Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> At 02:57 PM 11/13/2006, you wrote:
Original poster: russell dischar <hightechredneck2005@xxxxxxxxx> thanks for the help so farit is a 30 ma 9000v nst. I currently have a static gap with seven pieces of 3/4 copper pipe they are set about .1 inches apart.
That's a fine gap. And it's adjustable too, by just shorting out a few of the gaps. A small muffin fan blowing through the pipes will greatly improve the performance.
what would be a good total gap length for me?
Whatever the transformer will just fire at full output, without any other stuff hooked up.
i also just got in 20 20kv 1000pf ceramic disc capacitors. could these be be used for my coil.
You can try them, but most ceramic disc capacitors can't take the RF current. Transmitting doorknobs are a bit better (but pricey if bought new).
The preferred capacitor is a series string of 0.15 uF 2000V polypropylene capacitors of the appropriate type (not all PP caps are the same). Google for "tesla mmc", or someone will nodoubt post a link to a MMC calculator.
The caps will cost you about $2-$3 each from a variety of sources. 10 of them in series would be 0.015 uF and be VERY conservatively rated for your application (20kV nameplate rating, in reality, they'll work at more)
i am trying to use the tesla coil designer javascript program it seems to be a really good tool.thanks again Russ