Re: [TCML] breakouts and a picture

[Glen McGowan <glen.mcgowan@xxxxxxxxx>]

This probably isn't going to be much helpful with the current situation but
something that needs to be said. Just to add to what Gary said. This device
is not a toy. Touching the coil during any point of its operation is very
dangerous. The secondary runs at such a high frequency its outside the range
of sensitivity for your nerves. The secondary can create deep tissue burns
that have to be surgically removed if bad enough. As far as the primary, if
the contact didn't kill you it's a very painful lesson you'll remember for
the rest of your live. You'll feel every beat of the tank circuit, not fun.

Do yourself a favor and build a coil tuner. Or run up to the market and buy
a cheap florescent bulb and use that to tune it. Don't touch it.

On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 7:31 AM, Lau, Gary <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx> wrote:

> 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
>
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