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Small Tesla Coil using disposable camera transformers

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flannelhead

Mon Apr 14 2008, 10:12AM

Registered Member #952 Joined: Mon Aug 13 2007, 11:07AM
Location: Finland
Posts: 388

First, it should be really easy to get disposable cameras (I prefer Fujifilm; they have got simpler circuit that kodaks for example)

I took a look at my transformers. They seem to have a single ~4 turn primary, so good guess for secondary turns could be ~800 turns (really thin wire <0.1mm)

Take a look at that circuit and you will notice that the feedback winding is in series with the secondary. It's a little different from the joule thief circuit.

Chris Cristini

Tue Oct 14 2008, 04:37PM

Registered Member #1749 Joined: Fri Oct 10 2008, 02:04AM
Location: Claremont New Hampshire
Posts: 497

That is cool maybe make the secondary smaller by using a Bic pen tube and build a cool case might be something u could sell to beginners.

flannelhead

Wed Oct 15 2008, 07:17AM

Registered Member #952 Joined: Mon Aug 13 2007, 11:07AM
Location: Finland
Posts: 388

Yep, I have been planning to make a revision of this little coil. I've been thinking to run it of a 9V rechargeable, but haven't yet managed to get a suitable ferrite core to wind my own transformer.

Firefox

Wed Oct 15 2008, 09:32PM

Registered Member #1389 Joined: Thu Mar 13 2008, 12:50AM
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 346

The transformers from old computer PSUs work well, Uzzors and several others have wound flybacks on them. Also, any electronic device you find likely has one in it. Most CRT TVs and monitors have at least one or two, along with the main flyback, and I've found a few monitors with five or six small transformers in them.

Chris Cristini

Thu Oct 16 2008, 03:46PM

Registered Member #1749 Joined: Fri Oct 10 2008, 02:04AM
Location: Claremont New Hampshire
Posts: 497

yea me to there is endless possibility's when it comes to TV,s and transformers.

Firefox

Sat Oct 18 2008, 03:43AM

Registered Member #1389 Joined: Thu Mar 13 2008, 12:50AM
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 346

By the way, Dr. 2N3055, I never posted this, but my first TC was based off your design, using instead a D cell battery and a 22 stage CW multiplier with a 1nF home rolled overhead cap. It worked excellently, giving off up to a 1 inch streamer and about 3-4" of corona. I could fill a light bulb with streamers. Secondary ended up with an Fres of about 2MHz.

flannelhead

Sat Oct 18 2008, 02:03PM

Registered Member #952 Joined: Mon Aug 13 2007, 11:07AM
Location: Finland
Posts: 388

Firefox wrote ...

By the way, Dr. 2N3055, I never posted this, but my first TC was based off your design, using instead a D cell battery and a 22 stage CW multiplier with a 1nF home rolled overhead cap. It worked excellently, giving off up to a 1 inch streamer and about 3-4" of corona. I could fill a light bulb with streamers. Secondary ended up with an Fres of about 2MHz.

Nice! Do you have any pics, you could post them here!

Let's see what kind of results I will get from the revised coil (not coming very soon.)

Firefox

Sun Oct 19 2008, 06:59AM

Registered Member #1389 Joined: Thu Mar 13 2008, 12:50AM
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 346

I will get those pictures for you... eventually, Dr. Unfortunently, the PSU has since gone south for the winter (I need to replace four burned out diodes), the cap has died, and the coil is at home, while I am at college. While I can certainly get the cap built and PSU repaired, I will have to wait until thanksgiving break to repair the coil itself. I also, believe it or not, got those results with PVC coated 26 gauge wire, 266 turns on a 1.5"*9" former if I recall correctly.

fatboyslim

Sat Oct 25 2008, 11:15AM

Registered Member #1779 Joined: Sat Oct 25 2008, 11:05AM
Location:
Posts: 32

What happens if your camera circuit has two diodes. Which one do you take off and can you include a schematic to how you wired it. And also do i just connect only one wire on the circuit as the 660volt line. Also is the 660volts from only one circuit or two. Im really eager to build this and im just a bit confused. Ive built a larger tesla coil before and have always wanted to make a small battery one which can sit on my desk. Help would be much appreciated

flannelhead

Sat Oct 25 2008, 02:37PM

Registered Member #952 Joined: Mon Aug 13 2007, 11:07AM
Location: Finland
Posts: 388

The diode you take off should be the one which has one end connected to the main transformer (the bigger one). Yes, the '660V line' is only one wire, as the voltage is generated against ground. The 660 volts is from one circuit as I drove it from 3V instead of 1.5V.

Sorry, the tutorial really is a bit confusing, as I look at it afterwards. Basically the thing you want to do is just to find the high voltage AC output from the transformer. This can be found by locating the diode which has its other end connected to the transformer. The point where it connects to the transformer is your HV out, just remember to remove the diode! Then build a Cockroft Walton multiplier as shown here and connect your HV out and the ground to it. Remember to put a limiting resistor to the CW output. The rest is just like building any DC Tesla Coil.

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