Re: [TCML] Why 1000 Turns?

[mddeming@xxxxxxx]

HI Tom,

Just like life, everything about a Tesla Coil is balance of conflicting needs. 
Too many turns and more energy is lost as heat R~wire length = shorter sparks
Too few turns and topload voltage is reduced Vsec~SQRT(Lsec/Lpri) = shorter sparks
Too many rurns and Cinternal>Ctopload = shorter sparks
Too few turns and topload is physically too close to the ground = shorter sparks
Too many turns and the coil becomes tall & skinny, mechanically unstable, tips over = no sparks
Too many turns and the resonant frequency becomes too low = C pri >> wallet size (cost ~ C*C)


These are some of the reasons for the "rules of thumb". 

In general, a h/d ratio of the secondary windings between 3:1 and 5:1 produces an electrically efficient, physically stable, "nice-looking"  coil, Between 500 and 2000 turns of "reasonable size" wire accomplishes this with 1000 turns being a good starting point.
(1000 turns on a 4-inch form requires about 1.05 miles of wire :-o) Successful coils have been built outside these parameters, but the logistical, mechanical and financial problems rarely justify the results.

Hope this helps to shed some light.

Matt D

-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas Schmit <Thomas.Schmit@xxxxxxx>
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, Mar 26, 2010 9:08 am
Subject: [TCML] Why 1000 Turns?


Hi Everyone,
I was just wondering how the 1000 turn rule of thumb was developed. Is this a 
urely "practical" consideration - i.e. larger number of turns results in corona 
ischarge and insulation failure at the top of the secondary or is there a 
heoretical reason behind it? Or something else entirely?
 
Thanks,
Tom Schmit
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