Re: new coiler's first coil

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Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>


You need to break the pri sparkgap up into 7 or 8 separate gaps.  Best to
use a 6 inch ID PVC tube with 3 inch long copper tubes.  Each tube set
around .020 to .025 inch spacing for a total gap spacing of .200 inches.
This allows proper quenching (switching off) of the pri sparkgap so all the
energy is trapped in the sec coil to ring down.  Your present systems allows
considerable energy to surge back into the pri side where it destructively
interferes with the incoming energy.

If the sec is wound with number 28 or 30 AWG wire with a 9kV 30 mA xmfr you
should be seeing around 22-24 inch long sparks.

also, a small 50 cfm blower fan is used on the bottom of the PVC  tube
sparkgap to provide some cooling.

I have a sketch of this which I will email you free if you contact me
off-list.

Dr. Resonance




Original poster: "keith" <keith.cc@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Hello everyone,
I am new to this list and to coiling in general. I've just finished
building my first rather small conventional coil. I got lucky and it worked
well the first time I turned it on, although I am not sure if it is
perfectly in tune. I've made a website with pictures/detailed
specifications etc -
<http://webpages.charter.net/keithcc/tesla>http://webpages.charter.net/keith
cc/tesla.
My primary question is whether or not, judging by streamer length, the coil
looks like its in tune - although I've seen lots of pictures of other
people's coils in operation on the internet, I just don't have the
experience to know if the output I'm getting (14-15 inch streamers at 140v
input) is the best I can get given the size of my power supply (9kv 30ma
nst). I've also found that the safety gaps are firing quite a bit,
sometimes continuously for a few seconds, and especially if I widen the
main gap - is this normal? I know the safety gaps are wide enough so that
they would not normally fire, but I'm not sure if it's normal for them to
be firing as much as they are. Any other general suggestions are of course
welcome. I do know there are a couple of flaws - my main gap could be
better, the connection between my secondary and ground is a bit sketchy,
and my terry filter, especially the resistors, are probably a bit overkill
given my modest power supply. Thanks in advance for suggestions/comments
etc - I'm still very new to all of this - I only started researching tesla
coils/teaching myself about electricity about three months ago. By the way,
I'm an eighteen year old high school senior (soon to be college freshman!)
living in Massachusetts.

Keith C