Re: Beginer building a small sstc.

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Rich Simpson <richcreations@xxxxxxxxx>

Hi Nick,

I suggest using an automotive ignition coil instead of a flyback, and
a 3v trans is not insulated well enough. Ignition coils are cheap or
free, and do not have output diodes. they do put out more then 10kv
with 12v input, but a lower input voltage, would fix that.
-Rich


On Sep 4, 2005, at 4:33 PM, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Nick D." <ngdbud@xxxxxxxxx>
>
> I am 14 and have a few questions about a small Tesla coil I'm
> trying to build. First of all, the dimensions for the secondary
> coil will be 2.5 inches in diameter and 10 inches tall. I have a
> homemade plate stack capacitor that can handle 10 kv playing on the
> safe side. I measured it to have a capacity of 26 nf ut under my
> body weight I can get  it up to 40 nf. For a coil this small I'll
> probably leave it uncompressed. As for the power supply, I would
> like to stay away from wall sockets and work off battery power. I'm
> thinking of using a squre wave generator sending out pulses at
> 1-100 khz at 10-15 volts and running it backwards through a 3 volt
> transformer, this should get me between 4 and 6 kv. My second best
> choice for power supply would be a flyback transformer, but I only
> have the newer types, encased with plastic and having cylindrical
> secondar coils. I made a torid for the coil out of three feet of
> dryer hose. it has a 9 inch diam eter and is 4.5 inches tall. Is
> this too big for my coil? Since I'm working at this low a power
> level, I plan on using 18 awg speaker wire for a primary coil and
> 28 awg for the secandary. Is 18 awg too thin? For the primary how
> many coils should I use and how far apart should I space them? If
> you have any comments or answers to even just one question, I would
> love to hear them.