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Re: [TCML] Grounding a Tesla Coil (Yes, Again)
Brandon Hendershot wrote:
Exactly how big should a counterpoise be in relation to the size of the
topload? I only really have about 4' of room available to the coil
because I have my drill press and alarm clock on their too. That's 4'
including the space used by my NST and variac, which are both safety
grounded in the case.
Why not make the counterpoise flexible.. Think of a conductive rug that
you can roll out when you're experimenting. It could cover the drill
press and clock and whatever..
I imagine it would be problematic having the
counterpoise connected to mains ground...
Why? If you're concerned about RFI, then put a suitable RF choke in the
connection. But for safety, the counterpoise should be connected to
whatever you might be touching, and that generally means "green wire
ground" as well.
Hmm, does the counterpoise
actually need to be wired to the secondary, or is there some sort of
coupling going on?
Yes, it definitely needs to be connected to the secondary (i.e. the
bottom of the coil).
One more, I think it would really help me understand
how to construct a functioning artificial ground if I knew exactly what
an ordinary ground functions as under normal circumstances.
Have you run one of the modeling programs that shows the electric field
around the coil?
Your secondary is basically a resonant LC circuit with the L(inductor)
being the coil, and the C being the top load (one plate) and the
surroundings (the other plate). Like any circuit, current flows
through the L and C, so that means that current flows through the
surroundings.
What a counterpoise does is give a low impedance path for that current
to flow in.
It also serves as sort of a limited faraday cage for things under the
counter poise. That is, if a streamer comes out of the topload it will
strike the counterpoise rather than what's under the counterpoise.
Thanks, I really appreciate all your guys' help,
Brandon
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