Re: [TCML] Tesla Coil with Mesh as Ground

[<pterren@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chicken wire?  How many people really use it?
For this show I used builders foil used for insulation between brick layers. 
Foil backed by fibreglass reinforced plastic. You can't tear it by hand yet 
flexible to make a suit out of. I previously used it for my "Modern Thinker" 
suit.
It comes cheap in 50 foot rolls.  I used 8 rolls for this setup as a 
counterpoise as I had no other earth for this 18 inch coil. just roll it 
away when finished and no pricked fingers from chicken wire and no floor 
damage.  Also had a 10 ft high frame with down wires to limit capacitative 
effects on bystander and video equipment.

http://tesladownunder.com/AGTSetup.jpg  The picture of the foil base.
http://tesladownunder.com/Media.htm#AustraliasGotTalent       The article

Peter


-----Original Message----- 
From: Matt Siri
Sent: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 12:13 PM
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: Re: [TCML] Tesla Coil with Mesh as Ground

I'm not sure if surface area is as much a factor as mass.  More mass = more 
atoms that can take on more electrons and give electrons.  I'd say it's a 
combination of both, but mass seems more immediately relevant.  I've run my 
maggie (1.6kW) at my school a few times now.  The first couple of times, I 
used an old (and rather large) arbor press.  The last time (at a talent 
show), I threw a 3in*3in*~5ft steel bar that was laying around in the metal 
storeroom on a metal cart.  If you spread a bunch of chicken wire out, 
you're liable to have an arc pass from it to a conductor under the floor or 
somewhere else.  I once used a large steel cart as a ground; it sat on 
cement and where the wheels touched, large amounts of corona were visible. 
Be careful with isolated grounds, I accidentally touched the cart during the 
talent show; no one could tell but it didn't feel very good.  BTW, how long 
of arcs are you getting with 225VA?

Matt Siri


________________________________
From: Cole Awesome-Jordan <jordancole@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 6:54 PM
Subject: [TCML] Tesla Coil with Mesh as Ground

I have to operate a tesla coil in a gym for a demonstration, how much 
chicken wire should i use for a proper ground?

Coil is powered by 9000v 25ma NST, secondary is 3.5" by 18" and topload is 
about 37.5" off the ground.

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