RE: [TCML] My first coil, bigger sparks maybe??

["Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>]

Hi Daz,

I think your experience is quite normal for one's first coil, getting much less spark that what the numbers say.  Lacking test equipment is not an issue; tuning is almost always done by trial and error as you do.

Your cap value sounds OK.  You could go as high as 20nF for maybe a little bit better performance, but there's not a clear sweep spot.  Your top load looks fine.  Performance almost always improves with larger top loads, assuming you stay in tune and don't get really huge.

Usually, the biggest problem with one's first coil is the spark gap, and you didn't tell us what it is you have.  A picture or including a close-up in the video would be helpful.  I didn't hear any kind of fans running in the video; I've found that performance is almost always significantly better if there's significant forced airflow through the spark gap.  Also, you'll want to construct the gap using blunt thermally massive electrodes, not pointy screws or nails.

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA


> -----Original Message-----
> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Darryll f
> Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 2:30 PM
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [TCML] My first coil, bigger sparks maybe??
>
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> I have just finished off my first coil and after its second run and
> playing around with the spark gap, primary tap point and making a smaller
> top load i'm not all that impressed with the output. Maybe i have missed
> something?
>
>
>
> My coil is powered by a 10kv 30ma (240v) nst running a static home made
> gap together with terry filter and separate safety gap, the mmc cap bank
> is rated at 13nf and 21kv, the primary is 11 turns of 8mm dia copper pipe
> and the secondary is 3.25" plastic pipe with approx 1100 turns or 19" of
> 26 guage wire. All this is powered off a home brew control panel with 8
> amp variac various kill switches, neon lights and gauges plus a line
> filter.
>
>
>
> After the first run with a break out point to earth i am getting about 10"
> sparks max, i have used various software and got 30" predicted sparks.
>
> I have not got the equipment to tune it so i'm going on the trial and
> error theory! I am thinking of looking at a rotary spark gap which might
> increase performance but i didn't know if there was anything else i can do
> in the meantime?
>
>
>
> Youtube vid of last run
>
>
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNvpI72Sj28
>
>
>
> Please be gentle this is my first coil and six months ago i didnt  know a
> thing about them!
>
>
>
> Any advice appreciated
>
>
>
> Daz

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