Re: TOPLOAD (TOROID)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Esondrmn@xxxxxxx 

Ben,

It all depends on the design of the coil.  The coil may be in tune when 
tapped at turn # 2 for instance or maybe turn # 14.  If the primary 
capacitor was chosen so that the coil can be tuned say at turn # 12 with a 
small toroid, then a larger toroid is installed, you may not have enough 
primary turns left to tune at the new lower frequency.  Most folks either 
calculate or estimate the amount of capacitance of the toroid then plug 
that number into the calculations.

You need to just select a particular set of design criteria and build 
it.  I like the 14 turn primary, both of mine are about that size.  Both of 
my coils have been through innumerable design changes.  Once I got them 
fired up, I have ended up changing just about everything except the primary 
and secondary coils themselves.  Larger power supplies, larger toroids, 
larger primary capacitors, different spark gaps, etc.  You will too, it is 
just part of the experimentation process.

Ed Sonderman


In a message dated 3/29/05 3:11:55 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
Original poster: "Medina, Benjamin (UMR-Student)" <bamxbb@xxxxxxx>

Hello folks. I have another question.

To match the capacitance obtained from the software's online (for the
toroid), can I just purchase any size aluminum duct from Lowe's or Home
Depot (say 4"x8' piece or 3"x8' piece)? Or do you I have to physically
measure the capacitance of my toroid once it's been constructed?

Correct me if I am wrong but if the following is true, then it the
statement above does not really matter:

The larger the capacitance on the topload (i.e., the larger the toroid),
the more turns I would need to tap to get the TC to tune?

The smaller the capacitance on the topload (i.e., the smaller the
toroid), the less turns I would need to tap to get the TC to tune?

Since I have around 14.7 turns, the point of tap must occur on the 14th
turn or less.

Your comments and remarks will be appreciated.

Thanks again,

Ben Medina
Rolla, MO.