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!!!HELP A DESPERATE COILER!!!
Hi!
---Sorry for the long message, but PLEASE read on---
I've being on this list for about a week and haven’t yet introduced
myself, so I'll do that first:
Ok. My name is Sam Barros and I live in Holland (although I am not
Dutch). I experiment with electricity, chemistry, physics and other
fields of science as a Hobby. I have being doing research and
experimentation with High Voltages for over 4 years now and I decided it
was time to build my first Tesla Coil. I have a good understanding of TC
theory and workings, and am fully capable of building and operating a TC
without getting myself killed by electrocution (my first High Voltage
electric shocks were my last ones), but there are a few issues I would
like to get reviewed by someone with greater experience in the field
than me (i.e. Just about everyone on this list who has actually built a
Coil).
Ok. My design aims for a medium power, very reliable, good-looking
Tesla Coil. I'll be tapping its energy to conduct electromagnetic
repulsion, confinement and acceleration of plasma, so ground strikes
shouldn't be much of a problem.
The main thing I am looking for here is efficiency. I want this coil to
be as efficient as possible. Therefore I've given it a 3:1 H/D ratio and
an angled primary, together with the use of 0.60 (between AWG 23 and
22) wire (any thicker would be seriously wasted by "skin effect")
Well, here are the specs for my coil so far:
Secondary:
Coil form:
Diameter: 20cm (8in)
Winding Length: 60 cm (24in)
Wire gauge: 0.60mm (between 23 and 22AWG)
Spacing between turns: NONE
Secondary turns: 1000
Secondary wire length: 627.69m (2028.57FT)
Approximate resonant frequency: 186.11KHz
Secondary quarter wavelength resonant frequency: 119.49KHz
Secondary self-capacitance: 12.84pF
Toroid capacitance required to form quarter wavelength coil: 18.31pF
Primary:
Primary capacitance: 0.0127uF
Primary resonant frequency: 119.49KHz
Primary conductor diameter: 8mm (0.320in)
Primary turn to turn spacing: 8mm (0.320in)
Spacing between the secondary and inside turn of primary: 55mm (2.2in)
Primary tapped between turn 14 and 15 to form a resonant circuit at
119.49KHz
Neon transformer/Capacitor matching
Transformer input voltage: 220V
Transformer output voltage: 15KV
Transformer operating frequency: 50Hz
Transformer output current: 60mA
Ok. Now the problems begin:
1- I have 2 ferrite cores, such as those used in radios. They measure 14
x 1cm (5.6 x 0.4in) and I also have 60 meters of 0.60mm (AWG 23/22)wire,
left from the Coil. Can I wind 2 good chokes using them? Would I need
more? I can get more of them, or a different wire, but no different
ferrite cores. How much inductance would be ideal for my coil? I think
2mH should do, but I could be wrong...
2- Mike Hammer suggested I used the following primary: 18 turns of 8mm
(0.320in) thick copper tubing spaced 8mm (0.320in) from each other, and
with 3.5cm (1.4in) clearance from the secondary and a 15 degrees angle.
I agree that's a better option, but I am not sure if it's the best
option. I feel I can make the secondary/primary clearance less. Perhaps
0.5in if I insulate the primary (the secondary is already very well
insulated with epoxy and PU sealer). And, such a primary would have a
diameter of about 80cm (32in). That's HUGE!!! It would need such a
massive base. Is that really the best configuration, or can I make the
primary coil shorter and therefore increase inductance? I want the most
efficient design, remember!
3- Here in Holland the largest transformers available (because of legal
restrictions) are rated 8KV/50mA. I've being to all 13 Neon Shops within
a 50 KM range (it took me 5 days) and NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THE WILL GIVE
OR SELL ME A USED TRANSFORMER. Let alone the 3 I would need to run my
coil. A single new transformer here costs 300 dollars (rated 10KV,
100mA. They come from Italy and are impossible to get without and order)
Can some kind soul sell me a 1000W working, used neon transformer?
PLEASE!!! I really need this, and there is no other way I can get it.. I
can pay about 50 dollars. It will cover the costs of transportation, and
should leave some extra for the kind soul that made my Tesla Coil
Project possible.
Thank you very much for taking your time and reading such a long
message (supposing you didn't just scroll down looking for the "delete"
button). Please help me if you can... Any questions, comments, hints are
very welcome.
THANKS!!!!
Sam Barros
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