Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sat Sept 29 2007, 03:51PMI have let out hints that I was working on a Tesla coil to simulate the Red Alert Tesla coil. Red Alert was a real time strategy game that was very popular since its release in 1996. It is also many people's only contact with the concept of a Tesla coil. The TC was a major Soviet base defence unit, able to fire long sparks at intruders. It was augmented by Telsa troopers for extra power.
The TC as depicted in RA had multiple toroids and a sphere on top and had coloured supports and could shoot spark over long distances. The sparks were usually white with some yellow ones.
I can make the multiple toroids and have shown how to get the coloured sparks. The other structures and Tesla trooper can be modelled.
The long sparks I am now in a position to show with the first shot below. This was the first major hurdle.
Note that like all my pics, this is a single exposure with no photoshopping.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Sulaiman, Sat Sept 29 2007, 05:11PM
Now that's truly amazing....
You've done it again Peter,
this one's sure to get about a billion hits!
Great stuff.
How's it done?
Sulaiman, Sat Sept 29 2007, 05:11PM
Now that's truly amazing....
You've done it again Peter,
this one's sure to get about a billion hits!
Great stuff.
How's it done?
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Dr. H., Sat Sept 29 2007, 06:17PM
How long is that spark ????
Dr. H., Sat Sept 29 2007, 06:17PM
How long is that spark ????Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Capper, Sat Sept 29 2007, 06:20PM
>>Note that like all my pics, this is a single exposure with no photoshopping
I'd call it a fraud - the bottom of some of the sparks are flat and cut-off. You overlaid multiple images.
C@P
Capper, Sat Sept 29 2007, 06:20PM
>>Note that like all my pics, this is a single exposure with no photoshopping
I'd call it a fraud - the bottom of some of the sparks are flat and cut-off. You overlaid multiple images.
C@P
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Bauerb2, Sat Sept 29 2007, 07:29PM
i dont believe the pic though.. it looks as if the metal garage is closer than the hoop. and as capper said, they look cut off at a few spots.
mentiroso.... hehe
Bauerb2, Sat Sept 29 2007, 07:29PM
i dont believe the pic though.. it looks as if the metal garage is closer than the hoop. and as capper said, they look cut off at a few spots.
mentiroso.... hehe
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Marko, Sat Sept 29 2007, 07:34PM
It looks like he dragged two conductive wires/breakout points separated by a non-conductor in the line between the coil and hoop. The same thing used for his ball as it appears.
Marko, Sat Sept 29 2007, 07:34PM
It looks like he dragged two conductive wires/breakout points separated by a non-conductor in the line between the coil and hoop. The same thing used for his ball as it appears.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sat Sept 29 2007, 07:39PM
Span is about 19 feet. The spark is 3 feet not 19 feet and it gets pulled along during the exposure.
I repeat that all my photos are single exposures with only minor adjustments such as brightness and cropping.
Pic 1 is a shorter (18ft) span with a 20 second exposure.
Pic 2 is an outtake. Out of focus and the wire fell off the hoop. Burnt some grass which the kids thought was cool and what we really should be photographing.
Pic 3 shows the spool closeup with the connection to the short length of nylon line.
Pic 4 shows the spool and you can just see the line up to the hoop. From there it joins to a nylon line again which I pull on.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sat Sept 29 2007, 07:39PM
Capper wrote ...
>>Note that like all my pics, this is a single exposure with no photoshopping
I'd call it a fraud - the bottom of some of the sparks are flat and cut-off. You overlaid multiple images.
C@P
People regularly call my stuff photoshopped. It still hurts a bit though. Usually they don't bother to read the simple explanations on my site. Although this is not on my site yet I have explained how I was going to do it here or here in Mystery photos. The thing is that this must be easier than photoshopping. Particularly when I have many photos and out-takes.>>Note that like all my pics, this is a single exposure with no photoshopping
I'd call it a fraud - the bottom of some of the sparks are flat and cut-off. You overlaid multiple images.
C@P
Span is about 19 feet. The spark is 3 feet not 19 feet and it gets pulled along during the exposure.
I repeat that all my photos are single exposures with only minor adjustments such as brightness and cropping.
Pic 1 is a shorter (18ft) span with a 20 second exposure.
Pic 2 is an outtake. Out of focus and the wire fell off the hoop. Burnt some grass which the kids thought was cool and what we really should be photographing.
Pic 3 shows the spool closeup with the connection to the short length of nylon line.
Pic 4 shows the spool and you can just see the line up to the hoop. From there it joins to a nylon line again which I pull on.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Steve Conner, Sat Sept 29 2007, 07:41PM
Well Capper, technically it is fake, it just wasn't faked digitally. I agree that it must use the wire method.
It still looks awesome though, proper job TDU
Steve Conner, Sat Sept 29 2007, 07:41PM
Well Capper, technically it is fake, it just wasn't faked digitally. I agree that it must use the wire method.
It still looks awesome though, proper job TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Shaun, Sun Sept 30 2007, 04:04AM
It obviously is not hitting the shed even though that's closer to it because it is targeting the hoop. I mean, come on, the Red Alert TC didn't just hit random ground objects, it only struck non-Soviet grounded objects (and people).
I guarantee you on some random geekblogosphere site's comments: "wow how do u get that thing 2 target stuff?!"
And then the essential Youtube comment that we've all gotten on TC-related videos: "OMG how u do that?
Shaun, Sun Sept 30 2007, 04:04AM
It obviously is not hitting the shed even though that's closer to it because it is targeting the hoop. I mean, come on, the Red Alert TC didn't just hit random ground objects, it only struck non-Soviet grounded objects (and people).
I guarantee you on some random geekblogosphere site's comments: "wow how do u get that thing 2 target stuff?!"
And then the essential Youtube comment that we've all gotten on TC-related videos: "OMG how u do that?
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sun Sept 30 2007, 12:42PM
I haven't been very clear I guess. This is not a 19 foot spark. It is a 3 foot spark which is pulled out on a wire over 15 seconds over that distance towards the basketball hoop. The cameras long exposure over 20 seconds makes this look (sort of) like a very long spark. That is entirely the effect I want to give to simulate the Red Alert TC which was able to target things with "microwave beam ionisation guidance".
Now that I can do that I will proceed to the other modelling aspects and the next problem which is trying to tune a sphere and 3 toroids plus a 25 foot wire. I am using 13 of 17 turns to tune a small toroid with say a 6 foot wire. I may have to make temporary primary turns as I would prefer this to making another cap bank to add on.
Here is the topload as per Red Alert. The upper part is my 4 inch secondary which died recently with internal flames and smoke. Looks perfect on the outside though. It happened that it was a simple fit to the top of my big TC and also to the sphere and allowed room for a spool. Nearly 12 foot high without adding to the base so has to be disassembled before going back into the carport.
The photo below is just a bit of fun using multiple gaps in the wire. A Tesla "plasma cannon" if you wish.
A 10 second exposure with no wire movement.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sun Sept 30 2007, 12:42PM
I haven't been very clear I guess. This is not a 19 foot spark. It is a 3 foot spark which is pulled out on a wire over 15 seconds over that distance towards the basketball hoop. The cameras long exposure over 20 seconds makes this look (sort of) like a very long spark. That is entirely the effect I want to give to simulate the Red Alert TC which was able to target things with "microwave beam ionisation guidance".
Now that I can do that I will proceed to the other modelling aspects and the next problem which is trying to tune a sphere and 3 toroids plus a 25 foot wire. I am using 13 of 17 turns to tune a small toroid with say a 6 foot wire. I may have to make temporary primary turns as I would prefer this to making another cap bank to add on.
Here is the topload as per Red Alert. The upper part is my 4 inch secondary which died recently with internal flames and smoke. Looks perfect on the outside though. It happened that it was a simple fit to the top of my big TC and also to the sphere and allowed room for a spool. Nearly 12 foot high without adding to the base so has to be disassembled before going back into the carport.
The photo below is just a bit of fun using multiple gaps in the wire. A Tesla "plasma cannon" if you wish.
A 10 second exposure with no wire movement.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Reaching, Sun Sept 30 2007, 01:43PM
i dont understand, why do you want to "simulate" a stategy games fiction on teslacoils. those threads are tend to drop the seriousness of this forum and his members. what do you guess a guy would think if he just searches the forum for pics without reading the text?? I mean, this thread has the potential to make a joke out of serious´s pictures in the eye of an amateur. well, its just a fake, but do you mean a guy would know this? NO!
Seriously, this thread belongs to chatting or somewhere else, not to teslacoils
Reaching, Sun Sept 30 2007, 01:43PM
i dont understand, why do you want to "simulate" a stategy games fiction on teslacoils. those threads are tend to drop the seriousness of this forum and his members. what do you guess a guy would think if he just searches the forum for pics without reading the text?? I mean, this thread has the potential to make a joke out of serious´s pictures in the eye of an amateur. well, its just a fake, but do you mean a guy would know this? NO!
Seriously, this thread belongs to chatting or somewhere else, not to teslacoils
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Sun Sept 30 2007, 04:32PM
I'll have to admit that I rather enjoy the trick photography.
When I moved into my apartment this year, my flatmate's only exposure to Tesla coils was RA1, the popular computer game. He got pretty excited when he saw my 13.56MHz coils and my CW stuff, and even more fired up when I used an interrupter. Quite often he gives me suggestions involving high voltage for photographic effect, but because I don't have the inclination or my own camera, I don't do it.
Peter is (to my knowledge) the only person who has put in the effort (and 90% of that effort probably isn't apparent in the pictures) to 'mock up' a decent real-world imitation of the conceptual RA1 Tesla coil. I think it's a neat private joke, and we can all have a giggle at nobody's expense.
The "long exposure and draw-wire" may be obvious at first sight to us, but the coil and the sparks really do look great. Keep it up, Peter
ragnar, Sun Sept 30 2007, 04:32PM
I'll have to admit that I rather enjoy the trick photography.
When I moved into my apartment this year, my flatmate's only exposure to Tesla coils was RA1, the popular computer game. He got pretty excited when he saw my 13.56MHz coils and my CW stuff, and even more fired up when I used an interrupter. Quite often he gives me suggestions involving high voltage for photographic effect, but because I don't have the inclination or my own camera, I don't do it.
Peter is (to my knowledge) the only person who has put in the effort (and 90% of that effort probably isn't apparent in the pictures) to 'mock up' a decent real-world imitation of the conceptual RA1 Tesla coil. I think it's a neat private joke, and we can all have a giggle at nobody's expense.
The "long exposure and draw-wire" may be obvious at first sight to us, but the coil and the sparks really do look great. Keep it up, Peter
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sun Sept 30 2007, 04:55PM
Perhaps you would criticize Tesla himself for using a double exposure in his famous spark photo. Or perhaps you would keep your own exposures to 1/30th second rather than your unrealistic spark photos like in your avatar which are clearly long exposures.
If you don't understand people's interest in Red Alert, and you can't understnd why I might have an interest in this then you will have no interest in this thread and you can exercise your right not to visit it.
Are you saying my "fake" photos make a joke out of serious Tesla photos? So name me a more serious Tesla photographer than I am. My TC photos are probably taken with a similar exposure time to yours, yet mine are "fake". That is a pretty solid insult.
You are concerned about people just searching 4HV for pictures. People looking for Tesla coils Google directly for the 13000 pictures (of which my "fake" Tesla coil on a car accounts for about 1% of these). That won't take them here to 4hV which Google picks up 300 images only.
