Hi Joshua,
Jim Lux said earlier when counterpoise...to connect NST center tap/case to
your counterpoise with all other RF grounds.
Chris Reeland
Sent from my Lenovo Tablet
On Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 8:18 PM Joshua Thomas <joshuafthomas@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Part of my issue is that given my living situation, I am often using a
> counterpoise, not a fixed earth ground, as the RF ground. I use a large
> (24" x 24") metal sheet for the RF ground This has worked well at least as
> far as the coil seems to be producing decent arcs even in the "untuned"
> state.
>
> Connecting my NST ground to the counterpoise also connects it to the
> safety spark gap. As I want overvoltages to go away from the NST, it seems
> counterintuitive to have the NST ground connected to the counterpoise. NST
> referenced to mains ground gives the NST center-tap a fixed ground
> reference; the safety gap over-voltages divert off to the counterpoise.
>
> Alternatively: If you were going to run a tesla coil inside a building,
> where the only available fixed ground was mains ground, what solution would
> you use?
>
> Joshua Thomas
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 23, 2021 at 9:07 PM Chris Reeland <chrisreeland@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Joshua,
>>
>> Well, me I have some issues with how you have grounded now...you have a
>> case of the coil circuit using 2 grounds from what you are saying.
>> Hopefully some others will chime in soon and possibly agree with me.
>> Probably reopening this "can of worms" now...
>>
>> Me on my coil , I use RF ground on the NST.
>>
>> Can not really help on winding myself...too busy with so many things...
>> maybe someone here will volunteer at a decent price...and possibly not.
>> Some commercial offerings I have seen in the past is not cheap at all for
>> secondaries!
>>
>> Chris Reeland
>> Ladd Illinois USA
>>
>> Sent from my Lenovo Tablet
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 7:52 PM Joshua Thomas <joshuafthomas@xxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I haven't had the chance to change the wiring yet, but I have decided to
>>> have the NST grounded to mains earth. This seems to be the best option from
>>> among the available options.
>>>
>>> I've tried winding by hand and it was.... tedious. I may just lack the
>>> patience, but spending 4 hours carefully winding a coil is not my idea of a
>>> good time.
>>>
>>> > Your coil is running better with smaller toroid. Is this with all the
>>> primary tapped?
>>>
>>> I had adjusted the tapping several turns in when using the small toroid,
>>> based on some JavaTC calculations. It's hard to quantify how much longer
>>> the arcs were, but I would not say more than 10%. I need a function
>>> generator so that I can find the primary and secondary resonance
>>> frequencies, and adjust my tuning with better accuracy. Perhaps after
>>> Christmas....
>>>
>>> Joshua Thomas
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Nov 23, 2021 at 8:08 PM Chris Reeland <chrisreeland@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Joshua,
>>>>
>>>> You have not mentioned it...but I take it you corrected the NST
>>>> centered tapped RF ground issue?
>>>>
>>>> Can not really help you on toroid construction...it took me several
>>>> years to collect what I have in spun toroids on the used/NOS that I have
>>>> acquired at decent prices.
>>>> I can not ever justify buying direct brand new. They get extremely
>>>> expensive when getting large. I have been lucky on most of the prices I
>>>> have paid.
>>>>
>>>> On your secondary, I would suggest winding by hand... your secondary is
>>>> not really big at all...it doesn't take as long as you would think...just a
>>>> little patience.
>>>>
>>>> Your coil is running better with smaller toroid. Is this with all the
>>>> primary tapped?
>>>> If so, your bigger toroid does not work good because you are out of
>>>> primary tuning available.
>>>>
>>>> Chris Reeland
>>>> Ladd Illinois USA
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my Lenovo Tablet
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Nov 23, 2021, 6:33 PM Joshua Thomas <joshuafthomas@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Thank you!
>>>>>
>>>>> My topload is covered with copper foil. The base is dryer tube. While
>>>>> cheap, it is difficult to get a strongly smooth surface from it. I am
>>>>> jealous of those who can get the smooth spun-aluminum toroids.
>>>>>
>>>>> On the topic, can anyone recommend a service that will create secondary
>>>>> coils to specification? I am fairly bad at this and itâ??s one area I
>>>>> would
>>>>> be willing to spend a little money.
>>>>>
>>>>> Joshua Thomas
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Nov 23, 2021 at 10:20 AM <pupman.com@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> > Hi Joshua,
>>>>> >
>>>>> > The arcs look and sound great in this video. They grow and move vs.
>>>>> > appear once and vanish. It does looks like there may be too many
>>>>> > breakout/sharp points on the toroid though, and lots of energy is
>>>>> being
>>>>> > lost. A light wrap of foil might smooth things out enough to allow
>>>>> > fewer, but longer and more developed streamers.
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > On 11/21/2021 4:03 PM, Joshua Thomas wrote:
>>>>> >
>>>>> > <content trimmed>
>>>>> > > These were used with 3 between each HV rail and RF ground. The
>>>>> caps
>>>>> > caught
>>>>> > > on fire after short use. You can see video of that event here:
>>>>> > > https://youtube.com/shorts/Sx_lHwjR_bs?feature=share
>>>>> > >
>>>>> > > (I should likely have shut this down sooner)
>>>>> > <content trimmed>
>>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>>> > Tesla mailing list -- tcml@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>> > To unsubscribe send an email to tcml-leave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>> >
>>>>> --
>>>>> Joshua Thomas
>>>>>
>>>>> My new email address is: joshuafthomas@xxxxxxxxx
>>>>> Please update your information if you have not already done so.
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Tesla mailing list -- tcml@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to tcml-leave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Joshua Thomas
>>>
>>> My new email address is: joshuafthomas@xxxxxxxxx
>>> Please update your information if you have not already done so.
>>>
>>
>
> --
> Joshua Thomas
>
> My new email address is: joshuafthomas@xxxxxxxxx
> Please update your information if you have not already done so.
>