From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: outdoor coils
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 11:03:14 -0700
Original poster: "David Rieben" <drieben@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Hey fellows,
Don't be afraid to pull out your coil and fire it in extreme cold.
Actually, to my understanding, Tesla coils actually prefer the drier
colder conditions as opposed to the warmer, more humid conditions
for making sparks anyway. Obviously, you would
NOT want to fire one off outdoors unprotected
during a rainstorm but the ambient temperature isn't that big of an
issue IMHO. And Christopher Hooper
has made it clear that coils don't MIND firing
in the extreme heat environment of a southern
Arizona summer, either. I think the main concern
with the extreme temperatures is the coefficient
expansion/contraction caused by large swings
in ambient temperatures, possibly causing the windings
of the secondary to slip off and fall down during
very low temperatures. It has been my experience
that mulitple layers of Minwax Marine Spar Var-
nish will protect the secondary from this fate without
chipping or cracking itself. Glyptal is a bit more expensive
but will probably do it in one or two coats. I reside in the
Memphis, TN area where we virtually never get sub-zero
cold but never-the-less do get considerable sub-freezing
temps during the middle of winter and PLENTY of
the "3 H's" - hazy, hot, humid - during the summer
months (90's virually every day with mid-70's dew
points -- in other words, miserable heat & humidity)
and I've never had any problems with my coils due to
the seasonal temperature changes here from storing
them in the un-climate controlled environment of my
garage.
My $.02 worth,
David Rieben
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2005 12:37 PM
Subject: Re: outdoor coils
Original poster: "Langer Giv'r" <transworldsnowboarding19@xxxxxxxxxxx>
hi, I live in saskatchewan, Canada, and temperatures at least 6
months of the year are -10 or lower. Ive been working on my coil
for about 7 months and still havent finished, but its the peak of
winter and im jsut about done. Does this mean i have to keep my
coil inside for the rest of the winter without even a test? that
would not be very good haha. oh well. Thanks
Original poster: CTCDW@xxxxxxx
I agree about keeping the secondary inside... Thats an easily
installed item when I want to use it. My real problem is the heave
stuff, like the caps, control panel, etc. Thanks to all who have
responded, by the way. most helpful. Anyone have any info on caps
and what kind of abuse they can take (like freezing temps....) I'm
most concerned about the harware of the coil being in an unheated
enclosure all winter , and in the summer, rain, sleet, hail, etc.
anyone have experience ith any of this?
Chris