If you feel I should be sent to Chatting or worse, then discuss this with the mods or set up a poll to find out if others feel as you do. If you don't feel strongly about this then it is getting a bit close to flaming for my liking.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sun Sept 30 2007, 04:55PM
Reaching wrote ...
i dont understand, why do you want to "simulate" a stategy games fiction on teslacoils. those threads are tend to drop the seriousness of this forum and his members. what do you guess a guy would think if he just searches the forum for pics without reading the text?? I mean, this thread has the potential to make a joke out of serious´s pictures in the eye of an amateur. well, its just a fake, but do you mean a guy would know this? NO!
Seriously, this thread belongs to chatting or somewhere else, not to teslacoils
Hmmm.. Harsh criticism of new Tesla techniques not previously seen on the net. i dont understand, why do you want to "simulate" a stategy games fiction on teslacoils. those threads are tend to drop the seriousness of this forum and his members. what do you guess a guy would think if he just searches the forum for pics without reading the text?? I mean, this thread has the potential to make a joke out of serious´s pictures in the eye of an amateur. well, its just a fake, but do you mean a guy would know this? NO!
Seriously, this thread belongs to chatting or somewhere else, not to teslacoils
Perhaps you would criticize Tesla himself for using a double exposure in his famous spark photo. Or perhaps you would keep your own exposures to 1/30th second rather than your unrealistic spark photos like in your avatar which are clearly long exposures.
If you don't understand people's interest in Red Alert, and you can't understnd why I might have an interest in this then you will have no interest in this thread and you can exercise your right not to visit it.
Are you saying my "fake" photos make a joke out of serious Tesla photos? So name me a more serious Tesla photographer than I am. My TC photos are probably taken with a similar exposure time to yours, yet mine are "fake". That is a pretty solid insult.
You are concerned about people just searching 4HV for pictures. People looking for Tesla coils Google directly for the 13000 pictures (of which my "fake" Tesla coil on a car accounts for about 1% of these). That won't take them here to 4hV which Google picks up 300 images only.
If you feel I should be sent to Chatting or worse, then discuss this with the mods or set up a poll to find out if others feel as you do. If you don't feel strongly about this then it is getting a bit close to flaming for my liking.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Reaching, Sun Sept 30 2007, 05:32PM
maybe a bit harsh
but, there are so many fools out there looking at your pics and saying "wow a big military defence people grilling mashine or so" . i see it everywhere and all day on my own forum which has over 240 german members interestet in teslacoils. i always wanted to show the "nature" of teslacoils. your pics are great and i like them, but i worry that many people out there are not concerned about "what they are"... they look at the pics found on google or somewhere else and look like this O_o ... long exposures etc,, everyone here photographes their teslacoils with a long exposure. you have great ideas, but why do you explain how youve done it so lately in this thread? are you like the comments of people thinking about how you´ve done it? and if thats not enough you compare a teslacoil with a men killing mashine in one of thousand silly computergames digging out the old imbecility, teslacoils can kill people over a long distance etc.
you´re right. this thread is nothing for me, and i doubt that there are other members who are thinking like me about this.
fact is, we, as a community have the task to show people what teslacoils really are.
you, on the other side, show people with your pics what a teslacoil really isnt
Reaching, Sun Sept 30 2007, 05:32PM
maybe a bit harsh
but, there are so many fools out there looking at your pics and saying "wow a big military defence people grilling mashine or so" . i see it everywhere and all day on my own forum which has over 240 german members interestet in teslacoils. i always wanted to show the "nature" of teslacoils. your pics are great and i like them, but i worry that many people out there are not concerned about "what they are"... they look at the pics found on google or somewhere else and look like this O_o ... long exposures etc,, everyone here photographes their teslacoils with a long exposure. you have great ideas, but why do you explain how youve done it so lately in this thread? are you like the comments of people thinking about how you´ve done it? and if thats not enough you compare a teslacoil with a men killing mashine in one of thousand silly computergames digging out the old imbecility, teslacoils can kill people over a long distance etc.
you´re right. this thread is nothing for me, and i doubt that there are other members who are thinking like me about this.
fact is, we, as a community have the task to show people what teslacoils really are.
you, on the other side, show people with your pics what a teslacoil really isnt
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Kizmo, Sun Sept 30 2007, 07:15PM
http://4hv.org/e107_files/public/1191080970_10_FT0_teslara18fttrial1000.jpg
On the top end of your secondary, that bright spot, is that inter turn arcing or is that just reflection? I just broke my secondary with that kind of failure :)
Kizmo, Sun Sept 30 2007, 07:15PM
http://4hv.org/e107_files/public/1191080970_10_FT0_teslara18fttrial1000.jpg
On the top end of your secondary, that bright spot, is that inter turn arcing or is that just reflection? I just broke my secondary with that kind of failure :)
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sun Sept 30 2007, 07:27PM
Reaching, your attitude has been shared by others For example Steve Connor was unhappy about me giving a name to an effect (Eye of Sauron) until he remembered his most recent TC is named after a Norse gods hammer
Some people on this forum should realise there are possibilities after you use the science to get the sparks that you want. Many seem to stop there which is fine. Some, however go on to actually use the coil to do other things. However, the public, which you seem to imply are idiots that have to be educated, are by and large, NOT interested in another Tesla coils sparks or the science behind them.
On the other hand they ARE interested in the Art of Tesla coils. Witness the spectacular success of Steve Ward's musical Tesla coil. The public understand music and this was a new approach to it. Sure it is not new stuff ( I bought a plasmasonic board from EVR years ago) but it was in the right place at the right time.
Similarly, my Tesla coil on a car was recognisable as a thief deterrant that people can relate to. Neither relies on a knowledge of the science.
Similarly again, the worlds number one real time strategy game had a Tesla coil that was understandable. It zapped you if you got too close. A good message, I think.
However people who are interested will come to the site or to blogs and some will end up with a better knowledge of the science.
So I have chosen to go down that path. I am purely interested in getting the best single exposure picture that is instantly recognisable as a Red Alert Tesla coil. It will still be a photo and not a computer graphic. It will be just as valid as your photos that don't represent what you would see in a video. Once I have the final product, I will put it out to the public. I anticipate it will be popular and hopefully again have enough website hits to slow 4HV down again.
I put my construction and progress on 4HV as there are some people who will find the techniques and construction interesting. This is after all new. You have decided new and bad. I will let the public decide.
Kizmo, you are right about the short between adjacent windings. I was horrified to see it. I scratched around with a pocket knife and gave it a dob of polyurethane and have not had further problems yet. It will probably breakdown in time and I will have to remove a winding. Unfortunately, it is on the dark side of the coil and I might not notice it letting the smoke out.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sun Sept 30 2007, 07:27PM
Reaching, your attitude has been shared by others For example Steve Connor was unhappy about me giving a name to an effect (Eye of Sauron) until he remembered his most recent TC is named after a Norse gods hammer
Some people on this forum should realise there are possibilities after you use the science to get the sparks that you want. Many seem to stop there which is fine. Some, however go on to actually use the coil to do other things. However, the public, which you seem to imply are idiots that have to be educated, are by and large, NOT interested in another Tesla coils sparks or the science behind them.
On the other hand they ARE interested in the Art of Tesla coils. Witness the spectacular success of Steve Ward's musical Tesla coil. The public understand music and this was a new approach to it. Sure it is not new stuff ( I bought a plasmasonic board from EVR years ago) but it was in the right place at the right time.
Similarly, my Tesla coil on a car was recognisable as a thief deterrant that people can relate to. Neither relies on a knowledge of the science.
Similarly again, the worlds number one real time strategy game had a Tesla coil that was understandable. It zapped you if you got too close. A good message, I think.
However people who are interested will come to the site or to blogs and some will end up with a better knowledge of the science.
So I have chosen to go down that path. I am purely interested in getting the best single exposure picture that is instantly recognisable as a Red Alert Tesla coil. It will still be a photo and not a computer graphic. It will be just as valid as your photos that don't represent what you would see in a video. Once I have the final product, I will put it out to the public. I anticipate it will be popular and hopefully again have enough website hits to slow 4HV down again.
I put my construction and progress on 4HV as there are some people who will find the techniques and construction interesting. This is after all new. You have decided new and bad. I will let the public decide.
Kizmo, you are right about the short between adjacent windings. I was horrified to see it. I scratched around with a pocket knife and gave it a dob of polyurethane and have not had further problems yet. It will probably breakdown in time and I will have to remove a winding. Unfortunately, it is on the dark side of the coil and I might not notice it letting the smoke out.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Kizmo, Sun Sept 30 2007, 07:48PM
--offtopic--
I have no idea if it works but i think i have nothing to loose.
--offtopic--
But anyway, nice pictures!
Kizmo, Sun Sept 30 2007, 07:48PM
--offtopic--
Tesladownunder wrote ...
Kizmo, you are right about the short between adjacent windings. I was horrified to see it. I scratched around with a pocket knife and gave it a dob of polyurethane and have not had further problems yet. It will probably breakdown in time and I will have to remove a winding. Unfortunately, it is on the dark side of the coil and I might not notice it letting the smoke out.
TDU
I had exactly same kind of thing with my 8" coil. I was behind camera and failure was at opposite side. My brother noticed it first and he cut the power but it was too late. I got now few carbon tracks and deep burns around my secondary. I'm going to try fix that, i just unwound damaged part away and i will grind all carbon and burn marks away, fill those holes with epoxy and coat that with few layers of polyurethane. Then i just re-wind it with new wire and put few layers of polyurethane over it :) Kizmo, you are right about the short between adjacent windings. I was horrified to see it. I scratched around with a pocket knife and gave it a dob of polyurethane and have not had further problems yet. It will probably breakdown in time and I will have to remove a winding. Unfortunately, it is on the dark side of the coil and I might not notice it letting the smoke out.
TDU
I have no idea if it works but i think i have nothing to loose.
--offtopic--
But anyway, nice pictures!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Reaching, Sun Sept 30 2007, 10:27PM
TDU. If youre up for more hits on your pics, do it... share your stuff with other people. yeah, those people who tell their parents and friends that they´ve seen a teslacoil which produces balls of lightning and 19 foot long streamers like in red alert that can kill people etc. dont you think theres enough confusing commercial stuff out there?
be proud of living in australia. would ive done something like this here in germany, a swat team already had inprisoned me.
it would have been in all news that a mad scientist build a people killing teslacoil like in red alert. the politicians would have released a law against those videogames. be proud of living on that continent with the smallest population per km²...
a guy on my forum who uploaded a video of his coilgun had been arrestet a few days later. they took his coilgun and other stuff just for the video on youtube!!!
Be careful with this pics and be careful about yourself, especially about your good name here in this community.
Reaching, Sun Sept 30 2007, 10:27PM
TDU. If youre up for more hits on your pics, do it... share your stuff with other people. yeah, those people who tell their parents and friends that they´ve seen a teslacoil which produces balls of lightning and 19 foot long streamers like in red alert that can kill people etc. dont you think theres enough confusing commercial stuff out there?
be proud of living in australia. would ive done something like this here in germany, a swat team already had inprisoned me.
it would have been in all news that a mad scientist build a people killing teslacoil like in red alert. the politicians would have released a law against those videogames. be proud of living on that continent with the smallest population per km²...
a guy on my forum who uploaded a video of his coilgun had been arrestet a few days later. they took his coilgun and other stuff just for the video on youtube!!!
