? Can anyone tell me if I should add more turns
> or less? Oh my 2 inch coil has a 12nF prim cap and 15pF toriod. My 6
> inch has a 18nF prim cap and a 40pF toroid (2 stack). So basically
> what should I do to improve my sparks, but mainly how many turns
> should I use?
> -Tom