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VivekChoubey
modified 10 years ago

Fabrication of Tesla Coil

2
18
209
02:33:14
Tesla coil using two transformers and spark gap plus capacitors
published 10 years ago
thebugger
10 years ago
That's not how tesla coils work. Not in any design. First you have an ordinary step up transformer, not a 400Khz tranaformer. It steps up the mains (220V/50Hz) to a level sufficient for arcing across some distance (maybe 5-10kV). These sparks contain all sorts of frequencies, one of which will excite oscillations in the tuned primary of a second step up transformer. This one is a high frequency high voltage transformer. It boosts the voltage to even higher (maybe 50kV) and changes the frequency too, to a higher one. Then you have the torus and your lightnings
VivekChoubey
10 years ago
But a total fabrication of Tesla coil here is impossible. Spark of about 1 feet is generated in the air in the gap between secondary of first transformer and primary of second one. Obviously its not a tesla coil but sparks generated similar to that and yes frequency changes.
WTFCircuit
10 years ago
Actually a tesla coil can reach 1 millions of volts if it is made with the correct components and maths. Amazing
thebugger
10 years ago
Yep, a big tesla coil can be very energetic. But nowadays i don't suggest using this archaic method. This was before even tubes were invented. You can make a blocking oscillator that steps up a very small voltage 1.5V-12V to enough voltage to directly drive the second transformer, or even better a few weeks ago i made a circuit for my vacuum tubes that boost 12V to 300V. If you remove the output filtering capacitor you get a pulsed voltage at around 20-30Khz. Since it's pulsed it's very harmonic rich, you can always choose the tank circuit to resonate at a higher frequency. This removes the need for the figgly first transformer the spark gap, and all that remains is to hook it up to the final stage, which is the actual tesla coil. Since your starting voltage will be very high, i imagine when you further step it up, it'll easily become above 50kV.
thebugger
10 years ago
BTW the circuit i made works at 20-30Khz, but when close to an FM radio it Somewhat jams their frequency too, which is around 100MHz. That means it's REALLY harmonic rich, and may suit your needs.
VivekChoubey
10 years ago
Hmm. Sounds interesting WTF Ckt. And bugger
WTFCircuit
10 years ago
I have published a simple solid state tesla coil desigh. But I want to say that even if spark gap tesla coils are an old stile tesla coil are still very popular because are very powerful compared to a regular solid state one
thebugger
10 years ago
Even solid state tesla coils can be made as powerful, but they're more complex, and that's why it's more feasible to make it the old fashioned way. Small tesla coils are exclusively solid state nowadays. Anyway i too have made an example check it out. I'll check out yours now.
thebugger
10 years ago
Actually i can't seem to find it. A direct link would be appreciated
WTFCircuit
10 years ago
Here it is: http://everycircuit.com/circuit/5134306383495168
thebugger
10 years ago
Ah, yes I've seen it. It's a good example but it's very complex. Powerful tesla coils usually use the old design with the spark gap. And as i already mentioned it probably won't be as powerful in real life, because of the active resistance of the coils, and the parasitic capacitance. You can use the parasitic capacitance to your advantage though. What do you know of self capacitance of inductors? Almont every inductor has a self resonating frequency because it also has a capacitance, as well as inductance. With such large secondary i think the capacitance will be enough to tune the coil to a given frequency.
VivekChoubey
10 years ago
GFCI less transformers are used for Tesla coils as GFCI Circuits stop fluctuation of high frequency through Transformers. So in practical case GFCI has to be removed from the transformers to enhance the TESLA COIL
thebugger
10 years ago
What does GFCI have to do with it? That's a protection from current leakage, through an unintendes source, like a human or something
VivekChoubey
10 years ago
GFCI will block and send the transformer to cutoff whenever unwanted fluctuation or change of frequency comes to light. Thus it blocks Tesla coil to work.
VivekChoubey
10 years ago
Check this article on instructables http://m.instructables.com/id/Building-a-Tesla-Coil-In-9-Easy-Steps/
thebugger
10 years ago
Yeah, but as far as I know typical household installations don't include such protections. Just current protection, with fuses. Adding a GFCI is an extra.
thebugger
10 years ago
And furthermore i don't think it'll be much of a problem. GFCI's sense only current leakage through unintended sources, like the human body to physical groud. As far as the current draw from the tesla coil is between the two clips of the transformer, i guess no problem should occur, despite the sporadic nature of tesla coils
VivekChoubey
10 years ago
Agreed. Household transformers don't havw GFCI in general. But a transformer with extra earthing wire or controller given, must be checked for not having GFCI.

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