RE: [TCML] breakouts and a picture

["Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>]

Hi Simon,

Sorry, but your reply is still lacking the necessary level of detail to be useful.  Inductance/construction of primary coil, inductance/construction of secondary coil, toroid dimensions, MMC capacitor details - component capacitor type/vendor/partnumber, final capacitance, voltage, _detailed_ spark gap construction info, etc. Building a functional coil requires more than making it "look" like other coils.  Some close-up photos of the main components will save a lot of time.

I didn't understand "a 4" PVC tube with copper tube inside".  There should be nothing at all inside the secondary coil form.

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA



> -----Original Message-----
> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Simon Dodd
> Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 10:26 PM
> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [TCML] breakouts and a picture
> 
> OK, here goes, In the video I didn't do any tuning but the second
> firing was at a festival and I did a bit of tuning which improved the
> spark length but still no breakouts.  I am using a 4" PVC tube with
> copper tube inside, the same as a lot of designs I have seen.  I used
> JAVATC to get my dimensions and my capacitor is an MMC type.
> 
> I noticed when I was tuning and getting small improvements The shock
> to my arm was increasing more than expected so I stopped using a non
> grounded rod very quickly!!
> 
> The picture is now at www.djodd.co.uk/tesla
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Simon
> On 6 Aug 2009, at 00:40, Lau, Gary wrote:
> 
> > Hi Simon,
> >
> > The TCML does not permit attachments, so we didn't see the picture.
> >
> > The first question that must be answered in troubleshooting a coil
> > is, is the primary in tune with the secondary?  In your video, I
> > didn't hear any mention of tuning.  Have you tried tapping the
> > primary differently and determined if it improves or degrades
> > performance?  Did you use some type of design software to choose the
> > components?
> >
> > And there's any number of other issues that we can't deduce from
> > your video.  Details of the spark gap, and capacitor type.
> >
> > When you do get your coil running well, you probably shouldn't try
> > holding the metal rod in your hand and drawing sparks to it, unless
> > the rod is securely wired to a good ground.  You don't want that
> > current flowing through your body!
> >
> > Regards, Gary Lau
> > MA, USA
> >
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> >> Behalf Of Simon Dodd
> >> Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 5:04 AM
> >> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> >> Subject: [TCML] breakouts and a picture
> >>
> >> Hi Guys,
> >>
> >> Here is a picture of the second firing of my coil, I was getting
> >> streamers to a grounded point about 10-15cm away.  However I would
> >> like to get streamers leaving the torroid to the air rather than a
> >> grounded point. Is this just a question of tuning or would a change
> >> in
> >> torroid make a difference?
> >>
> >> The coil is a SGTC with an 8.5Kv 50mA NST. The secondary is about
> >> 23" (I have the exact measurement written down somewhere!)
> >>
> >> You get an idea of the design from this photo and I also posted the
> >> video of the first firing a while ago but here is the link again, it
> >> has more closeups of the coil.
> >>
> >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdQ6IsJtUU0
> >>
> >> Let me know if you need more information to help me.
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance
> >>
> >>
> >> Simon

_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla