Re: [TCML] Safely Grounding a Tesla Coil

[Brandon Hendershot <brandonhendershot@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi "Fuzzy"'

These things are like 8 feet long. Unless I'm hiring Micheal Jordan to  
help me, I'm going to need to know how to start it in. (That's  
supposed to be funny, just in case it came off the wrong way.)

Thanks,
Brandon

On Feb 6, 2010, at 8:23 PM, "Reverend Fuzzy"  
<cmayeux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Best way to sink a ground rod (with all seriousness intended) is  
> with as large of a hammer or maul, as you are physically capable of  
> handling.  If your aim leaves something to be desired, hold a chunk  
> of 2x4 on top of the rod, and pound that... much bigger target, and  
> less likely to smack your hand.  And above all, it is highly  
> recommended that you slip the clamp, or other attachment device onto  
> the rod BEFORE driving it in, as there is more than likely to be  
> some "mushrooming" on the end of the rod, and it's a HUGE  
> possibility that you won't be able to slip it on after.
> Stop hammering when there is just enough rod showing to comfortably  
> deal with the clamp.
> ---
> Reverend Fuzzy
> Pastor, MSB Ministries
> Hattiesburg, MS
> http://www.msbministries.org
>
>
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On  
> > Behalf Of Brandon Hendershot
> > Sent: February 06, 2010 7:30 PM
> > To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: [TCML] Safely Grounding a Tesla Coil
> >
> > Hi Richard,
> >
> > A lot of what you guys are trying to explain seems way over my head.
> > How about some advice for sinking a ground rod? Lol, but I think I
> > will try the chicken wire counterpoise before I do any permenant
> > damage to the lawn.
> >
> > Thank you all for your patience with me,
> > Brandon
> >
> > On Feb 6, 2010, at 5:27 PM, "Richard Schmuke" <rdj@xxxxxxxxxxxx>  
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Lets try this Brandon , if you have a antenna, the standard is a
> > > dipole ,
> > > 1/4 wl out the center of the coax and 1/4 wl out the shield side.
> > > You can
> > > set this on the ground and have a rod going up from the center 1/4
> > > wl, now
> > > from the shield side spread out several wires 1/4 wl length to act
> > > as the
> > > other half of the antenna. This is sometimes called a counterpoise.
> > > It gets
> > > more involved but did this help? If not I can sent you some simple
> > > drawings
> > > I use for my radio classes.
> > >
> > > Rich , KDZZ
> > > Disclaimer: Any errors in spelling or facts are transmission errors.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> > > Behalf
> > > Of Brandon Hendershot
> > > Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 11:11 AM
> > > To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> > > Subject: Re: [TCML] Safely Grounding a Tesla Coil
> > >
> > > Hi Jim,
> > >
> > > Could you explain the concept of "counterpoise" for me or provide a
> > > link to some documentation? I've never heard of anything like it...
> > >
> > > Thanks btw,
> > > Brandon
> > >
> > > On Feb 5, 2010, at 9:39 PM, jimlux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Brandon Hendershot wrote:
> > > > > Hi all,
> > > > > I know that it's said that you need an entirely seperate ground  
> > > > > rod
> > > > > when opperating tesla coils because the high voltage grounding
> > > > > through the house wiring is extremely dangerous to anything  
> > > > > plugged
> > > > > into any other grounded outlet on the same circuit.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Not precisely..
> > > > You need a separate RF return for the coil, be it a counterpoise,
> > > > good grounding system, etc.
> > > > The reason you don't want it interconnected too well with the  
> > > > "house
> > > > ground" is that it will propagate HV transients into your house
> > > > wiring system (by capacitive and inductive coupling).. those
> > > > transients wreak havoc on most consumer electronics.
> > > >
> > > > I wouldn't say "extremely dangerous".. I'd reserve that for
> > > > something like juggling chain saws.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > But what if you attached the coils
> > > > > ground wire directly to the ground rod. It would be bypassing the
> > > > > house wiring, so the high voltage won't be running by any precious
> > > > > electronics inside the house. It shouldn't be running back up into
> > > > > the house right?
> > > >
> > > > Exactly.. But there is a problem because at some point, you need to
> > > > bond to the "green wire ground" at least for things that are  
> > > > plugged
> > > > in or that you might touch (e.g. equipment cases).
> > > >
> > > > > I'm trying to be minimalistic so I don't have to try to pound down
> > > > > a ground rod of my own.
> > > >
> > > > Think counterpoise.. a big conductive sheet.. chicken wire works
> > > > well. A circle that has radius = the height of the top load above  
> > > > it.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hook that to the bottom of your secondary.
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