Re: troubleshooting tesla coil (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 06:33:40 -0600 (MDT)
From: Chip Atkinson <chip@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: troubleshooting tesla coil (fwd)

Doh!  Yeah, I missed that.  

The circuit should be:

 ------> <---
 |          |
 ---@--||----

 Where the > < is the gap, the @ is the primary, and the -||- is the
 capacitor.  The inputs from the NST go on either side of the > < and
 the cap charges through the primary.

 Chip

On Fri, 15 Jun 2007, Tesla list wrote:

> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:36:05 +0100
> From: Paul Benham <paulb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: troubleshooting tesla coil (fwd)
> 
> Hi Marko,
> 
> The capacitor needs to be in series with the primary, and these are in 
> parallel with the gap.  I think that is what you meant.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Paul.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 3:55 AM
> Subject: Re: troubleshooting tesla coil (fwd)
> 
> 
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:55:22 -0600 (MDT)
> > From: Chip Atkinson <chip@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: troubleshooting tesla coil (fwd)
> >
> > Here's a thought.  It could be that a multimeter doesn't measure a short
> > because the multimeter's voltage is so low that it wouldn't be able to
> > jump any gap at all.  At 5500 volts, you can jump some gap so it could be
> > shorted out.
> >
> > One way to debug that is to disconnect one of the leads from the NST to
> > the gap.  Put it on a wooden or non-conductive stick so you will be plenty
> > insulated from the current.  Then bring this disconnected lead up to the
> > point where it connects and see what kind of spark you get.  If it's kind
> > of a flaming spark you have a short.  If it's a really loud crackly snappy
> > spark then your cap is fine.
> >
> > Try that and let us know what you see.
> >
> > Chip
> >
> > On Thu, 14 Jun 2007, Tesla list wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> >> Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:32:17 -0400
> >> From: Marko Ruban <Marko@xxxxxxxx>
> >> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> >> Subject: troubleshooting tesla coil
> >>
> >> Hello all
> >>
> >> I was looking for some help on tesla coil construction, and joined this
> >> list as a result.  Looks like I came to the right place :)
> >>
> >> I'm building my first tesla coil, and could use some help "debugging"
> >> it.  All of the coil parts have been assembled, according to various
> >> recipes out on the web, but when put together, the spark gap doesn't 
> >> fire.
> >>
> >> I've got the circuit down to a bare minimum:  5.5KV, 30Khz NST provides
> >> the power, spark gap connected across the transformer output leads, and
> >> a capacitor in parallel with spark gap.  Without the capacitor, spark
> >> gap fires just fine, with it, I just hear humming sound (I think coming
> >> from the vibrating capacitor plates), but no spark.
> >>
> >> Capacitor was home built, consists of 8 copper sheets separated by
> > 10mil
> >> Mylar insulator, roughly 8"x6" area.  Measured C is 7nF.  When DC power
> >> is supplied (through a rectifier circuit), makes the gap fire at
> >> intervals, indicating that cap is storing charge.  I thought this could
> >> be my problem component, so I built a different type of capacitor (beer
> >> bottle salt water, 800pF), but that didn't change a thing.  Neither
> >> capacitor is shorted out, according to my multimeter.
> >>
> >> Is there any definitive way to test the capacitor for faults?  Am I
> >> missing something else?  What could be going wrong?
> >>
> >> Thanks, for any thoughts you can provide on the subject.
> >>
> >> Marko
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > This message has been scanned for viruses by MailController - 
> > www.MailController.altohiway.com
> > 
> 
> 
> 
>