12kV / 60 ma Neon Sign Transformer

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Davetracer@xxxxxxx 

Hello all,

    I have not built a Tesla Coil in quite some time. However, if both of 
my brain cells that are left remember correctly, one starts at the power 
supply. I could be wrong. I've been wrong before, plenty of times!

    I do have a 12kV / 60 ma neon sign transformer and I had good luck 
with copper tubing as a primary "last time".

    Now, what I need to determine (I believe) is the capacitance C to 
store up current each 1/60th, the primary's L to determine resonant 
frequency, and the secondary's L to make sure it's a 1/4 wave electrically 
from the primary's L frequency.

    Does anyone happen to have software to do this? I have seen references 
to some programs but am not finding them.

    Alternately, would someone be willing to give me the numbers to design 
the coil with (e.g., "You're going to want 800 turns on the secondary, Dave")?

    As I recall finding capacitors was always a joy :-( but I'll give it a 
try. If nothing else, I can use aluminum foil in 14 x 14 and plate glass in 
18 x 18.

    Again, any pointers to software, or existing designs, would be quite 
nice. I too started with the 1964 "Two Tesla Designs" magazine articles.

    Thanks again,

    Dave Small