[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [TCML] Is my 10" Tesla Coil Illegal ?
I don't have a control cabinet. Look at the photo. The HV transformer is setting directly under the primary coil. The three .01 uf caps in parallel are under the primary coil too next to the transformer. The variable speed vacuum fan spark gap is there too. I have the fan speed on the spark gap turned up pretty high probably close to 90% speed. I turn the coil on/off several times and adjust the spark cap air speed I can dial in maximum spark length real easy by changing the fan speed. I keep moving my target and adjusting the fan speed until I get max length sparks. Now that I think about it maybe it has something to do with my variable speed vacuum fan spark gap. No tellin what is going on inside that spark gap with all the high speed air braking up the arcs in the gap. I have a strike rail around the outer edge of the primary coil connected to ground too. I have two 240 VAC wires running from the HV transformer into the shop. I am using a Lincoln Arc welder as current limiting. I am using a 60 amp braker as the on/off switch. The high voltage transformer is 14kv output. Max output is about 12KW I can crank the power up to 14KW but the output does not get longer. At 10KW sparks get slightly shorter only by about 6 inches. With the targets removed I get sparks everywhere so I have to cover all the wires, caps, transformer, gap on the ground with pieces of sheet metal for protective shielding they are all grounded. I have about 20 well used bad 4ft fluorescent light bulbs I can stick them in the ground all around the TC in the yard and they all light up. Bottom end of secondary is grounded to earth ground with a #6 copper wire to a 6 ft ground rod.
http://home.earthlink.net/~gary350/tc10-4.jpg
-----Original Message-----
>From: mddeming@xxxxxxx
>Sent: Jan 19, 2010 3:34 PM
>To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [TCML] Is my 10" Tesla Coil Illegal ?
>
>
>Hi Gary,
>
>Sounds like you have a lot of RF energy coupling into your distribution system.
>
>1) Do you have any hash filters on your lines going to your control cabinet? If not, definitely install some.
>
>2) Is your RF ground short and solidly connected at both ends? A long or poorly connected RF ground line can act as an antenna.
>
>3) Are there any power lines or phone lines running across or very near to your back yard? This may require moving the coil if you are coupling to them..
>
>
>A battery-operated radio will tell you about how far you're radiating. When turned on, the LCD of a hand-held cheap calculator will go crazy in the magnetic field of a coil. If radiating is the problem, you may get an FCC visit. If you are linking back through the power lines you can be in trouble under various "nuisance ordinances". If someone claims that you are "knowingly interfering with security systems", then you can be in deep stuff under the anti-terrorist and conspiracy legislation.
>
>Matt D.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: gary350@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Tue, Jan 19, 2010 12:56 pm
>Subject: [TCML] Is my 10" Tesla Coil Illegal ?
>
>
>This time of the year when the air is cold and the humidity is extremely low
>tatic electricity is very high I get shocked every time I get IN or OUT of my
>UV, take off my jacket or put on my jacket. If I move the blankets in bed at
>ight I see all kinds of sparks. It is perfect for firing up my Tesla Coil and
>etting some very long sparks. But I worry that this might be illegal. My 10"
>C makes 12 foot arcs I can make a 27 ft circle of arcs and sparks in the back
>ard with the 3 ft top load. It makes every motion detector light and every
>ecurity alarm system go off in a 4 block radius around my house. After dark I
>an see motion detectors lights going on/off, on/off, on/off, on/off, on/off, in
>ll directions as far as I can see. My automatic garage door and all the
>eighbors garage doors are freaked out going up/down, up/down, up/down, up/down,
>p/down, up/down, over and over. I can hear security alarms in all directions.
> road my bicycle through the neighbor hood and I can find alarm systems going
>ff 4 blocks away in several directions from my house. It totally distroys TV
>nd it makes no difference if you have cable, satallite, or antenna TV is
>otally wiped out all reception for several blocks. I don't fire up my 10" TC
>ery often anymore I worry it might be illegal.
>
>_______________________________________________
>esla mailing list
>esla@xxxxxxxxxx
>ttp://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>
>_______________________________________________
>Tesla mailing list
>Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla