Re: Capacitor Help

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "MalcolmTesla" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Well while I was waiting around wondering what to do I removed 2" from the
primary so I now have 18" of windings.  It seemed to help some.  However the
safety gap was going off like crazy (intermittently).  We started running it
for 5 to 10 seconds at a time probably for a minute or two with a few
seconds break inbetween and boom a capacitor went.  I think it may have just
arc'd out to the resister across it as they resister was totally annihilated
and all that was left was two terminals where the resister used to be.  I
powered off the unit and touched the other caps and they were about room
temperature.  I'm not even sure I'd call them luke warm.

Oh and this whole time we're only getting about 5 ~ 6" sparks and the tap is
on turn 14 and a half.  If I move it in the sparks go away.  Oh and another
point of interest is the safety gap makes a LOT more noise when it arcs than
the regular spark gap.  Not sure if this is normal or just because I used
tiny thin bolts on brackets for the safety gap and 1/2" bolts for the
regular gap?

Another interesting thing is when the safety gap fires we get stronger,
brighter sparks off the torid as though the regular spark gap is not doing a
very good job.

Thanks
Malcolm in KC

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 12:45 PM
Subject: Fw: Capacitor Help


> Original poster: "MalcolmTesla" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> An update - I removed the primary from the circuit and found my safety gap
> was just a tag to small so I opened it up just a hair to where it won't
> fire.  Re hooked up the primary and the safety gap is not going off but
I'm
> only getting about 5" sparks off the toroid to the chicken wire cage that
> it's in.  This is while tapping on turn 14 and a half.
>
> If I understand how this all works my primary's frequency is to high.  I
can
> either remove windings off the of the secondary to increase its frequency,
> or add another string of capacitors to the primary to lower its frequency.
> Does that sound right?
>
> Thanks
> Malcolm in KC
> PS - is it just me or is there a big delay on this list?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 2:04 AM
> Subject: Fw: Capacitor Help
>
>
>  > Original poster: "MalcolmTesla" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>  >
>  > I forgot to includes these two links with the message below... because
>  > sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.
>  >
>  > http://www.v8-ranger.com/temp/tesla/28.jpg
>  > http://www.v8-ranger.com/temp/tesla/29.jpg
>  >
>  > Thanks
>  >
>  > ----- Original Message -----
>  > From: "MalcolmTesla" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>  > To: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>  > Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 12:07 AM
>  > Subject: Re: Capacitor Help
>  >
>  >
>  >  > Well I finished the tesla coil tonight.  Something's not right.  If
I
> put
>  >  > the tap on coil 10 of the primary I get no output.  I then moved it
in
> a
>  >  > little with no change.  I then moved it out and when I got to turn
14 ~
> 15
>  > I
>  >  > got some output but the safety gap also started firing like crazy.
Man
>  > that
>  >  > safety gap is loud.  Well actually so is the regular spark gap now
that
>  > the
>  >  > capacitors are hooked up.  Anyhow the output from the toroid was
only
>  > about
>  >  > 5" max from the center steel pole in my garage which I used as RF
> ground.
>  >  >
>  >  > My NST chassis, center terminal on the safety gap, strike ring, and
>  >  > secondary ground all went to the RF ground.
>  >  >
>  >  > What should I do from here?
>  >  >
>  >  > Thanks
>  >  > Malcolm - KC
>  >  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>
>
>