Re: Need Help With School Project

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Paul B. Brodie" <pbbrodie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

The reference to salt water caps instigated this query. Can salt water caps 
be built with 20 oz. plastic soft drink bottles instead of glass? Would the 
thickness of the plastic be enough to withstand the voltages? How much 
difference would it make in the overall capacitance? Is this a totally 
stupid idea?
Paul Brodie (I noticed that there is another PaulB on here)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 12:34 AM
Subject: Need Help With School Project

Original poster: "M Duce" <mduce@xxxxxxx>

First of all I would like to thank all those that replied to me last time I
needed help.

I have now collected the following items:
NST - 12,000 V     30 MA
White PVC Pipe - 3.25 inches
Enameled Copper Wire - 24 AWG
Soft Copper Tubing - .25 inch diameter
Aluminum Dryer Vent Duct - 3 and 5 inch
2 Large Aluminum Pie Pans
Variac - 120 V    8 A - if of any use

My dad is helping me with any mechanical help, if I need it. I think that
now I am at the stage where we must wind the coil onto the PVC pipe for the
secondary coil. I am worried about the wire staying on the pipe. Should it
have lacquer applied to it? If so, what kind of lacquer or would it cause
the coil to arc across the windings. I was figuring a variable electric
drill to spin it. Does this seem good? We are thinking about doing about
900 turns of the wire. Does this sound alright?

Is my 30 MA NST powerful enough for this size of coil? I think I get my
hands on a 60 MA NST cheaply if necessary.

For my spark gap I am not really sure what to do. I am not sure weather to
use the rotary or stationary spark gap. Where would I find the plans for a
simple one?

I am thinking about using a beer bottle capacitor. My dad has already
agreed to empty the bottles of Corona. []

Would be grateful for any help or advice,
Mitchell