Be careful with this pics and be careful about yourself, especially about your good name here in this community.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Capper, Sun Sept 30 2007, 10:49PM
Well, I'm sorry if I upset you with my comment. I looked at the photo and I could tell it wasn't a 19 foot spark. Sparks don't just end at places (and 90 degree angles) with nice hot thick white spots - I know, because I've only been able to make 12 footers myself, and that was at 25kW of input power. I've also spent quite a bit of time taking pictures of sparks, and I know what they look like.
If you want to make a 19 foot spark, tape a few dozen CDs to some thick fishing line and string it between the hoop and the coil. It looks cool, but makes a mess of the driveway (and coats the secondary with tiny pieces of aluminum).
Someone did it once with a sheet of mylar coated with some sort of magnetic material at one of the Cheesehead 'thons way back also.
C@P
Capper, Sun Sept 30 2007, 10:49PM
Well, I'm sorry if I upset you with my comment. I looked at the photo and I could tell it wasn't a 19 foot spark. Sparks don't just end at places (and 90 degree angles) with nice hot thick white spots - I know, because I've only been able to make 12 footers myself, and that was at 25kW of input power. I've also spent quite a bit of time taking pictures of sparks, and I know what they look like.
If you want to make a 19 foot spark, tape a few dozen CDs to some thick fishing line and string it between the hoop and the coil. It looks cool, but makes a mess of the driveway (and coats the secondary with tiny pieces of aluminum).
Someone did it once with a sheet of mylar coated with some sort of magnetic material at one of the Cheesehead 'thons way back also.
C@P
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Mon Oct 01 2007, 01:16AM
I'd prefer the appropriate comments on this thread to be moved into an appropriate thread in the moderating forum.
I don't believe we are any "safer" in Australia than in the US or Germany from overzealous public servants and law enforcers. Comparing a long-exposure photo of a Tesla coil to a video of a coil gun is a bit of a long shot.
I'd suspect that fabricating a device that launches a projectile faster than a certain velocity (or otherwise defined) may be plainly ILLEGAL in Germany. It should come as no surprise that the police exercised their power to confiscate it.
A coil gun is a GUN, intended to launch a projectile as fast as possible. A Tesla coil is often-used in theatrical special effects. Compare the tangible killing power.
ragnar, Mon Oct 01 2007, 01:16AM
I'd prefer the appropriate comments on this thread to be moved into an appropriate thread in the moderating forum.
wrote ...
...we, as a community have the task to show people what teslacoils really are...
No, we don't have a "task" to educate anyone. We are not accountable to the whims of "the people". We as one "community" do not owe or submit to the ignorance of another "community"....we, as a community have the task to show people what teslacoils really are...
wrote ...
...you, on the other side, show people with your pics what a teslacoil really isnt...
Peter kindly offers to show his neat photographic techniques in a closed-membership forum. Aren't we lucky?...you, on the other side, show people with your pics what a teslacoil really isnt...
I don't believe we are any "safer" in Australia than in the US or Germany from overzealous public servants and law enforcers. Comparing a long-exposure photo of a Tesla coil to a video of a coil gun is a bit of a long shot.
I'd suspect that fabricating a device that launches a projectile faster than a certain velocity (or otherwise defined) may be plainly ILLEGAL in Germany. It should come as no surprise that the police exercised their power to confiscate it.
A coil gun is a GUN, intended to launch a projectile as fast as possible. A Tesla coil is often-used in theatrical special effects. Compare the tangible killing power.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Coronafix, Mon Oct 01 2007, 02:57AM
Good work TDU, look forward to the end result!
Coronafix, Mon Oct 01 2007, 02:57AM
Good work TDU, look forward to the end result!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Steve Ward, Mon Oct 01 2007, 03:51AM
Hey, i think what Peter is doing is pretty fun. I see no harm in it at all, so i dont know why Reaching is so uptight about it. While the idea to replicate the graphics of a video game might seem silly and trivial, i think Peter has been rather clever with all of his "analog" tricks to replicate what was dreamt up by some game programmer. In fact, rarely do coilers manage to take really nice pictures of their machines performing... i think he is taking that to a new level, which in my opinion is very cool.
Steve Ward, Mon Oct 01 2007, 03:51AM
Hey, i think what Peter is doing is pretty fun
. I see no harm in it at all, so i dont know why Reaching is so uptight about it. While the idea to replicate the graphics of a video game might seem silly and trivial, i think Peter has been rather clever with all of his "analog" tricks to replicate what was dreamt up by some game programmer. In fact, rarely do coilers manage to take really nice pictures of their machines performing... i think he is taking that to a new level, which in my opinion is very cool.Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Cain, Mon Oct 01 2007, 04:13AM
if we have a look at this topic from a "non -coilers" point of view then the photo has just as much relevance as the coils we make...
they serve no real useful purpose.. they are art... fun to play and experiment with, and challenge yourself to get longer sparks...
yes the is a serious side.. the are VERY DANGEROUS but we all know that, and anyone who wants to build one will see the many many warnings about them..
but we all want to show our coils off.. I'm sure there isn't many coilers that make em and don't show there friends..
i think peter has just looked outside the box in ways to show his coil off
Cain, Mon Oct 01 2007, 04:13AM
if we have a look at this topic from a "non -coilers" point of view then the photo has just as much relevance as the coils we make...
they serve no real useful purpose.. they are art... fun to play and experiment with, and challenge yourself to get longer sparks...
yes the is a serious side.. the are VERY DANGEROUS but we all know that, and anyone who wants to build one will see the many many warnings about them..
but we all want to show our coils off.. I'm sure there isn't many coilers that make em and don't show there friends..
i think peter has just looked outside the box in ways to show his coil off
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 04:14AM
Thanks for the encouragement everyone.
Can't talk now, busy making Tesla supports in Soviet Red and getting my Tesla Trooper made before my base is rushed
TDU
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 04:14AM
Thanks for the encouragement everyone.
Can't talk now, busy making Tesla supports in Soviet Red and getting my Tesla Trooper made before my base is rushed
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Bjørn, Mon Oct 01 2007, 04:30AM
I can't decide if this is harmless fun or if it is designed purely to generate the maksimum number of page views with the least amount of effort.
My best guess is that it is somewhere between.
Bjørn, Mon Oct 01 2007, 04:30AM
I can't decide if this is harmless fun or if it is designed purely to generate the maksimum number of page views with the least amount of effort.
My best guess is that it is somewhere between.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Sulaiman, Mon Oct 01 2007, 05:26AM
I have yet to see ONE practical use of a Tesla Coil by members of this forum - Please correct me if I'm wrong!
Coiling is primarily a hobby/amusement, some make a few bucks, all learn something.
If you can't have fun/entertainment with a hobby then what's it for?
Keep on coilin' Peter .... Good on ya mate!
The worst outcome is a slight addition to general misinformation amongst non-coilers
there's so much genuine misinformation out there in the 'new age' group that TDU's actions are negligible,
maybe many more coilers will arise to continue the hobby?
At the very least ,TDU has livened up this forum !
Sulaiman, Mon Oct 01 2007, 05:26AM
I have yet to see ONE practical use of a Tesla Coil by members of this forum - Please correct me if I'm wrong!
Coiling is primarily a hobby/amusement, some make a few bucks, all learn something.
If you can't have fun/entertainment with a hobby then what's it for?
Keep on coilin' Peter .... Good on ya mate!
The worst outcome is a slight addition to general misinformation amongst non-coilers
there's so much genuine misinformation out there in the 'new age' group that TDU's actions are negligible,
maybe many more coilers will arise to continue the hobby?
At the very least ,TDU has livened up this forum !
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 07:22AM
Also harmless fun and maximum publicity is probably better than dangerous and unpleasant and no-one knowing about it.
Mind you the effort does not seem like the least amount yet but a few things are starting to take shape.
Supports are visible and the Tesla trooper has a vague outline.
"Rubber shoes in motion.."
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 07:22AM
Bjørn Bæverfjord wrote ...
I can't decide if this is harmless fun OR if it is designed purely to generate the maksimum number of page views with the least amount of effort.
The other Boolean Operator is AND.I can't decide if this is harmless fun OR if it is designed purely to generate the maksimum number of page views with the least amount of effort.
Also harmless fun and maximum publicity is probably better than dangerous and unpleasant and no-one knowing about it.
Mind you the effort does not seem like the least amount yet but a few things are starting to take shape.
Supports are visible and the Tesla trooper has a vague outline.
"Rubber shoes in motion.."
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Bjørn, Mon Oct 01 2007, 07:25AM
You are right in that tesla coils have little or no practical use in this form but the criticism is not on of practicality but something else. It is not about having fun either.
Let us look at cars as an example:
1. You can have fun by optimizing performance and efficiency to get you around the track as fast as possible.
2. You can have fun by degrading performance and efficiency by adding ineffective spoilers and neon lights and using trick photography to give the impression that performance has increased.
Both lack practicality, both are fun, yet there is a very significant difference. So it is clear that practicality and entertainment value are not the only factors.
My concern is that it all seems like a Google trap. Red alert is probably the most common part of popular culture that referst to tesla coils and the first paragraph seems to be written just for Google to find so lots of Red alert players will end up here. It might be coincidence but looking back it seems that the number of page hits seems to be a significant factor in these projects.
A part of this site has always been to show off projects but it has generally been projects does not depend on popularity for their existence. Now we are getting into the area of showing off just for the sake of showing off and that brings unpleasant associations to why this forum exists at all.
Bjørn, Mon Oct 01 2007, 07:25AM
I have yet to see ONE practical use of a Tesla Coil by members of this forum - Please correct me if I'm wrong!
You are right in that tesla coils have little or no practical use in this form but the criticism is not on of practicality but something else. It is not about having fun either.
Let us look at cars as an example:
1. You can have fun by optimizing performance and efficiency to get you around the track as fast as possible.
2. You can have fun by degrading performance and efficiency by adding ineffective spoilers and neon lights and using trick photography to give the impression that performance has increased.
Both lack practicality, both are fun, yet there is a very significant difference. So it is clear that practicality and entertainment value are not the only factors.
My concern is that it all seems like a Google trap. Red alert is probably the most common part of popular culture that referst to tesla coils and the first paragraph seems to be written just for Google to find so lots of Red alert players will end up here. It might be coincidence but looking back it seems that the number of page hits seems to be a significant factor in these projects.
A part of this site has always been to show off projects but it has generally been projects does not depend on popularity for their existence. Now we are getting into the area of showing off just for the sake of showing off and that brings unpleasant associations to why this forum exists at all.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 07:43AM
What Bjorn says is correct but the conclusion that 4HV will suffer google hits is probably less than he thinks. As evidence of the Tesla coil on the car, I am unaware that there was a big increase of hits to 4HV. Perhaps Chris knows.
What will happen is that I will have this on my site and blogs and forums will refer directly to my site.
I was going to say that Googling Red Alert and Tesla will not result in many hits to 4HV at all. I just checked and this thread was number 10 of 68,000 hits
Nevertheless once it is on my site that should take the hits, but I do not want to set that up until the pictures are optimised and that is still weeks away.
Anyway I don't think 4HV will suffer for it. Also it may be of little interest. It is hard to predict what will be popular.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 07:43AM
What Bjorn says is correct but the conclusion that 4HV will suffer google hits is probably less than he thinks. As evidence of the Tesla coil on the car, I am unaware that there was a big increase of hits to 4HV. Perhaps Chris knows.
What will happen is that I will have this on my site and blogs and forums will refer directly to my site.
