Re: new to tesla coils

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: new to tesla coils
From: NickandSim-at-aol-dot-com (by way of Terry Fritz <twf-at-verinet-dot-com>)
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 11:32:25 -0700
Approved: twf-at-verinet-dot-com

To Zip,
          The exact design really dosen't matter as long as you calculate it
properly (for this I recommend TC-Cad).  The important part is the supply etc.
The secret of cheap tesla-ing is to use microwave transformers and microwave
capacitors instead of neons and DIY caps.  These don't cost anything as you
can get loads of old microwaves by checking out the bin behind your local
microwave shop.  
I would reccommend you don't use less than 2 MOTs (with primaries in parrallel
and secondaries in series) because the voltage will be too low.  Also the
microwave caps are pretty weedy so use loads in series.  
For the variable voltage most people use a variac but a phase-angle-firing
switch (light dimmer) will do.
Another tip.  If you want to do a cheap tesla then i guess you, like myself,
are a high school student.  Use your student status to get free stuff.  If you
need lots of wire to wind a coil say its for a school project and people give
it to you free.
The coil form is pretty cheap anyway (6" pvc pipe) but if you really need to
save cash thick card over wooden formers works ok (and actually has lower
losses).
One other thing.  The mots will give about 1.5kW each so you can build very
big coils.  Don't be scared of building a big first coil, they are actually
easier to build big because they don't have to be so prescise.

PS Check out what your local uni is throwing away- thats how I got 2 2kW
variacs


Nick Field 
(sorry this is late - aol's flash mail is very dodgy)