RE: Building the Primary Coil

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

Original poster: "Pete Komen by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <pkomen-at-zianet-dot-com>

Hello Patrick,

I used Plexiglas for my primary.  I drilled 1/4 inch holes 1/4 inch apart
using a drill press.  The holes were exactly the same distance from the
edge.  Then I cut off the top half of the holes using a table saw (one
straight cut cutting off part of each hole).  Glued each support a little
farther away from the center around the Plexiglas base.  8 supports - each
one 1/16" farther from the center.  The 1/4 inch tubing snaps into the
partial holes.

Pete Komen

-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2001 5:42 AM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Building the Primary Coil

Original poster: "Patrick Bloofon by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <transactoid-at-home-dot-com>

My question was more meant to address the issue of how people make their
spacings on whatever they use to space the turns. I'm really bad with
"visualizing" construction plans. If you have say, 4 supports, you don't
just drill equally aligned holes up the supports do you? In order for it to
spiral, won't each supports' holes have to be offset from the previous
one???

Sorry if this is a really simple question. I just cannot picture this in my
head....

Thanks,
Patrick.

>
> Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll spare you the bandwidth.
> Just go to the Tesla Coil Web Ring:
> http://nav.webring.yahoo-dot-com/hub?ring=TeslaRing&list
> and look at how everyone else does it.  Mine is illustrated at:
> http://people.ne.mediaone-dot-net/lau/tesla/primary.htm
>
> The spacing between turns is not at all critical.  The only
> consideration is that whatever method you use to make the "tap"
> connection should not short to the next turn.  Using too wide a spacing
> will lower the coupling and require more turns and tubing for the same
> inductance.  Most of us use about a 1/4" space between turns. (1/2"
> center-center w/ .25" tubing)
>
> Regards, Gary Lau
> MA, USA