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Re: [TCML] Tuning, Capacitors, and Spark Gaps



Joel,

Well, for starters, microwave oven caps do not have the proper characteristics for a TC tank circuit. They are designed for use at 60 Hz, but are unacceptably lossy at TC tank frequencies. The relatively low value internal bleeder resistors will also rob you of power, especially working with only a 9 kV NST. The rest of the description sounds promising. Check the TCML archives about MMC capacitors. Those have had an excellent success rate. Not exactly cheap, but the will work. MWO caps will not.

Dave

Joel Torgeson wrote:
Alright,
     I've now built my tesla coil, and am very disappointed that it fails to work. My transformer is a 9,000v 30ma NST. I have tailor-built my capacitor out of capacitors from microwave ovens. They are internally resisted, and with 80 of them in series i hit my target capacitance of .0088 uf. My primary consists of 1/4 inch copper tubing spaced 1/4 inch between each winding. there are 15 turns of tubing in a flat pancake configuration. My secondary consists of approximately 760 feet of 24 AWG magnet wire wrapped around 3.26 inch outside diameter PVC pipe. The topload is of the tubing and pie-pan variety, using 3 inch aluminum tubing/ducting. This makes a ~ 15 inch toroid on the top. i am using a 8 ft grounding rod that isn't attached to anything important. There is no metal inside the secondary, so that isn't a problem. My biggest concern is the spark gap. It's a static gap, not split up into multiple gaps, just one big one. it is 5.6mm wide, and has a
 hair drier running on cool temp, high velocity blowing on it for quenching.

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