Original poster: Shaun Epp <scepp@xxxxxxx> Jay,I read over their design for the BTC30 and I ran it into a program called WinTesla. You definitly make a diferent primary. make one with about 10 turns of copper tubing, 3/16 inch refridgeration tubing would be good, space them 3/16 up to 1/4 inch between each turn.
Your coil without a toriod output terminal should tune at 8 to 9 turns on the primary. If you connect a 2" by 8" toriod to the top of the secondary coil, like the instruction recommend, you'll tune at about 5 turns on the primary. You'll also get better sparks if you use a toroid or some kind of topload as they are called.
If you mount your primary on a sheet of plastic with a hole in the middle to go over top the secondary, you can raise (move it up) the primary and increase coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil. The output sparks should get bigger and brighter as you raise the primary. Do this 1/4 inch at a time (of course with power off). You will reach a point where they sparks don't get more powerfull and the sparks could jump down the side of the secondary coil. If this happens lower it back down 1/4 inch to where it runs ok. Each time you raise or lower the primary, you may need to adjust the tuning of it.
If you can, get a bigger capacitor, this would give you more power. 0.005 uF is small for you power transformer. 0.0082 uF is the resonant value, this value could damage your transformer. 0.013uf would be ideal and give maximum power.
Your spark gap might overhead and run funny after you've run the coil for a few 10's of seconds. You could have a small fan, like a computer fan blow on the spark gap. This will cool it and make the coil run better. If you can, a two gap (2 spark gaps connected in series) would make the coil run alot better. Also after running the coil a few times, cleaning the gap with 600 grit sand paper helps proformance alot.
Make sure that the wire that the secondary is wound with doesn't go inside the secondary coil form (pvc tube) , I know that is what the instructions show but this can cause problems, the sparks can jump inside of the coil and it woun't run right and can permenantly damage the coil.
GROUND. It is very important that there is a good ground wherever you plug this tesla coil into. Your coil performance will change wherever you plug in depending on the ground and how far from the electrical panel you are. Have someone check the plug receptical where you plug in.
*Anyone on this list will recommend that you don't draw sparks to your body! Use only a grounded rod that is insulated from you.* The skin effect with high frequencies isn't a safe assumption with tesla coils. There are low frequencies too. These things can hurt you.
That is all I can think of right now. I hope it helps! : - )) Shaun Epp ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2006 2:47 PM Subject: Re: Information Unlimited BTC30 coil
Original poster: jhowson4@xxxxxxxxxxxWe are building the BTC30 coil during physics class at school. I was wondering if there was any way to make it better. I also read some where that it had a run time of about 45 seconds is that true. i was going to re-make the primary coil on it so i could tap it at a lower turn which i can't do now because of the way it is made. I am not sure on how to go about calculating the inductance since it is a weird primary design.-------------- Original message -------------- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> > Original poster: Shaun Epp > > I built that coil about 15 years ago. It works but has some design > flaws to it. I didn't use any of there parts to build it either, > just locally obtainable parts. > > What would you like to know about it? > > BTW: If your looking for tesla coil plans, go to> http://hot-streamer.com/ There are many designs there that you can > follow.> > Shaun > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" > To: > Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 3:49 PM > Subject: Information Unlimited BTC30 coil > > > >Original poster: jhowson4@xxxxxxxxxxx > > > >Does any one have and info on the BTC30 coil made by Information Unlimited? > > < BR>> >Jay Howson > > > ><?xml:namespace prefix = mailto />jhowson4@xxxxxxxxxxx > > >