Re: capacitor noob question

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Chester Lowrey <hilo90mhz@xxxxxxxxx>

The capacitors in disposable cameras are small electrolytic caps which
are polarized meaning they will not take AC and will explode if you
try and use them in a tesla coil...

I recommend making an MMC capacitor with these capacitors:
part number: 942C20P15K
Value: .15uf 2kv Foil and metalized film construction.
http://catalog.rell.com/rellecom/scripts/SkuPage.asp?SKU=162589&PNO=&PNM=

10 of them in series for 20kv will give you a bullet proof capacitor
with a value of .015uf or 15nf and you cant beat the price.

Chester




On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 08:20:03 -0700, Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Original poster: Devon Ferns <dferns@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> I'm about ready to build my first coil now.  I've talked with a guy that
> has built a few coils before and he suggested using a neon transformer that
> is used to power those neon lights underneath cars.  I'm not sure what the
> voltage output of these are yet but say 10kV or something.
> He also suggested I go searching for a bunch of used disposable cameras to
> get the capacitors out of them.  They are rated at around 350V or so with
> 50uF.
> This made me wonder about the voltage rating.  Is it fine to string say 29
> or 30 of those together to get up to 10kV rating? How do you go about
> setting up the capacitors?  I think that the capacitance of these isn't
> exactly right for what I need anyways but I'm more concerned with the
> voltage ratings.  If I hooked up 1 350V cap to 10kV wouldn't it just blow
> to bits?
>
> The highest rated cap I could find was only 2.5kV at 2.2nF which for the
> size of the coil I want to make is about what I need, but not the correct
> voltage rating.
>
> Thanks
> Devon.
>
>