I was going to say that Googling Red Alert and Tesla will not result in many hits to 4HV at all. I just checked and this thread was number 10 of 68,000 hits
Nevertheless once it is on my site that should take the hits, but I do not want to set that up until the pictures are optimised and that is still weeks away. Anyway I don't think 4HV will suffer for it. Also it may be of little interest. It is hard to predict what will be popular.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Firnagzen, Mon Oct 01 2007, 10:15AM
I'd agree with TDU. First, I'll point out that RAII is now considered an old game, and mostly out of favour, so really, how many people'd search 'red alert tesla coil'? Not too many!
Secondly. TDU does state that while not digitally faked, the image is only half the story. How is it different, really, from, say a movie? It's purpose is to entertain. P'rhaps TDU might want to add a disclaimer, but that's just an idea.
Reaching, umm... I appreciate that you're worried about persecution. But then, governments doesn't really operate on secret police style disappearances anymore.
Anyway, good work, Peter! By the way, why are you modelling a tesla trooper? If I remember correctly, they were immune to tesla coils. (I could be wrong, though. But logically, if they can have a protable one, they should be immune!)
Firnagzen, Mon Oct 01 2007, 10:15AM
I'd agree with TDU. First, I'll point out that RAII is now considered an old game, and mostly out of favour, so really, how many people'd search 'red alert tesla coil'? Not too many!
Secondly. TDU does state that while not digitally faked, the image is only half the story. How is it different, really, from, say a movie? It's purpose is to entertain. P'rhaps TDU might want to add a disclaimer, but that's just an idea.
Reaching, umm... I appreciate that you're worried about persecution. But then, governments doesn't really operate on secret police style disappearances anymore.
Anyway, good work, Peter! By the way, why are you modelling a tesla trooper? If I remember correctly, they were immune to tesla coils. (I could be wrong, though. But logically, if they can have a protable one, they should be immune!)
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Steve Conner, Mon Oct 01 2007, 10:48AM
I have to say that I agree with everyone's comments on this thread to some extent. Like all of TDU's recent Tesla demos, this looks to me like a carefully calculated PR stunt that has absolutely nothing to do with the actual science of Tesla coils. It deliberately misrepresents what Tesla coils are capable of doing in order to get more page views.
However, I don't have a problem with that. It'll make millions of noobs squeal "OMG How U Do That" and be happy, and maybe make science more interesting, and how can that be bad?
TDU, if you wanted to address Reaching's point, you might like to make it painfully clear in the first post and/or thread title that this is just a display replica of the Red Alert Tesla weapon and isn't actually a real usable weapon.
I know it sounds like stating the obvious, but we live in a world where your kid's Superman fancy dress outfit comes with a disclaimer sewn into it stating "Costume does not enable wearer to fly"
Another way of addressing these points would be to replace your current fishing line setup with a Taser-type mechanism, so it actually did work as a weapon
Steve Conner, Mon Oct 01 2007, 10:48AM
I have to say that I agree with everyone's comments on this thread to some extent. Like all of TDU's recent Tesla demos, this looks to me like a carefully calculated PR stunt that has absolutely nothing to do with the actual science of Tesla coils. It deliberately misrepresents what Tesla coils are capable of doing in order to get more page views.
However, I don't have a problem with that. It'll make millions of noobs squeal "OMG How U Do That" and be happy, and maybe make science more interesting, and how can that be bad?
TDU, if you wanted to address Reaching's point, you might like to make it painfully clear in the first post and/or thread title that this is just a display replica of the Red Alert Tesla weapon and isn't actually a real usable weapon.
I know it sounds like stating the obvious, but we live in a world where your kid's Superman fancy dress outfit comes with a disclaimer sewn into it stating "Costume does not enable wearer to fly"
Another way of addressing these points would be to replace your current fishing line setup with a Taser-type mechanism, so it actually did work as a weapon
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 10:53AM
It is interesting how my photos seem to polarize some HV viewers. Personally, I like seeing new stuff that pushes the boundaries. I like the hard science but can also appreciate the aesthetics. Some feel that art degrades the science but I believe it has a definite place. There is a lot of good science out there that has missed out on just one decent photo. To try to convey in formulae, the beauty of sparks or lasers for example really seems to lack something.
To regard my stuff as devoid of science is a bit unkind. Sure I am after the page views from Joe Public but other people are interested in this stuff. Sure everyone focuses on "stupid" comments from people with limited understanding. Children have limited understanding and social skills too but we don't think they are stupid.
I receive a lot of emails from people magnitudes cleverer than me like a Nobel Laureat in Physics. Or a neurosurgeon inventor with an engineering degree. That makes up for a lot of noobs.
They didn't write to get formulae off me but they appreciate how science has been used to make the art.
TDU (carefully calculating PR stuntman - I like that)
My wife would still be playing this game if it would run on her current computer.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 10:53AM
Steve Conner wrote ...
I have to say that I agree with everyone's comments on this thread to some extent. Like all of TDU's recent Tesla demos, this looks to me like a carefully calculated PR stunt that has absolutely nothing to do with the actual science of Tesla coils. It deliberately misrepresents what Tesla coils are capable of doing in order to get more page views.
...
TDU, if you wanted to address Reaching's point, you might like to make it painfully clear in the first post and/or thread title that this is just a display replica of the Red Alert Tesla weapon and isn't actually a real usable weapon.
...
We all misrepresent Tesla coils when we do an exposure over 1/30 sec or choose the longest or most impressive arc. Just because a cosmic ray event happened just then, does not mean this is standard performance.I have to say that I agree with everyone's comments on this thread to some extent. Like all of TDU's recent Tesla demos, this looks to me like a carefully calculated PR stunt that has absolutely nothing to do with the actual science of Tesla coils. It deliberately misrepresents what Tesla coils are capable of doing in order to get more page views.
...
TDU, if you wanted to address Reaching's point, you might like to make it painfully clear in the first post and/or thread title that this is just a display replica of the Red Alert Tesla weapon and isn't actually a real usable weapon.
...
It is interesting how my photos seem to polarize some HV viewers. Personally, I like seeing new stuff that pushes the boundaries. I like the hard science but can also appreciate the aesthetics. Some feel that art degrades the science but I believe it has a definite place. There is a lot of good science out there that has missed out on just one decent photo. To try to convey in formulae, the beauty of sparks or lasers for example really seems to lack something.
To regard my stuff as devoid of science is a bit unkind. Sure I am after the page views from Joe Public but other people are interested in this stuff. Sure everyone focuses on "stupid" comments from people with limited understanding. Children have limited understanding and social skills too but we don't think they are stupid.
I receive a lot of emails from people magnitudes cleverer than me like a Nobel Laureat in Physics. Or a neurosurgeon inventor with an engineering degree. That makes up for a lot of noobs.
They didn't write to get formulae off me but they appreciate how science has been used to make the art.
TDU (carefully calculating PR stuntman - I like that)
Firnagzen wrote ...
.... By the way, why are you modelling a tesla trooper? If I remember correctly, they were immune to tesla coils.
The Tesla Trooper was a Soviet Unit that you could get to stand next to the Tesla coil to increase it's range. Put 6 Troopers next to one and you had a very powerful long range defence indeed..... By the way, why are you modelling a tesla trooper? If I remember correctly, they were immune to tesla coils.
My wife would still be playing this game if it would run on her current computer.
Steve Conner wrote ...
... Another way of addressing these points would be to replace your current fishing line setup with a Taser-type mechanism, so it actually did work as a weapon
In fact with the last photo, the nylon line melted sending the wire flying towards me. I had anticipated this might happen and knew that I was safe as the gap was too great and it was only an earth line. Nevertheless a little breathtaking to see a sparking line coming directly towards you while perched on a ladder.... Another way of addressing these points would be to replace your current fishing line setup with a Taser-type mechanism, so it actually did work as a weapon
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Zum Beispiel, Mon Oct 01 2007, 11:42AM
I really don't see the problem in this. Who cares if it's not real? It has been stated over and over that this is a trick, so if someone still thinks TDU built a "omgtesladeathray", well, damn.
So what if the purpose of this project is to attract as many views as possible? What is the point of actually making anything like this if you can't share it with others?
In the movie "Eraser" Arnold Schwarzenegger had a railgun that shot alumium projectiles at the speed of light. Was it scientific? No. Was it entertaining? Yes.
TDU, your work never seizes to amaze me. I really respect that whole "no photoshopping" thing too.
Keep up the good work!
Zum Beispiel, Mon Oct 01 2007, 11:42AM
I really don't see the problem in this. Who cares if it's not real? It has been stated over and over that this is a trick, so if someone still thinks TDU built a "omgtesladeathray", well, damn.
So what if the purpose of this project is to attract as many views as possible? What is the point of actually making anything like this if you can't share it with others?
In the movie "Eraser" Arnold Schwarzenegger had a railgun that shot alumium projectiles at the speed of light. Was it scientific? No. Was it entertaining? Yes.
TDU, your work never seizes to amaze me. I really respect that whole "no photoshopping" thing too.
Keep up the good work!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
philstesla, Mon Oct 01 2007, 12:22PM
As a newbie to this forum, I think it's very refreshing to see someone using a great deal of ingenuity to show how popular hoax images are generated, and then explain the methodology behind them.
I really liked the supposed B*ll lightning thread for the same reason. A captivating image, followed by rational, scientific explanation.
I don't know whether exploding scientific myths and hoaxes is part of the remit of this forum, but it certainly seems to be a worth goal.
philstesla, Mon Oct 01 2007, 12:22PM
As a newbie to this forum, I think it's very refreshing to see someone using a great deal of ingenuity to show how popular hoax images are generated, and then explain the methodology behind them.
I really liked the supposed B*ll lightning thread for the same reason. A captivating image, followed by rational, scientific explanation.
I don't know whether exploding scientific myths and hoaxes is part of the remit of this forum, but it certainly seems to be a worth goal.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Coronafix, Mon Oct 01 2007, 12:51PM
TDU, your trooper is made of metal. Won't that attract the spark?
Coronafix, Mon Oct 01 2007, 12:51PM
TDU, your trooper is made of metal. Won't that attract the spark?
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Sulaiman, Mon Oct 01 2007, 12:56PM
One last thought from me on this topic;
As far as I'm aware, Nikola Tesla tried his best to PREVENT arcs and sparks on his coils !
Except for showmanship / publicity.
He was mainly interested in the wireless transmission of electrical power
which requires extremely high voltages at high frequency WITHOUT wasteful arcs and sparks.
So, anyone who uses a TC for the purpose of deliberately producing arcs/sparks is perverting his work !
Sulaiman, Mon Oct 01 2007, 12:56PM
One last thought from me on this topic;
As far as I'm aware, Nikola Tesla tried his best to PREVENT arcs and sparks on his coils !
Except for showmanship / publicity.
He was mainly interested in the wireless transmission of electrical power
which requires extremely high voltages at high frequency WITHOUT wasteful arcs and sparks.
So, anyone who uses a TC for the purpose of deliberately producing arcs/sparks is perverting his work !
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Mon Oct 01 2007, 01:05PM
In the RA2 game the "Tesla troopers" if not attacking enemy units, can stand near soviet Tesla coils to run them if base power is down, and it increases the strike damage a bit, too.
..."commencing shock therapy"...
ragnar, Mon Oct 01 2007, 01:05PM
Goldsphere wrote ...
TDU, your trooper is made of metal. Won't that attract the spark?
TDU, your trooper is made of metal. Won't that attract the spark?
In the RA2 game the "Tesla troopers" if not attacking enemy units, can stand near soviet Tesla coils to run them if base power is down, and it increases the strike damage a bit, too.
