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Re: [TCML] can you help my son and i with this Please

I have a question along these lines, sort of. When I first started building TC's, I was told that I should seal the ends of the secondary form. I did it without question, I suppose like that sheep comment earlier, but I never asked why, until now. I hope this is still on thread, since we are talking about new coilers and how they go about doing things and why. I have been helping a young guy build his first coil and he asked me why I wanted him to seal the ends of his PVC pipe and I didn't have a ready answer, other than I have always done it and was told that I should.
So, why do we seal the ends of the secondary form? Is it really necessary, especially with a small low power coil? 
Paul
Think Positive
----- Original Message ----- From: "William Noble" <william_b_noble@xxxxxxx> 
To: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 12:16 PM
Subject: RE: [TCML] can you help my son and i with this Please
nonsense - I've done it, as have many other people - clearly not a permanent solution, but cheap and quick. Dry wood is only very slightly conductive, the losses will be small, and the coil will work, "sort of" - of course it is better to use FRP, tungsten electrodes and all sorts of things - but it is not necessary to do so. The next step up from two nails in wood is two ceramic insulators scrounged from a wrecked house and some scraps of wire -
And, "plenty of air flow" is also nonsense - it helps quenching and makes the coil better - but a coil will work with no added air flow.
As I understand the OP, the idea is that he has little money to spend. Why are we making it so hard for him to get some sparks? if he only gets 1 inch sparks where 12 were possible, it is still success. Don't over complicate things - he doesn't need to buy ANYTHING he doesn't have. All you need is a neon xformer (he has it), a secondary (wind on cardboard using wire from anywhere, pretty much any length of 22 or finer wire - 12 to 18 inches is good). 5 to 10 turn primary and an aligator clip for tuning, and a capacitor - I originally used window glass and aluminum foil. A spark gap is just that - not high tech - anything wil work - literally anything that doesn't arc over - two nails and a scrap of wood, scraps of copper pipe, etc. A "terry gap" consisting of a scrap of pvc pipe and some scraps of copper pipe works great, but a 1/4 to 1/2 inch air gap between two nails works too.
the key thing I didn't understand with my first coil (in high school) was that you needed to tune it. So the only thing in my mind that matters much is to have a bare wire primary.
Arrange the circuit in the usual way - xformer, gap, capacitor, primary - add secondary, and see what happens - tune for best spark - then make improvements - like a salvation army salad bowl for a top load, or a nicer gap, or a different capacitor. 




To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [TCML] can you help my son and i with this Please
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:49:16 -0500
From: mddeming@xxxxxxx



"you need a spark gap - two nails and a piece of wood will work"
IF you want to start a fire or electrocute someone! Wood is conductive at TC primary voltages (10-15 kV). Two nails driven into a piece of wood and attached to an NST secondary can carbon track and smolder or flame within minutes. IMO, NOT a smart move. 

Use only good insulators like PVC with plenty of air flow.

Matt D



-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Noble <william_b_noble@xxxxxxx>
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Nov 22, 2009 5:36 pm
Subject: Re: [TCML] can you help my son and i with this Please
Eric - most of us start small - you don't' need donations, and you don't need more stuff.
you need wire - $5 or so will get you the wire you need from a surplus place, or unwind a transformer or other coil and get it free.
you need a spark gap - two nails and a piece of wood will work (not as well as fancier stuff, but it will work) 

you need a cap - beer bottles (or milk bottles) with brine will work
you need wire for a primary - scrounge some old electrical wire - whatever you can find
for a first toy though, make jacob's ladders - all you need are 2 coat hangers and your neon sign xformer 

start with the small stuff, ask questions about that, then consider bigger
> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Eric Knutson" > <ericknutson@xxxxxxxxx> 
> To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2009 5:42 PM
> Subject: [TCML] can you help my son and i with this Please
>
>
> Vary impressive stuff here Wow .
>> May i ask for pointers in making one of these , have wanted to for 20 >> >> years , well i have >> wife now and a 10 inch pvc tube . but thats all i have , my son is 14 >> and >> wants to build >> one with me . i can maybe buy one piece at a time every other payday >> >> maybe . Is there >> any change you can help me with direction and size on the build . not >> >> sure how to >> connect 2 neon transformers together eather . also i Humbly ask are >> there >> any parts you >> could donate to help us build one . any tansformers or a rotary spark >> gap >> , caps ? was thinking >> about using one or 15000v 60 Ma , but think with with the size of pipe >> i >> sholud use 2 what do 
>> you think . Sinerly Your Friend Eric A Knutson
>>
>
>
>
>
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