RE: spark plug wires???

["David Dean" <deano-at-corridor-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

Hi Danny,

While some folks use spark plug wire to hook up primary circuits, it will
only work on a small coil because of the small diameter of the wire. I use
Accell Yellow Jacket spark plug wire to connect my NST or Pig (when I had it
in a plastic file box, its back in its own can now) to the spark gap, and
sometimes a piece to make the preliminary tap to the pri. for tuning
purposes, then when I've got it close, I go back to copper strap. Of course
the spark plug wire has to have real wire in it. The suppressor type of
spark plug wire will burn up in a couple of seconds as it is not intended to
handle the kind of current that you see in a TC tank circuit, or even in a
charging circuit. I have tried to use some silicon conductor stuff that was
supposed to be very high performance instead of a wire wound resistor as a
part of a filter for a NST and it was worth a fizzle.

Regular PVC insulated solid wire like used in houses etc. of 10AWG or 12AWG
will work OK as primary hook up wire as long as the power level is fairly
low. When you start pumping a lot of power however, you need a heavier
conductor. Some use welding cable, some use speaker wire that is nearly as
heavy as welding cable, some use copper tubing, some use copper strap. I
like the strap.

later
deano

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
> Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2000 12:34 PM
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: spark plug wires???
>
>
> Original poster: DANIMAL799-at-aol-dot-com
>
> i have been tossing around a few ideas for how to re-wire my coil
> for better
> performance.  (it doesn't even work yet and i want to re-build it
> already.
> :>)  have built the entire coil so far for a total of 27$  and i
> want to keep
> it that way.  i am using some beat up speaker wire i found under
> my couch for
> all of the wring of the tank circuts and it is a pretty poor way
> to go.   i
> was thinking of using some automotive spark plug wires that i
> couldn't get to
> fit on my 68 firebird to rewire my tank circut     (that car is
> the reason
> that i can only devote 27$ to my tesla coil hobby)  has anyone ever tried
> this before??   i am using 2 mot's for a power supply   would the high
> amperage of these suckers heat up the wires.  i know they have
> some sort of
> carbon conductor center.  i would assume this would have a higher
> resistance
> than copper   would this cause a lot of heat??  just another one
> of my new
> ideas...  -danny   albuquerque  new mexico
>
>
>