..."commencing shock therapy"...
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 01:15PM
A lot is already happening in 20 seconds with me pulling the wire out in a controlled manner. I will have family do the camera, the video and the variac each.
Still lots to plan and design yet. Need a Soviet flag too.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 01:15PM
Goldsphere wrote ...
TDU, your trooper is made of metal. Won't that attract the spark?
It would normally, but don't forget I am only making 3 foot sparks between pointy bits of wire. I could have the Tesla Trooper closer than that to the bottom of the smooth toroid with no problems. In fact in the game, there are sparks from the Trooper to the TC. I can arrange that in the exposure at a small cost in increased complexity of the shoot. TDU, your trooper is made of metal. Won't that attract the spark?
A lot is already happening in 20 seconds with me pulling the wire out in a controlled manner. I will have family do the camera, the video and the variac each.
Still lots to plan and design yet. Need a Soviet flag too.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Mon Oct 01 2007, 01:38PM
I've actually got a smallish soviet flag I could lend you. Well, I don't know how soviet you'd consider it, but it's proper red fabric with a yellow hammer and sickle I stitched on.
..."extra crispy"...
ragnar, Mon Oct 01 2007, 01:38PM
I've actually got a smallish soviet flag I could lend you. Well, I don't know how soviet you'd consider it, but it's proper red fabric with a yellow hammer and sickle I stitched on.
..."extra crispy"...
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
thedatastream, Mon Oct 01 2007, 03:03PM
For reference:
Tesla Trooper
-------------
Select:
- Tesla suit ready!
- Charging up.
- Electrodes ready!
- Checking connection.
- Yes comrade.
Move:
- Going to source.
- Moving out.
- Yes comrade.
- Surging forward.
- Electrician in the field.
- Rubber shoes in motion.
Attack:
- 2,000 volts coming up.
- He's fried.
- Completing circuit.
- Let the juice flow.
- Commencing Shock therapy.
Fear:
- Ground yourselves!
- Reinforcements!
- I'm hit!
thedatastream, Mon Oct 01 2007, 03:03PM
For reference:
Tesla Trooper
-------------
Select:
- Tesla suit ready!
- Charging up.
- Electrodes ready!
- Checking connection.
- Yes comrade.
Move:
- Going to source.
- Moving out.
- Yes comrade.
- Surging forward.
- Electrician in the field.
- Rubber shoes in motion.
Attack:
- 2,000 volts coming up.
- He's fried.
- Completing circuit.
- Let the juice flow.
- Commencing Shock therapy.
Fear:
- Ground yourselves!
- Reinforcements!
- I'm hit!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Mon Oct 01 2007, 03:52PM
Actually, I was making specific reference to the uncommonly-known Tesla Trooper that premiered in the 'Aftermath' expansion pack to Red Alert 1. Just to be obscure.
I wish my own threads got this much attention. And for Sulaiman, my audio-modulated 13.56MHz coil is a perfectly practical, useful application of a Tesla coil
..."burn, baby, burn!"...
ragnar, Mon Oct 01 2007, 03:52PM
Actually, I was making specific reference to the uncommonly-known Tesla Trooper that premiered in the 'Aftermath' expansion pack to Red Alert 1. Just to be obscure.
I wish my own threads got this much attention. And for Sulaiman, my audio-modulated 13.56MHz coil is a perfectly practical, useful application of a Tesla coil
..."burn, baby, burn!"...
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 06:26PM
Are you a closet communist, comrade?
Datastream, thanks for the list of Tesla troopers responses. Often we can't hear them clearly enough while playing.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Mon Oct 01 2007, 06:26PM
Matt Bingham wrote ...
I've actually got a smallish soviet flag I could lend you. Well, I don't know how soviet you'd consider it, but it's proper red fabric with a yellow hammer and sickle I stitched on.
Thanks for the offer. At this stage I think I will include my shipping container in the photo, and then I can paint a big hammer and sickle on it directly. I still am in planning stages.I've actually got a smallish soviet flag I could lend you. Well, I don't know how soviet you'd consider it, but it's proper red fabric with a yellow hammer and sickle I stitched on.
Are you a closet communist, comrade?
Datastream, thanks for the list of Tesla troopers responses. Often we can't hear them clearly enough while playing.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Shaun, Tue Oct 02 2007, 12:16AM
As of now this project ("red alert tesla coil") is up to #5 on Google; #3 if you don't count the indented results. That was fast!
Shaun, Tue Oct 02 2007, 12:16AM
As of now this project ("red alert tesla coil") is up to #5 on Google; #3 if you don't count the indented results. That was fast!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Tue Oct 02 2007, 12:37AM
Thing is that many millions will remember the game even if almost no-one plays it anymore.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Tue Oct 02 2007, 12:37AM
Shaun wrote ...
As of now this project ("red alert tesla coil") is up to #5 on Google; #3 if you don't count the indented results. That was fast!
It is probably reflective of how little chatter there is about Red Alert. Note the #10 was someone making a comment on my Eye of Sauron stuff on DIGG. As of now this project ("red alert tesla coil") is up to #5 on Google; #3 if you don't count the indented results. That was fast!
Thing is that many millions will remember the game even if almost no-one plays it anymore.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Tue Oct 02 2007, 02:59AM
Now painting that shipping container with a red/yellow hammer+sickle stencil would just be FANTASTIC... but you'll get dirty looks if you don't promptly unpaint it afterwards
Closet communist? I made it, inspired by Red Alert, when I was younger and ignorant, just for fun. A bit pointless now I think about it, but I'm sure it'll come in handy if I ever need to masquerade as one or get involved in an objectivist witchhunt...
ragnar, Tue Oct 02 2007, 02:59AM
Tesladownunder wrote ...
...At this stage I think I will include my shipping container in the photo, and then I can paint a big hammer and sickle on it directly. I still am in planning stages.
Are you a closet communist, comrade?...
...At this stage I think I will include my shipping container in the photo, and then I can paint a big hammer and sickle on it directly. I still am in planning stages.
Are you a closet communist, comrade?...
Now painting that shipping container with a red/yellow hammer+sickle stencil would just be FANTASTIC... but you'll get dirty looks if you don't promptly unpaint it afterwards
Closet communist? I made it, inspired by Red Alert, when I was younger and ignorant, just for fun. A bit pointless now I think about it, but I'm sure it'll come in handy if I ever need to masquerade as one or get involved in an objectivist witchhunt...
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Coronafix, Tue Oct 02 2007, 03:08AM
Yes, now that might attract some undesired attention.
Nice to see some John Butler lyrics there Matt!
Coronafix, Tue Oct 02 2007, 03:08AM
Matt Bingham wrote ...
Now painting that shipping container with a red/yellow hammer+sickle stencil would just be FANTASTIC... but you'll get dirty looks if you don't promptly unpaint it afterwards
Now painting that shipping container with a red/yellow hammer+sickle stencil would just be FANTASTIC... but you'll get dirty looks if you don't promptly unpaint it afterwards
Yes, now that might attract some undesired attention.
Nice to see some John Butler lyrics there Matt!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Firnagzen, Tue Oct 02 2007, 10:03AM
Ah, I see. I thought you were going to use it as a target. Also, her current computer can't run RAII? Um...
Firnagzen, Tue Oct 02 2007, 10:03AM
Tesladownunder wrote ...
My wife would still be playing this game if it would run on her current computer.
Firnagzen wrote ...
.... By the way, why are you modelling a tesla trooper? If I remember correctly, they were immune to tesla coils.
The Tesla Trooper was a Soviet Unit that you could get to stand next to the Tesla coil to increase it's range. Put 6 Troopers next to one and you had a very powerful long range defence indeed..... By the way, why are you modelling a tesla trooper? If I remember correctly, they were immune to tesla coils.
My wife would still be playing this game if it would run on her current computer.
Ah, I see. I thought you were going to use it as a target. Also, her current computer can't run RAII? Um...
Tesladownunder wrote ...
TDU
Anyone ever seen what's called the Lorentz cannon? Dunno if it's a hoax, but it sure is a cool concept. Steve Conner wrote ...
... Another way of addressing these points would be to replace your current fishing line setup with a Taser-type mechanism, so it actually did work as a weapon
In fact with the last photo, the nylon line melted sending the wire flying towards me. I had anticipated this might happen and knew that I was safe as the gap was too great and it was only an earth line. Nevertheless a little breathtaking to see a sparking line coming directly towards you while perched on a ladder.... Another way of addressing these points would be to replace your current fishing line setup with a Taser-type mechanism, so it actually did work as a weapon
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Ken M., Tue Oct 02 2007, 12:56PM
The lorentz cannon sounds like a tazer that cops use but on steroids. It says that it shoots a (essentailly a dart) with a wire attached to it, which hits the target and then is electrified with a marx generator. The resulting discharge current vaporizes the wire yeilding a lovely plasmy trail.
Ken M., Tue Oct 02 2007, 12:56PM
The lorentz cannon sounds like a tazer that cops use but on steroids. It says that it shoots a (essentailly a dart) with a wire attached to it, which hits the target and then is electrified with a marx generator. The resulting discharge current vaporizes the wire yeilding a lovely plasmy trail.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Wed Oct 03 2007, 12:44PM
My latest addition to my base is the Soviet wheelie bin.
First pic shows the best side. Second pic, the not so best side.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Wed Oct 03 2007, 12:44PM
My latest addition to my base is the Soviet wheelie bin.
First pic shows the best side. Second pic, the not so best side.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Wed Oct 03 2007, 01:08PM
I'm glad you're modelling the RA2 tesla coil, cuz the RA1 sprite was so daggy and half-arsed, and everybody's forgotten what it looked like anyway.
That base is going to look fantastic with the sparks flying above -- it'll be INSTANTLY recognisable, keep it up, but do take care! :)
ragnar, Wed Oct 03 2007, 01:08PM
I'm glad you're modelling the RA2 tesla coil, cuz the RA1 sprite was so daggy and half-arsed, and everybody's forgotten what it looked like anyway.
That base is going to look fantastic with the sparks flying above -- it'll be INSTANTLY recognisable, keep it up, but do take care! :)
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sat Oct 06 2007, 04:53AM
Tesla trooper model is completed. I will start work on the others. Tedious and time consuming stuff with which I have little experience.
I hope to have sparks coming from him in the final shot.
Wife is back playing RA2 again.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sat Oct 06 2007, 04:53AM
Tesla trooper model is completed. I will start work on the others. Tedious and time consuming stuff with which I have little experience.
I hope to have sparks coming from him in the final shot.
Wife is back playing RA2 again.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Firnagzen, Sat Oct 06 2007, 07:04AM
Oooh, nice work with the model. One things, though- try sticking a piece of black paper on the head, for the visor. It looks weird without the visor.
Firnagzen, Sat Oct 06 2007, 07:04AM
Oooh, nice work with the model. One things, though- try sticking a piece of black paper on the head, for the visor. It looks weird without the visor.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sat Oct 06 2007, 07:36AM
Visor is there. I will make sure I angle things so that it can be seen when I shoot the pic.
The second pic is a 2 minute mock up of a conscript wearing my Driza-bone stockman's coat, army boots and carrying some optics from a Xenon arc coagulator in lieu of a gun!
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sat Oct 06 2007, 07:36AM
Visor is there. I will make sure I angle things so that it can be seen when I shoot the pic.
The second pic is a 2 minute mock up of a conscript wearing my Driza-bone stockman's coat, army boots and carrying some optics from a Xenon arc coagulator in lieu of a gun!
