Gary,
I did a lot of thinking about a USB powered coil a while back. The
problem is actually the power, 5V @500ma gives you 2.5W. My only
(untested)
design used a camera flash type circuit fed into a DRSSTC circuit and a
very
small coil. This would give you intermittent (about every 20 Sec or so)
2-3"
sparks. Or a burst of a small corona for about 5 sec
I abandoned the project as I doubt even I could wait for 20 or so seconds
for a single bang or a blue glow...
maybe if you built the TC inside a plasma globe ???
Cheers
Derek
-----Original Message-----
From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Lau, Gary
Sent: 27 December 2007 01:38
To: 'Tesla Coil Mailing List'
Subject: [TCML] USB-powered Tesla Coil
No, I don't have one. But my wife found an interesting gift for me this
year - a USB-powered plasma globe. It's actually quite nice - the globe
is
about the size of a conventional light bulb, with a power cable that plugs
into the base, labeled 5V/300mA, and the other end having a USB plug on
it.
Nearly on par with the TheOnion.com USB-powered toaster faux product,
except
that this is real. See http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/science/964e/
So, this got me thinking if this couldn't be extended to an actual
USB-powered spark-making Tesla coil? While the available power should be
adequate, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with the prospect of RF-ground
return current being routed through my USB port. Maybe this is a good use
for that old P2 dinosaur in the basement.
Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA