RE: Newcomer

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Anthony R. Mollner" <penny831@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hey Jim,
  For a garage project with your son you don't need much beyond what you
already have. You'll need some magnet wire, and some kind of capacitor, be
it a salt water type or MMC bank. The gap is easy and just needs a few
hardware store nuts and bolts. You should add a safety gap and RF chokes
although the RF chokes I've read are controversial. The primary can be made
out of any larger conductor really. It's all just a matter of how far you
want to go with it. I hope you both have a good time with this.

Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 9:49 PM
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Newcomer


Original poster: Jim <branley1@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Thanks for the advice. It sounds like cheap solutions for someone
cheap like myself. I like the "beer bottles with salt water in white
poly bucket." What is the science behind this?

Tesla list wrote:
>Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>At 09:19 PM 2/3/2007, you wrote:
>>Original poster: Jim <branley1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>>
>>Hello Gentleman:
>>
>>My son and I would like to build a tesla coil with a 15,000V,
>>450VA, 30MA neon sign transformer. Does anyone have a material list
>>that we can use to assist us in our scavenger hunt? Also any pearls
>>of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. I have been on this mailing
>>list for a few days and have been reading the posts and have found
>>them to be highly invaluable.
>
>
>An easy and robust spark gap at that power is laying several short
>(1-2") pieces of copper pipe next to each other. (the tubes are all
>parallel).   The "two bolts as spark gap" tends to get too hot too
>quick and not work very well.
>
>You need to track down capacitors.  The two alternatives that are
>reasonable are:
>
>#1- beer bottles with salt water in a white poly bucket (search for
>"bucket cap")...  basically free, but bulky and it can spill
>
>#2 - the MMC (multi mini capacitor).. a string of appropriate
>capacitors in series.  Not just any capacitor will do here.. you
>need polypropylene dielectric (for low loss) and with the right
>construction to handle the current.  Search for "MMC"....  for a
>typical NST (neon sign transformer) buying them will cost about $30.
>
>Toroidal topload:  metal dryer vent host and piepans are your friend
>
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>
>>Thank You!
>>
>>Jim
>>
>>
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