[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: noob questions

Original poster: FutureT@xxxxxxx In a message dated 2/2/06 6:46:18 PM Eastern Standard Time, tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes: 



Original poster: "Jay McDonald" <jay.mcdonald@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>


I just joined the list, and am going to ask some quick newbie questions. I
know very little about how Tesla coils work, or even electricity for that
matter - but, my nephew (a professional electrician) is going to work with
me to get something going. Is there any sort of intro to coil theory and
building that is available on the web that would get us quickly up to speed?
I have done a lot of looking, but everything seems fragmentary and technical
- it often presumes prior knowledge. What's something good that will give us
a comprehensive understanding of the various principles and options for
building?



Jay,

Welcome to the list.  More below.



I have seen that most seem to fall into either spark gap, vacuum tube, or
solid state. Then after that, some seem like they have more adjustments than
others. What are the pros and cons of each? From my admittedly ignorant
perspective, the vacuum tube ones seem the most interesting.



The solid state coils are the most challenging is many ways.  The spark
gap coils are the easiest to get running and to get long sparks.  They're
noisey unless they're small.  The tube coil's sparks are shorter for
a given input power, but they tend to operate rather quietly.

The interesting thing about building a spark gap coil is that it can
be build very crudely and cheaply and easily, and it will still give
good results if the overall design is correct.  A small coil can be
powered by an oil burner transformer or a neon sign transformer.



Are there designs which run quietly, instead of the characteristic loud RAT
TAT TAT? Are some designs inherently safer than others?



They're all dangerous in various ways.  But cars can be dangerous too
so it's a matter following safety rules.



What about the structural design? Most coils seem to follow the standard
look of the Tesla's original with a tall, thin, pole-like design. But what's
the story with something like these:



The pole-like design is probably overall the most practical, especially
for a first coil.



http://mysite.verizon.net/res07cmo/hv/goldman/goldman.htm


And lastly, are there any builders in my area? USA, New Jersey, Northern
part, along route 78.



I live in Northern New Jersey near the intersection of Rt 4 and Rt 17.
I presently have an operating spark gap coil that gives 42" sparks,
and a tube coil that gives 14" sparks, but will probably give
26" sparks when it's adjusted properly.

My website is at:

  http://hometown.aol.com/futuret/page3.html

John





Thank you,




Jay McDonald

Hexatrope Creative Studios, LLC
[908 996 0680]  |  www.hexatrope.com