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Sat Oct 06 2007, 08:09AM
Don't set the Drizabone on fire; they're expensive! =-P
It might look a bit gawky now, but I'm sure you'll get a great photo in the dark with the sparks flying.
ragnar, Sat Oct 06 2007, 08:09AM
Don't set the Drizabone on fire; they're expensive! =-P
It might look a bit gawky now, but I'm sure you'll get a great photo in the dark with the sparks flying.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sun Oct 07 2007, 02:04AM
"Conscript reporting".
Engineer is next and the "target"
Perhaps a few trials of some of the components tonight.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sun Oct 07 2007, 02:04AM
"Conscript reporting".
Engineer is next and the "target"
Perhaps a few trials of some of the components tonight.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Tue Oct 09 2007, 01:11PM
More progress.
An engineer.
His frame
A shot of all 3 models
A shot of directed sparks to the Tesla trooper (this will be in addition to the 30 foot sparks to a target)
TDU
Tesladownunder, Tue Oct 09 2007, 01:11PM
More progress.
An engineer.
His frame
A shot of all 3 models
A shot of directed sparks to the Tesla trooper (this will be in addition to the 30 foot sparks to a target)
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Steve Conner, Tue Oct 09 2007, 01:47PM
What will the neighbours think!
Steve Conner, Tue Oct 09 2007, 01:47PM
What will the neighbours think!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Reaching, Tue Oct 09 2007, 05:28PM
Which neighbours? :P
but anyway, it seems to be a nice project. waiting for the monsterarc pics and especially for the flood of mails you´ll get after that.
Reaching, Tue Oct 09 2007, 05:28PM
Steve Conner wrote ...
What will the neighbours think!
What will the neighbours think!
Which neighbours? :P
but anyway, it seems to be a nice project. waiting for the monsterarc pics and especially for the flood of mails you´ll get after that.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Tue Oct 09 2007, 09:33PM
Hehe, the engineer does look cute! Nice match to the in-game features. I still think they'll look better in the dark =-P
ragnar, Tue Oct 09 2007, 09:33PM
Hehe, the engineer does look cute! Nice match to the in-game features. I still think they'll look better in the dark =-P
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Marko, Tue Oct 09 2007, 09:45PM
TDU, you do indeed know how to live the life
Neighbors aren't problem for you as far as I see, at least if your mmap is correct.
BTW, wouldn't it be easier for you if you just talked some of your sons/friends to pose in costumes than to build gawky dummies? :D
At least those that won't be sparked at...
Marko, Tue Oct 09 2007, 09:45PM
TDU, you do indeed know how to live the life
Neighbors aren't problem for you as far as I see, at least if your mmap is correct.
BTW, wouldn't it be easier for you if you just talked some of your sons/friends to pose in costumes than to build gawky dummies? :D
At least those that won't be sparked at...
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Wed Oct 10 2007, 01:14AM
I need to use dummies because all of them will be too close to the sparks, besides I don't have many 4 foot family or friends. I need them small to try to keep the scale reasonable.
It is raining now but the weather will be OK for shooting on Saturday so if I have enough hands available I will probably be ready.
I need to get my rotating filter organised to have a yellow filter in the field 25% of the time to get the occasional yellow sparks. I can remove the mild yellow cast later but I prefer to have zero post processing at all so I might need a flash at the start to give a normal background color.
The shot at this stage is looking like 30 seconds. There will possibly be a flash to start, then 5-8 seconds to pull the wire through to get the sparks from the Tesla trooper and around the coil. Then the long wire needs to be drawn out for the 30 feet over about 20 seconds and the exposure needs to end there without too much delay. That means a manual start and stop to the shutter with IR remote to avoid bumping the camera
Oh, and the video needs to be running as well.
Lighting is another issue since parts of the toroid are very reflective and it is preferable for the light to be diffused. I usually use a 150W halogen directed on to a 4 foot diameter white polystyrene foam disc. This is fine for just showing sparks but I think I need to show more of the background here. I will start with some natural twilight first.
Typically I take a few shots then download them to try to work out what needs adjusting like lighting, focus or exposure. Focus is set prior to the shot then fixed at the best distance so the camera is not hunting around in the dark trying to focus. It can do that but not with sparks flying. I will focus just past the coil but the target will be quite a bit further away. It is not as important to have tight focus there anyway.
Lots of other issues that might be important on the day such as droop of the wire over 30 feet. Not a visible problem over 19 feet though. I might just do the first setup at 20 feet. It will be better for focus and framing anyway. I can't use too much tension for fear of pulling the coil over but I might be able to put a nylon stay behind the coil to support it. Tension will also bend the coil and blur the outline. Sparking to the ground is another issue and I may need to elevate the target even higher.
Pic shows the target. This is just a cardboard cutout on a wood frame covered with sheets of white A4 paper. Paper fluoresces under UV (remember the nitrogen laser) so it shows up as bluish colour with the sparks plus fluorescence. I am not sure that it looks the best but is not too dissimilar to the Red Alert representation. Often a skeleton like look is used and maybe that is what was intended but in limited pixels wasn't able to be done in the game.
Tesladownunder, Wed Oct 10 2007, 01:14AM
Marko wrote ...
Neighbors aren't problem for you as far as I see, at least if your mmap is correct.
BTW, wouldn't it be easier for you if you just talked some of your sons/friends to pose in costumes than to build gawky dummies? :D
Sheep pass by that fence at times and I have some kangaroo shots a few feet from where the engineer stands. I don't expect they will hang around.Neighbors aren't problem for you as far as I see, at least if your mmap is correct.
BTW, wouldn't it be easier for you if you just talked some of your sons/friends to pose in costumes than to build gawky dummies? :D
I need to use dummies because all of them will be too close to the sparks, besides I don't have many 4 foot family or friends. I need them small to try to keep the scale reasonable.
It is raining now but the weather will be OK for shooting on Saturday so if I have enough hands available I will probably be ready.
I need to get my rotating filter organised to have a yellow filter in the field 25% of the time to get the occasional yellow sparks. I can remove the mild yellow cast later but I prefer to have zero post processing at all so I might need a flash at the start to give a normal background color.
The shot at this stage is looking like 30 seconds. There will possibly be a flash to start, then 5-8 seconds to pull the wire through to get the sparks from the Tesla trooper and around the coil. Then the long wire needs to be drawn out for the 30 feet over about 20 seconds and the exposure needs to end there without too much delay. That means a manual start and stop to the shutter with IR remote to avoid bumping the camera
Oh, and the video needs to be running as well.
Lighting is another issue since parts of the toroid are very reflective and it is preferable for the light to be diffused. I usually use a 150W halogen directed on to a 4 foot diameter white polystyrene foam disc. This is fine for just showing sparks but I think I need to show more of the background here. I will start with some natural twilight first.
Typically I take a few shots then download them to try to work out what needs adjusting like lighting, focus or exposure. Focus is set prior to the shot then fixed at the best distance so the camera is not hunting around in the dark trying to focus. It can do that but not with sparks flying. I will focus just past the coil but the target will be quite a bit further away. It is not as important to have tight focus there anyway.
Lots of other issues that might be important on the day such as droop of the wire over 30 feet. Not a visible problem over 19 feet though. I might just do the first setup at 20 feet. It will be better for focus and framing anyway. I can't use too much tension for fear of pulling the coil over but I might be able to put a nylon stay behind the coil to support it. Tension will also bend the coil and blur the outline. Sparking to the ground is another issue and I may need to elevate the target even higher.
Pic shows the target. This is just a cardboard cutout on a wood frame covered with sheets of white A4 paper. Paper fluoresces under UV (remember the nitrogen laser) so it shows up as bluish colour with the sparks plus fluorescence. I am not sure that it looks the best but is not too dissimilar to the Red Alert representation. Often a skeleton like look is used and maybe that is what was intended but in limited pixels wasn't able to be done in the game.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sat Oct 13 2007, 01:18PM
Problems.
Had a full day working on things today.
Sorted out the balancing of my yellow filter. Works nicely but has not been tested on sparks yet to see the effect. It could easily get washed out if there are too many sparks.
Corrected the spacing of the multiple toroids and improved the base stability.
Sorted out the Tesla trooper wire. In theory it was good as were the preliminary pics but wire tensioning is a problem and with my brake (a bit of wood on the ground pulled by the nylon line) it was a bit jerky. As a result the line dropped too close to the secondary and flashed over on to the secondary with resulting damage and arcing between windings. In addition the previous damaged area has broken down again so I now have 3 arcing turns on the secondary. This is not good but is repairable in an ugly sort of way but will take time.
Picture below shows a long exposure with a close up of sparking at the base. These are not racing sparks.
The wire for the long sparks was made far too long (measured at 34ft) and again had a tensioning problem resulting in too much sag. Also, it pulled the coil way out of tune, more than I recall before but I guess it was nearly twice as long. Tensioning could be achieved by using a separate brake. I will have to think about that.
So I now have to do a major repair on my secondary and do more design work before I can consider any other runs.
I have my open day in 2 weeks so I need to repair the coil for then and also prepare displays etc so the Red Alert project is on hold at present. Hopefully some action in 3-4 weeks.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sat Oct 13 2007, 01:18PM
Problems.
Had a full day working on things today.
Sorted out the balancing of my yellow filter. Works nicely but has not been tested on sparks yet to see the effect. It could easily get washed out if there are too many sparks.
Corrected the spacing of the multiple toroids and improved the base stability.
Sorted out the Tesla trooper wire. In theory it was good as were the preliminary pics but wire tensioning is a problem and with my brake (a bit of wood on the ground pulled by the nylon line) it was a bit jerky. As a result the line dropped too close to the secondary and flashed over on to the secondary with resulting damage and arcing between windings. In addition the previous damaged area has broken down again so I now have 3 arcing turns on the secondary. This is not good but is repairable in an ugly sort of way but will take time.
Picture below shows a long exposure with a close up of sparking at the base. These are not racing sparks.
The wire for the long sparks was made far too long (measured at 34ft) and again had a tensioning problem resulting in too much sag. Also, it pulled the coil way out of tune, more than I recall before but I guess it was nearly twice as long. Tensioning could be achieved by using a separate brake. I will have to think about that.
So I now have to do a major repair on my secondary and do more design work before I can consider any other runs.
I have my open day in 2 weeks so I need to repair the coil for then and also prepare displays etc so the Red Alert project is on hold at present. Hopefully some action in 3-4 weeks.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Firnagzen, Sat Oct 13 2007, 01:31PM
Sad to hear that, I was looking forward to the result!
The coil looks good! But perhaps you should cut down on the distance between the supports and the secondary. That gap looks a bit too wide...
Ctrl+D...
Firnagzen, Sat Oct 13 2007, 01:31PM
Sad to hear that, I was looking forward to the result!
The coil looks good! But perhaps you should cut down on the distance between the supports and the secondary. That gap looks a bit too wide...
Ctrl+D...
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sat Oct 13 2007, 11:42PM
This is the camera with diffused flash and rotating yellow-orange filter. When it is running, one in 4 sparks will be yellow. The flash shot and the Tesla trooper shots will not be colored so I should not need to alter the yellow balance.
Tesladownunder, Sat Oct 13 2007, 11:42PM
This is the camera with diffused flash and rotating yellow-orange filter. When it is running, one in 4 sparks will be yellow. The flash shot and the Tesla trooper shots will not be colored so I should not need to alter the yellow balance.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tom540, Sun Oct 14 2007, 04:46AM
Just when you thought you've seen everything.......
