Re: [TCML] supposedly a tesla coil

[DC Cox <resonance@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

If it contains a primary and secondary coil (even a third inductor as in
magnifiers) it is a transformer.

Base feed systems usually tap across a portion of the sec which forms the
pri.  Other magnifier types
with 3rd inductor use a pri-sec system to drive a third inductor.

Generally, a classic TC is as you described an "air core RF transformer".
Tesla experimented with many configurations (ref his 1899 Col. Springs
Notes) using
tapped inductors, capacitors in series and parallel with the base, caps
across a portion of the sec, and many other configurations trying to find
the most
efficient designs.

I guess we should refer to his original patent on the Tesla coil which shows
a pri-sec coil system.  Tesla's many variations on drive systems would also
count
in the general term "Tesla coil".

Interrupters, capacitors, spark gaps, etc., would fit under the general term
of "oscillator" and not be the actual air core resonant transformer itself.

Dr. Resonance




On Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 7:32 PM, Frosty <frosty90@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> While on this subject, how do we actually define a tesla coil? Most of us
> will use the usual "A tesla coil is an air cored resonant
> transformer....etc." However, what about 'base-feed' style coils (like high
> frequency vac. tube systems) or even 'magnifiers', neither of which really
> fit the classical definition of 'transformer'.
> Also does the "resonant" part refer to just the secondary (the resonator as
> such) or in the case of a multi coil system do all parts have to be
> resonant, which would technically make regular solid state coils and vacuum
> tube coils (?) nt fit this definition. It seems now that we are calling
> anything with an air cored helical resonator a telsa coil.
>  Noting wrong with doing this though... It seems now that a tesla coil is
> defined purely by it's seondary, the rest of the circuitry (sprak gaps,
> primary coils, power inverters etc) merely exists to couple power to the
> 'tesla coil' (the secondary). It seems that really the only thing in common
> between what we all call telsa coils is the secondary....
> Anyway about the article......really does it matter if they refer to it as
> a
> 'tesla coil', many of us (the 'high-voltage community') have in the past
> (althogh not really anymore) refered to setups such as ignition coils,
> flybacks etc as tesla coils, even thought they arent resonant and really
> share nothing in common with the 'regular' tesla coils.
> Anyway thats my two cents!
>
> Cheers,
> Jesse
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