Re: troubleshooting tesla coil, continued (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 16:32:38 -0400
From: Marko Ruban <Marko@xxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: troubleshooting tesla coil, continued (fwd)

It is made of steel wire :) actually.  And thanks for noting that.

I do have 1/4" copper tubing available to make a new primary, but I
didn't think performance would be effected THAT much.  Can you briefly
tell me why steel is bad for this purpose?

Can you hint how to tap onto the copper tubing?  Is it just an alligator
clip?  Does the tap have to be bolted on?

Thanks


Tesla list wrote:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:12:26 +0100
From: Tom Trevethan <t.trevethan@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: troubleshooting tesla coil, continued (fwd)

Hi Marko,

What kind of wire is your primary coil made from? I ask because from 
the picture
it doesn't look like copper. For my first coil I made a primary very 
similar to
yours (helical) and with thick steel wire - which is now know is bad. Spark
output was about 1 in. When I replaced this with a flat spiral coil made from
thin copper tube, output increased to about 18 in.

Cheers,

Tom

Quoting Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>:

  

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:19:45 -0400
From: Marko Ruban <Marko@xxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: troubleshooting tesla coil, continued

Hello guys, I'm back from a long summer vacation.  As per previous
suggestions I have acquired an old NST transformer (12kV, 60Hz, 60mA
output).  And the spark gap does run now with capacitor/primary in
circuit.  However, there's no visible effect on the topload, still.
Could it be that badly un-tuned?

Please see the photo of my simple setup and make any suggestions...
http://marko.dppl.com/TC_setup.jpg

The flat rectangular thing in front, is the capacitor, which should be
about 7pF.  Can't make a more specific measurement since my new
multimeter is still in the mail.  Spark gap is on top of the NST, and
consists of two screws facing each other (about 0.2" adjustable
spacing).  Wire running in the back to the right is the ground.

Also, here's a dump of JavaTC for my coil...
http://marko.dppl.com/coil.txt

Thanks in advance for any assistance.