Metallic Paint in Beer Bottles for Caps?
Chris Maness, Fri Jul 10 2015, 06:54PMI have wondered if anyone has tried using aluminum colored paint in bottles instead of salt water. My understanding is that metallic paint is conducive, and imagine that it is possibly better than salt water. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Chris
Re: Metallic Paint in Beer Bottles for Caps?
Ash Small, Fri Jul 10 2015, 09:18PM
Metallic paint generally has a high resistance.
When I make saltwater caps I use thick, seven stranded wire, and open it out and twist it so that I get a total of several feet of wire in the bottles (I usually use 2 litre cola bottles). This reduces the resistance considerably, as the most the charge has to travel through the brine is generally around half an inch.
There is as much variation between homebrew saltwater caps as between the manufacturer's capacitors. A good, low resistance electrode is essential for HF stuff.
Ash Small, Fri Jul 10 2015, 09:18PM
Metallic paint generally has a high resistance.
When I make saltwater caps I use thick, seven stranded wire, and open it out and twist it so that I get a total of several feet of wire in the bottles (I usually use 2 litre cola bottles). This reduces the resistance considerably, as the most the charge has to travel through the brine is generally around half an inch.
There is as much variation between homebrew saltwater caps as between the manufacturer's capacitors. A good, low resistance electrode is essential for HF stuff.
Re: Metallic Paint in Beer Bottles for Caps?
Chris Maness, Fri Jul 10 2015, 10:31PM
Thanks, Ash. I have also thought of Silver plating the inside of bottles, but I am away from my lab now. It might be worth a try.
Thanks,
Chris
Chris Maness, Fri Jul 10 2015, 10:31PM
Thanks, Ash. I have also thought of Silver plating the inside of bottles, but I am away from my lab now. It might be worth a try.
Thanks,
Chris
Re: Metallic Paint in Beer Bottles for Caps?
Ash Small, Sat Jul 11 2015, 01:35AM
I imagine silver plating could work quite well, but you still need to be able to get a good connection between the plate and terminal.
You can plate onto conductive paint, but, again, you still need good connections with minimum resistance.
While I've had a lot of success with 'hand rolled' capacitors, etc. over the years, I've not subjected many to the power levels experienced in large Tesla coils. The main factor with any HF application is ESR. There aren't many commercially available capacitors that can withstand the abuse associated with most TC's on the forum, which emphasises how important consideration of ESR in 'home brewed' caps is.
Ash Small, Sat Jul 11 2015, 01:35AM
I imagine silver plating could work quite well, but you still need to be able to get a good connection between the plate and terminal.
You can plate onto conductive paint, but, again, you still need good connections with minimum resistance.
While I've had a lot of success with 'hand rolled' capacitors, etc. over the years, I've not subjected many to the power levels experienced in large Tesla coils. The main factor with any HF application is ESR. There aren't many commercially available capacitors that can withstand the abuse associated with most TC's on the forum, which emphasises how important consideration of ESR in 'home brewed' caps is.
Re: Metallic Paint in Beer Bottles for Caps?
Chris Maness, Sat Jul 11 2015, 07:09AM
I was thinking Ag plate the inside of the bottle -- fairly easy to do. Then coil a wire on the bottom of the bottle, and weigh down with Pb shot.
Chris
Chris Maness, Sat Jul 11 2015, 07:09AM
I was thinking Ag plate the inside of the bottle -- fairly easy to do. Then coil a wire on the bottom of the bottle, and weigh down with Pb shot.
Chris
Re: Metallic Paint in Beer Bottles for Caps?
Antonio, Sat Jul 11 2015, 12:11PM
The plating has to be thick because of the heavy currents that will flow. It is easier to just use a bottle with a wide enough mouth and fix thick aluminum foil in side, connected to the central terminal through a springy wire coiled inside for good contact.
Antonio, Sat Jul 11 2015, 12:11PM
The plating has to be thick because of the heavy currents that will flow. It is easier to just use a bottle with a wide enough mouth and fix thick aluminum foil in side, connected to the central terminal through a springy wire coiled inside for good contact.
Re: Metallic Paint in Beer Bottles for Caps?
doctor electrons, Sat Jul 11 2015, 12:55PM
Why not use an aluminum beer bottle and something like "dip it" to insulate where needed!
In my opinion, its easier to use a conductive bottle and insulate than use an insulating bottle and
add conductive material. You can also use rubber stoppers to hold your electrode, any science store
or home brew store should have both the bottles and stoppers ;)
doctor electrons, Sat Jul 11 2015, 12:55PM
Why not use an aluminum beer bottle and something like "dip it" to insulate where needed!
In my opinion, its easier to use a conductive bottle and insulate than use an insulating bottle and
add conductive material. You can also use rubber stoppers to hold your electrode, any science store
or home brew store should have both the bottles and stoppers ;)
Re: Metallic Paint in Beer Bottles for Caps?
Chris Maness, Sat Jul 11 2015, 02:26PM
I just had another idea. Use glass beer bottles, place a piece of aluminum foil in the opening, and use glue on the outside of the foil and inflate a balloon in the center forcing the foil to stick to the inside of the bottle.
Chris
Chris Maness, Sat Jul 11 2015, 02:26PM
I just had another idea. Use glass beer bottles, place a piece of aluminum foil in the opening, and use glue on the outside of the foil and inflate a balloon in the center forcing the foil to stick to the inside of the bottle.
Chris
Re: Metallic Paint in Beer Bottles for Caps?
Part Scavenger, Sun Jul 12 2015, 01:44PM
Arg. See next post.
Part Scavenger, Sun Jul 12 2015, 01:44PM
Arg. See next post.
Re: Metallic Paint in Beer Bottles for Caps?
Part Scavenger, Sun Jul 12 2015, 01:49PM
If you're going to go to all that trouble, you'll probably get more performance out of something like this. I've used these to 45kV but they're reliable to 30kV. They will hold to about 50kV if you put them under oil, and vacuum pump out the air.
Good luck with your Tesla!
Part Scavenger, Sun Jul 12 2015, 01:49PM
If you're going to go to all that trouble, you'll probably get more performance out of something like this. I've used these to 45kV but they're reliable to 30kV. They will hold to about 50kV if you put them under oil, and vacuum pump out the air.
Good luck with your Tesla!
Print this page