Tom540, Sun Oct 14 2007, 04:46AM
Just when you thought you've seen everything.......
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Fessenden, Wed Oct 17 2007, 02:38AM
Great Job! No matter how much everyone professes the seriousness of the science, I think all of us got into this at least a little bit because of the "evil-giggle factor".
I have heard many electrical/electronic engineering people say they got into their fields because of school demonstrations given by Ken Strickfadden in the 50's and 60's. His demo's were art tempered with a little science.
Is the next step a twin bipolar TC "Red Alert style"?
Fessenden, Wed Oct 17 2007, 02:38AM
Great Job! No matter how much everyone professes the seriousness of the science, I think all of us got into this at least a little bit because of the "evil-giggle factor".
I have heard many electrical/electronic engineering people say they got into their fields because of school demonstrations given by Ken Strickfadden in the 50's and 60's. His demo's were art tempered with a little science.
Is the next step a twin bipolar TC "Red Alert style"?
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Dr. Slack, Fri Oct 19 2007, 09:23AM
Impressive work TDU. A suggestion, as people will continually accuse you of photoshopping the images, direct them here --->
http://xkcd.com/331/
(don't forget the hover)
Dr. Slack, Fri Oct 19 2007, 09:23AM
Impressive work TDU. A suggestion, as people will continually accuse you of photoshopping the images, direct them here --->
http://xkcd.com/331/
(don't forget the hover)
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Fri Oct 19 2007, 10:44AM
A good idea. XKCD is a great place to spend/waste hours.
I will however have lots of intermediate construction photos and outtakes and a video. Already the page on my site is getting big. Most people are believers when they see the site though.
I will be able to do some work on the setup and coil repair this weekend but the weather is probably against me for a full shoot.
I might have to accept a shorter spark length to give the picture a reasonable aspect ratio and get around the tuning problem. I will have time to experiment though.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Fri Oct 19 2007, 10:44AM
A good idea. XKCD is a great place to spend/waste hours.
I will however have lots of intermediate construction photos and outtakes and a video. Already the page on my site is getting big. Most people are believers when they see the site though.
I will be able to do some work on the setup and coil repair this weekend but the weather is probably against me for a full shoot.
I might have to accept a shorter spark length to give the picture a reasonable aspect ratio and get around the tuning problem. I will have time to experiment though.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sun Oct 21 2007, 02:23AM
Secondary repairs. Cut and rejoined in 3 places. Gaps are uneven as the winding seems to slip on the polypropylene.
Had to make a motor drive to rotate the former while drying.
Uses an old 100VAC motor with a reduction drive, a solder reel and a strip of bike tyre.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sun Oct 21 2007, 02:23AM
Secondary repairs. Cut and rejoined in 3 places. Gaps are uneven as the winding seems to slip on the polypropylene.
Had to make a motor drive to rotate the former while drying.
Uses an old 100VAC motor with a reduction drive, a solder reel and a strip of bike tyre.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Sulaiman, Sun Oct 21 2007, 09:52AM
Ha Ha ! .. I tried a teflon primary - drove me NUTS ! soooo slippery.
Polypropylene is also very slippery
- all the potential/theoretical benefits of a low-loss former are lost by a layer of varnish!
Nice to watch your project progressing Peter, I just LOVE the things you do with TCs !
can't wait to see how many hits / gigabytes you score once published!
Sulaiman, Sun Oct 21 2007, 09:52AM
Ha Ha ! .. I tried a teflon primary - drove me NUTS ! soooo slippery.
Polypropylene is also very slippery
- all the potential/theoretical benefits of a low-loss former are lost by a layer of varnish!
Nice to watch your project progressing Peter, I just LOVE the things you do with TCs !
can't wait to see how many hits / gigabytes you score once published!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sun Oct 21 2007, 11:05AM
I think losses are trivial whether varnished or not, PVC or polypropylene. I chose polypropylene because the plastics place could make it up in this in a light but strong welded cylinder with caps. I had a few extra supports welded on a couple of months ago to make it sturdier and less prone to fall over in the wind like it did here in July. Remarkably little damage as it landed on the thick copper strike rail and bent it. The impact points were not where it failed recently.
Weather looks OK on Wednesday and I should have done a few coats by then. The motor has been running cool for 8 hours now rotating the former. I now need to work on a different figure as a target as well as a line braking system and I should be set. Takes the better part of a day to organise everything for another shoot.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sun Oct 21 2007, 11:05AM
I think losses are trivial whether varnished or not, PVC or polypropylene. I chose polypropylene because the plastics place could make it up in this in a light but strong welded cylinder with caps. I had a few extra supports welded on a couple of months ago to make it sturdier and less prone to fall over in the wind like it did here in July. Remarkably little damage as it landed on the thick copper strike rail and bent it. The impact points were not where it failed recently.
Weather looks OK on Wednesday and I should have done a few coats by then. The motor has been running cool for 8 hours now rotating the former. I now need to work on a different figure as a target as well as a line braking system and I should be set. Takes the better part of a day to organise everything for another shoot.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tenicus, Sun Oct 21 2007, 06:47PM
The next thing you must do is create the tesla trooper.
From the original red alert? He had a back pack and electrocuted people with his gun
or the tesla tank or whatever
it was slow as shit, but could electrocute those assholes
Tenicus, Sun Oct 21 2007, 06:47PM
The next thing you must do is create the tesla trooper.
From the original red alert? He had a back pack and electrocuted people with his gun
or the tesla tank or whatever
it was slow as shit, but could electrocute those assholes
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Thu Oct 25 2007, 12:04AM
I've fixed the TC and it runs OK. Had to get close to see if there was any sparking but it seemed good.
How close can you stand to a Tesla coil anyway?
Pic shows single 6 sec exposure.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Thu Oct 25 2007, 12:04AM
Tenicus wrote ...
The next thing you must do is create the tesla trooper...
Hmmm... I sort of thought I did that.The next thing you must do is create the tesla trooper...
I've fixed the TC and it runs OK. Had to get close to see if there was any sparking but it seemed good.
How close can you stand to a Tesla coil anyway?
Pic shows single 6 sec exposure.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Ken M., Thu Oct 25 2007, 12:35PM
Just out of curiosity, Since alot of your tesla coil photos are shot in your drive way, does the ground arcs leave marks on the concrete at all? Other than that very impressive TDU, glad to see it working again.
Ken M., Thu Oct 25 2007, 12:35PM
Just out of curiosity, Since alot of your tesla coil photos are shot in your drive way, does the ground arcs leave marks on the concrete at all? Other than that very impressive TDU, glad to see it working again.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Mates, Thu Oct 25 2007, 03:21PM
WhiteArc
... does the ground arcs leave marks on the concrete at all?
If there are any marks than you can call it Fulgurit. I know a guy taking pictures of these lightning rock-tatoos. Sorry the page is in Czech but pictures are easy to find...
Mates, Thu Oct 25 2007, 03:21PM
WhiteArc
... does the ground arcs leave marks on the concrete at all?
If there are any marks than you can call it Fulgurit. I know a guy taking pictures of these lightning rock-tatoos. Sorry the page is in Czech but pictures are easy to find...
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Thu Oct 25 2007, 05:00PM
Didn't see any marks on the hire car either .....
TDU
Tesladownunder, Thu Oct 25 2007, 05:00PM
WhiteArc wrote ...
Just out of curiosity, Since a lot of your tesla coil photos are shot in your drive way, does the ground arcs leave marks on the concrete at all?
It's an ordinary tarmac/asphalt/road type surface and I have never seen any marks on it. The spark often fans out a bit like in the detail of this 11ft arc strike point.Just out of curiosity, Since a lot of your tesla coil photos are shot in your drive way, does the ground arcs leave marks on the concrete at all?
Didn't see any marks on the hire car either .....
Mates wrote ...
If there are any marks than you can call it Fulgurit. I know a guy taking pictures of these lightning rock-tatoos.
I knew about the fulgurite tubes formed from strikes in sand but I didn't know about the strikes to rocks directly. Of course my TC is not likely to cause that sort of stuff on one strike at least and my cap bank is just too explosive although peak currents are similar to lightning but not sustained. Maybe I should try with a continuous firing of my TC through a small volume of sand.If there are any marks than you can call it Fulgurit. I know a guy taking pictures of these lightning rock-tatoos.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Nik, Thu Oct 25 2007, 08:37PM
"Maybe I should try with a continuous firing of my TC through a small volume of sand."
A mot or two will melt sand quite nicely if you are going for quick and easy glass tubes.
Nik, Thu Oct 25 2007, 08:37PM
"Maybe I should try with a continuous firing of my TC through a small volume of sand."
A mot or two will melt sand quite nicely if you are going for quick and easy glass tubes.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Mates, Thu Oct 25 2007, 11:53PM
Just regarding your Tesla coil - weapon system, I've got an idea. What about to buy some plastic - toy rocket catapult (or crossbow) put on the top load and hang the string to the arrow. Than just solve some simple trigger and you can aim the lightening directly to the victim...
Mates, Thu Oct 25 2007, 11:53PM
Just regarding your Tesla coil - weapon system, I've got an idea. What about to buy some plastic - toy rocket catapult (or crossbow) put on the top load and hang the string to the arrow. Than just solve some simple trigger and you can aim the lightening directly to the victim...
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Fri Oct 26 2007, 02:17PM
Don't forget that this is not a weapon, it is a visual effect which I have already demonstrated. My problems are not in reaching a target but in combining all the effects in one shot. To get the visual effect, the sparks need to be multiple at any given point and the feed needs to be slow, controlled and horizontal.
Perhaps you are thinking of Greg Leyh's Lorentz gun. Weighing over a ton it has a range of 30 feet and is probably ineffective against anyone in a metal enclosure like a car. Totally cool though.
No-one commented on how close I was to the TC in the last of my photos above. I was actually about 20 feet away when the sparks were on. Took a flash first then went and turned the TC on while the camera was still in a 6 second exposure in darkness. If you look very closely the kerb is just visible through my legs. Even at 20 feet there is a tingle when I hold the variac from the surrounding fields.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Fri Oct 26 2007, 02:17PM
Don't forget that this is not a weapon, it is a visual effect which I have already demonstrated. My problems are not in reaching a target but in combining all the effects in one shot. To get the visual effect, the sparks need to be multiple at any given point and the feed needs to be slow, controlled and horizontal.
Perhaps you are thinking of Greg Leyh's Lorentz gun. Weighing over a ton it has a range of 30 feet and is probably ineffective against anyone in a metal enclosure like a car. Totally cool though.
No-one commented on how close I was to the TC in the last of my photos above. I was actually about 20 feet away when the sparks were on. Took a flash first then went and turned the TC on while the camera was still in a 6 second exposure in darkness. If you look very closely the kerb is just visible through my legs. Even at 20 feet there is a tingle when I hold the variac from the surrounding fields.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Mates, Fri Oct 26 2007, 06:07PM
I know it is not ment as regular weapon (everybody knows that - I hope). The point is that small harpoon with the wire fired from the topload could mimick the very long spark directed where do you want to, and it could be filmed like a real action (on running target - a dummy of course...) With fast and sensitive camera you could be able to chatch like the spark is slowly going to the target... It's just a suggestion for another Red Alert - like trick - bit complicated but maybe some movie-effect studio could offer you a contract for such stuff :)
Mates, Fri Oct 26 2007, 06:07PM
Tesladownunder wrote ...
