Re: troubleshooting tesla coil (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:11:43 -0400
From: Scott Bogard <teslas-intern@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: troubleshooting tesla coil (fwd)

Marko,
     I forgot to mention, as some others have said, You cannot use the 30kHz 
NST for a conventional coil, but you can rectify it (I believe you said that 
you did) and make a DC coil.  If you do this, however, from what I 
understand of DC coils (I've never actually built one), you should have the 
capacitor and the spark gap switched in the schematic below (provided by 
chip) and somwhere in there you need a "charging reactor", I think a 
charging reactor is simply an inductor, or resister someplace in the circuit 
(Don't know where, I've never built one).  This could solve your spark gap 
problems.  Hope this helps.
Scott Bogard.
P.S.  If I was you (I'm not) but if I was, I'd scrounge up a dirty old OBIT 
and build a conventional coil.  If you live where these aren't common, look 
for a dirty old NST or start researching DC coils.


>From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: troubleshooting tesla coil (fwd)
>Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 06:33:46 -0600 (MDT)
>
>
>---------- 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
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Need a break? Find your escape route with Live Search Maps. 
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?ss=Restaurants~Hotels~Amusement%20Park&cp=33.832922~-117.915659&style=r&lvl=13&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=1118863&encType=1&FORM=MGAC01