Re: [TCML] Tuning a Tesla Coil with an Oscilloscope

[G Hunter <dogbrain_39560@xxxxxxxxx>]

I'll second that.  I have a $30 Chinese DMM (it's a bad knock-off of a Fluke, rubber armour and all)that includes a frequency counter for up to 20MHz, plus an L meter, a C meter, AC & DC Volts, Ohms, etc.

I have checked it against better quality test equipment at work, and it's more than accurate enough for hobby work.

Got it on e-bay.

Cheers,

Gregory R. Hunter

--- On Sat, 2/5/11, Gary Lau <glau1024@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Gary Lau <glau1024@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [TCML] Tuning a Tesla Coil with an Oscilloscope
> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Saturday, February 5, 2011, 7:47 PM
> It's certainly possible to
> incorporate a digital readout into a TCT, but
> since low-cost DMM's abound with built in frequency
> counters, it would be
> cheaper and simpler to just buy one of them and use it
> outboard.  Odds are
> you'll find it far more useful to have the counter
> capability not bound to
> the TCT, and you'll probably get capacitance and inductance
> measurement to
> boot!.  K.I.S.S.
> 
> Regards, Gary Lau
> MA, USA
> 
> On Sat, Feb 5, 2011 at 7:43 PM, Brandon Hendershot <
> brandonhendershot@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
> 
> > Hi Brandon,
> > Thanks, that saves me a lot of trouble! I feel rather
> 'silly' for not
> > thinking about it first. I imagine this is a good a
> place as any to ask; Is
> > it possible, well, relatively easy to expand on the
> TCT design to
> > incorporate a digital readout? I'm still in the dark
> when it comes to
> > electronics design...
> > Brandon
> >
> > On Feb 5, 2011, at 11:39 AM, Brandon Garretson <garretsontech@xxxxxxxxx>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >> Hi Brandon (All),
> > >>
> > >> I think I'll definitely be taking this route.
> Still one problem though;
> > I
> > >> have no way of accurately measuring
> frequency! Can you (or anybody
> > chiming
> > >> in) suggest some test equipment I should use
> for this?
> > >
> > > Using the TCT device, it doesnt matter if you
> know the frequency at all.
> > > You connect it to your secondary with topload and
> approximate
> > > streamer-length wire, then simply sweep
> > > the dial through the range looking for the
> brightest glow of the LEDs.
> > > Then, leaving the dial in the "bright spot" from
> the secondary,
> > > connect it to the tank circuit (with the
> transformer and filter
> > > disconnected)
> > > and move the primary tap from turn to turn until
> the dimmest glow of
> > > the LEDs is found, then fine tune along that
> turn, again
> > > stopping at the "dim-spot" indicated by the LEDs
> on the TCT. (Be sure
> > > to let go of the tap and step back when you take
> a reading.)
> > > JavaTC will get you close, use the TCT device to
> verify, then fine-tune.
> > > _______________________________________________
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