First Coil

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: First Coil
From: Glenn Clark <clarkg-at-usit-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twf-at-verinet-dot-com>)
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 11:50:41 -0700
Approved: twf-at-verinet-dot-com

I'm currently enrolled as a junior in High School, and due to a resent flu
epidemic we have been given a six-day weekend.  With my time I have started
on a Tesla Coil, I have been talking about making them for awhile but
actually started 2 days ago.  After a trip to the local junkyard, I
"liberated" two automotive spark coils, one from an early 90s Plymoth, and
another from a mid 80s Volvo.  After inspecting them at home I thought the
Volvo coil was in better condition and decided to use it, the poles for the
12 VDC are marked and I grounded the negitive side.  I plan to use this if
possible in a small coil as the power supply, my question is:  The plug
wire which attaches to the top of the coil is only one wire, should I
connect this to the negitive pole of my capacitor and the positive to a
ground?  Any help/critiscm would be appreciated.

Thanks,


Brett Clark