Re: First light with 833 tube coil, then silence

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: FutureT@xxxxxxx 

In a message dated 9/23/06 2:33:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:

> >tubes, all to no avail. Every component checked out
> >good and changing out the tube with spares didn't
> >solve the problem either. Can any of you vauum tube
> >gurus help me out here? :^))
> >
> >Thanks,
> >David


David,

It can help when tuning a VTTC to be sure the sharpened
spike on the top of the toroid is both sharp enough and
tall enough.  A short spike will tend to prevent breakout of
the spark, and a rounded spike will also suppress breakout.
The spike can become rounded as the sparks burn the tip.

A small fluorescent bulb can be held near the primary to
see if the system is oscillating despite a lack of breakout.

If the VTTC still draws normal power that says something too.
If it draws much more power, then something may be shorted.
Sometimes the HV level shifter diode can fail.
If the VTTC draws less power then something may be mistuned or
disconnected, etc.

John