Re: Thoughts on Tesla coil grounds...

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Paul Benham by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Paulb-at-woodanddouglas.co.uk>

When using a ground plane like this, do you have to make sure that you
keep clear of it as well as the coil itself, and treat it as if it was
live with R.F.?

I assume that you do not treat it as being a true R.F. ground, and
covering my garage floor in this way and then standing on it with a
running coil present would be a bad idea! - as I would be in contact
with control gear grounded to mains ground.

Thanks in advance,

Paul Benham.

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>
> 
> On the other hand, the chicken wire ground plane approach (which is what I
> use) connects the bottom of the 4"x20" secondary coil to a 4x4 foot chunk
> of chicken wire laying on the floor.  Not only is most of the RF voltage
> developed between the chicken wire and the toroid, but the capacitance from
> the chicken wire to the ground is probably fairly high (I'll have to try
> measuring it), and the sheet inductance of the chicken wire is probably
> fairly low.  I DO have the chicken wire connected to the safety (green
> wire) ground as well, but, by a fairly small gauge wire.  I have never
> noticed any RF voltage on the chassis components, etc., although I haven't
> measured it to be sure.