Re: spark gap and SSTC coil questions

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Brett Miller <brmtesla2@xxxxxxxxx>

Ben,

I think I might be in a decent position to possibly
answer your first question.

If I were you I would build a 304tl or 833A vttc
before tackling solid state topologies.  Not by any
means is it manditory, but I really helped me out in
reducing that initial intimidation factor when
confronting the new (to you at least) technology.  Try
not to just blindly clone someone else's project, or
if you do, make sure you learn how the components
interact as you go about building your project.  Not
only will it help you learn and contribute, but it
will make troubleshooting that much easier if there is
a problem at first light with your coil.  And of
course, it helps to find a friendly expert coiler who
can serve as a mentor.  There's nothing like the
mentor system.

In any case.  I experimented and played with
electrostatics from age 10 to age 25 or so.  Then
moved on to flyback drivers and my first disruptive
coil.  I continued with spark gap coils until late
last year (I was 32) when I built my first vttc.  Now
I'm working on my second SSTC and am already planning
mentally for my first DRSSTC.  I can usually learn
things at a pretty rapid pace, yet I try to force
myself to follow a learning curve that evolves in a
more or less linear fashion...not just for safety, but
to lessen the gaps in my knowledge.  I have no formal
engineering training, so I have to learn from
experience, others, textbooks and my own study.

If you learn everything in the VTTC FAQ on Steve
Ward's page, you *will* be able to design a vttc based
on an armstrong oscillator.  Of course, vttc's use
MOTs, which are (in my opinion) quite a bit more
dangerous than NSTs...so if in doubt, wait and learn
more.

-Brett



--- Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Original poster: ben eells <squeels2171@xxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hi guys, it's been quite a while since i've posted.
> I built 2 spark
> gap coils with the help of the people on the list
> last year. I'm
> thinking about building another coil but rather than
> just building a
> bigger version of what i've already done i'd like to
> try something
> different. I'm considering the SSTC. This is gonna
> be somwhat of a
> challenge for me. While i have become relatively
> familiar with the
> operation of spark gap coils (still no expert) i
> don't really
> understand the operation of SSTC's. I know that i'm
> gonna need a
> heavy duty transistor.

<SNIP>



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