Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>If you try to run the primary circuit in a resonant condition without a secondary load the large rise in Q factor will blow your caps and/or transformer. Set up your entire system, use a discharge rod off the toroid to see the spark length, and only run at 30-40% power level until you get the circuit in tune. Also a good idea to set the sparkgap at 1/2 it's normal setting until you are in resonance. This keeps the resonant potential to a lower value and will prevent stress on the caps and xmfrs.
Dr. Resonance
Next question , should I run a test , ramping up the voltage slowly when I add the MMC and primary or wait until the secondary and top load is complete? Rich , from the middle of Missouri