Don't forget that this is not a weapon, it is a visual effect which I have already demonstrated. My problems are not in reaching a target but in combining all the effects in one shot. To get the visual effect, the sparks need to be multiple at any given point and the feed needs to be slow, controlled and horizontal.
TDU
Don't forget that this is not a weapon, it is a visual effect which I have already demonstrated. My problems are not in reaching a target but in combining all the effects in one shot. To get the visual effect, the sparks need to be multiple at any given point and the feed needs to be slow, controlled and horizontal.
TDU
I know it is not ment as regular weapon (everybody knows that - I hope). The point is that small harpoon with the wire fired from the topload could mimick the very long spark directed where do you want to, and it could be filmed like a real action (on running target - a dummy of course...) With fast and sensitive camera you could be able to chatch like the spark is slowly going to the target... It's just a suggestion for another Red Alert - like trick - bit complicated but maybe some movie-effect studio could offer you a contract for such stuff :)
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tom540, Fri Oct 26 2007, 09:01PM
I didn't comment but I was thinking that. I figured hey hes not getting hit so I suppose hes not too close. Sometimes I get too close to mine while testing. Got a shock from topload and through my hand that was holding the primary with pliers to test different tap points. I knw it's not too safe, but it was running off 60 volts only.
Tom540, Fri Oct 26 2007, 09:01PM
Tesladownunder wrote ...
No-one commented on how close I was to the TC in the last of my photos above.
No-one commented on how close I was to the TC in the last of my photos above.
I didn't comment but I was thinking that. I figured hey hes not getting hit so I suppose hes not too close. Sometimes I get too close to mine while testing. Got a shock from topload and through my hand that was holding the primary with pliers to test different tap points. I knw it's not too safe, but it was running off 60 volts only.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sun Nov 04 2007, 02:22PM
At last, after a full day of setup and construction with improvements, then multiple outtakes and a camera failure after the first successful shot.
Not perfect and a hundred things that could be better but this is the one that is going out there and is completely unaltered, not even cropping or exposure just reduced resolution for the web. Exposure is 17.9 seconds.
The techniques not used before on the net with Tesla coils include:
1 the long sparks drawn out by a wire. In fact 2 different wires/lines to be pulled sequentially.
2 The yellow sparks in some with the rotating filter.
So here it is comrade:
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sun Nov 04 2007, 02:22PM
At last, after a full day of setup and construction with improvements, then multiple outtakes and a camera failure after the first successful shot.
Not perfect and a hundred things that could be better but this is the one that is going out there and is completely unaltered, not even cropping or exposure just reduced resolution for the web. Exposure is 17.9 seconds.
The techniques not used before on the net with Tesla coils include:
1 the long sparks drawn out by a wire. In fact 2 different wires/lines to be pulled sequentially.
2 The yellow sparks in some with the rotating filter.
So here it is comrade:
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Spedy, Sun Nov 04 2007, 03:48PM
Wow, that looks COOL. Now if you could get ALL the sparks yellow, with nothing else yellow.
Spedy, Sun Nov 04 2007, 03:48PM
Wow, that looks COOL. Now if you could get ALL the sparks yellow, with nothing else yellow.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sun Nov 04 2007, 04:01PM
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sun Nov 04 2007, 04:01PM
Spedy wrote ...
Now if you could get ALL the sparks yellow, with nothing else yellow.
I can do that but that's not how the RA coil is shown. It probably could have increased the yellow to 50% rather than the 25% as at present.Now if you could get ALL the sparks yellow, with nothing else yellow.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Sun Nov 04 2007, 04:39PM
Ha, BRILLIANT! I was worrying about the clarity you'd get with a night exposure and whether it would show up the cardboard tesla trooper... that's fantastic!
The illusion is complete! It gives a perfect impression of your coil raising total utter hell in your yard -- even the communist cops a shoulderful!
Would I guess the yellow spark isn't as prominent as you'd want? I'll add that the glow created by the spark gap by no means detracts from the photo -- the radiating white brilliance masks the primary and stand... and makes the engineer look adventurous
A great result! Two questions:
A) How did you perfect the illumination of the victim/target? Is it aimed to reflect light from the sparkgap into the camera, saturating the CCD?
B) Are all communists that fat? :D
ragnar, Sun Nov 04 2007, 04:39PM
Tesladownunder wrote ...
So here it is comrade:
TDU
So here it is comrade:
TDU
Ha, BRILLIANT! I was worrying about the clarity you'd get with a night exposure and whether it would show up the cardboard tesla trooper... that's fantastic!
The illusion is complete! It gives a perfect impression of your coil raising total utter hell in your yard -- even the communist cops a shoulderful!
Would I guess the yellow spark isn't as prominent as you'd want? I'll add that the glow created by the spark gap by no means detracts from the photo -- the radiating white brilliance masks the primary and stand... and makes the engineer look adventurous
A great result! Two questions:
A) How did you perfect the illumination of the victim/target? Is it aimed to reflect light from the sparkgap into the camera, saturating the CCD?
B) Are all communists that fat? :D
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sun Nov 04 2007, 05:18PM
I forgot to shoot RAW pics as well.
Unfortunately after multiple runs and a succession of camera, equipment and human failures it was about 10:30 pm and it is a bit unsociable to run a big TC on a still night even in a semirural area. Each failed run means I have to spend about 10 mins rotating the drum to rewind the line some 10 feet in the air. It is full stretch on the second top ladder rung.
Normally I would correct the problems and reshoot. Because it takes so long to setup, I couldn't do this until next weekend so this will have to do.
Are the communists obese? No they are solid from a diet of Borscht and Vodka and working in the salt mines. (actually they are only 4 ft and are wearing my clothes)
The target is simply covered with normal photocopy paper. I figured the spark UV at close range would give an enhanced glow (just like a Nitrogen laser)
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sun Nov 04 2007, 05:18PM
Matt Bingham wrote ...
I'll add that the glow created by the spark gap by no means detracts from the photo.
Two questions:
A) How did you perfect the illumination of the victim/target? B) Are all communists that fat? :D
I forgot the black cloth cover for the TC after spending the whole day setting up. But it does give an impression of a lot of power and overall has more impact than the original. I'll add that the glow created by the spark gap by no means detracts from the photo.
Two questions:
A) How did you perfect the illumination of the victim/target? B) Are all communists that fat? :D
I forgot to shoot RAW pics as well.
Unfortunately after multiple runs and a succession of camera, equipment and human failures it was about 10:30 pm and it is a bit unsociable to run a big TC on a still night even in a semirural area. Each failed run means I have to spend about 10 mins rotating the drum to rewind the line some 10 feet in the air. It is full stretch on the second top ladder rung.
Normally I would correct the problems and reshoot. Because it takes so long to setup, I couldn't do this until next weekend so this will have to do.
Are the communists obese? No they are solid from a diet of Borscht and Vodka and working in the salt mines. (actually they are only 4 ft and are wearing my clothes)
The target is simply covered with normal photocopy paper. I figured the spark UV at close range would give an enhanced glow (just like a Nitrogen laser)
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Firnagzen, Mon Nov 05 2007, 09:06AM
"They are wearing my clothes." Y'know, that's a rathe unfortunate remark, it implies that you are obese.
Anyway, I have to say that is an amazing piece of work, even incomplete!
Firnagzen, Mon Nov 05 2007, 09:06AM
"They are wearing my clothes." Y'know, that's a rathe unfortunate remark, it implies that you are obese.
Anyway, I have to say that is an amazing piece of work, even incomplete!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
ragnar, Mon Nov 05 2007, 09:12AM
Nope, the commies just look chubby cuz they're only four feet tall.
Just curious Peter, will you be taking another shoot? It's worth waiting a week to get it a few steps closer to perfect..
ragnar, Mon Nov 05 2007, 09:12AM
Firnagzen wrote ...
"They are wearing my clothes." Y'know, that's a rathe unfortunate remark, it implies that you are obese.
Anyway, I have to say that is an amazing piece of work, even incomplete!
"They are wearing my clothes." Y'know, that's a rathe unfortunate remark, it implies that you are obese.
Anyway, I have to say that is an amazing piece of work, even incomplete!
Nope, the commies just look chubby cuz they're only four feet tall.
Just curious Peter, will you be taking another shoot? It's worth waiting a week to get it a few steps closer to perfect..
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Mon Nov 05 2007, 11:05PM
Probably not. The photo is already out there getting 800 hits per hour to my site. If you notice a 4HV slowdown in the next few days it might be hits for this to the 1121.org site.
Time to move on to another project. I have a huge list and I've got to get something for Christmas...
TDU
Tesladownunder, Mon Nov 05 2007, 11:05PM
Matt Bingham wrote ...
.... will you be taking another shoot?
.... will you be taking another shoot?
Probably not. The photo is already out there getting 800 hits per hour to my site. If you notice a 4HV slowdown in the next few days it might be hits for this to the 1121.org site.
Time to move on to another project. I have a huge list and I've got to get something for Christmas...
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Ken M., Mon Nov 05 2007, 11:44PM
Perhaps a TC Xmas tree with multiple sequencing breakout points?
Ken M., Mon Nov 05 2007, 11:44PM
Perhaps a TC Xmas tree with multiple sequencing breakout points?
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Firnagzen, Tue Nov 06 2007, 02:03PM
Yeah... Certainly noticed a major slowdown!
WhiteArc, that's scary... Particularly as drying chirstmas trees (real fir trees) are really flammable. Not a good idea, [s]cool[/s] hot as it would be!
Audio modulate coils to play christmas tunes. Safer, in any case!
Firnagzen, Tue Nov 06 2007, 02:03PM
Yeah... Certainly noticed a major slowdown!
WhiteArc, that's scary... Particularly as drying chirstmas trees (real fir trees) are really flammable. Not a good idea, [s]cool[/s] hot as it would be!
Audio modulate coils to play christmas tunes. Safer, in any case!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Tue Nov 06 2007, 02:41PM
(Completed picture on page 3 post by me Nov 4 at 11:21pm)
Hmmm... 11:21 pm on 1121.org - spooky
Things are starting to take off and seems to be hot in Germany at present. 1820 hits in last hour (my baseline is 50). Sorry if it slows 4HV too much.
I've got a few ideas for Tesla and Christmas. I have given this some thought before and it doesn't involve any flammable stuff. Perhaps I'll start a separate thread.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Tue Nov 06 2007, 02:41PM
(Completed picture on page 3 post by me Nov 4 at 11:21pm)
Hmmm... 11:21 pm on 1121.org - spooky
Things are starting to take off and seems to be hot in Germany at present. 1820 hits in last hour (my baseline is 50). Sorry if it slows 4HV too much.
I've got a few ideas for Tesla and Christmas. I have given this some thought before and it doesn't involve any flammable stuff. Perhaps I'll start a separate thread.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
AndrewM, Wed Nov 07 2007, 05:23PM
Peter this is absolutely fantastic. Easily the greatest thread on 4hv in a long time! Keep up the good work!!
Hahaha, I'm still laughing at how well it turned out!
AndrewM, Wed Nov 07 2007, 05:23PM
Peter this is absolutely fantastic. Easily the greatest thread on 4hv in a long time! Keep up the good work!!
Hahaha, I'm still laughing at how well it turned out!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sat Nov 10 2007, 12:36PM
Well the run on the net is all but over. About 35,000 hits to my site totalling about 70gig downloads. I have picked up about 60 English and 30 other sites (mostly German) that feature the photo or link. A few samples:
Digg with 126 diggs
Great Geek Manual
Makezine
Red2 and Japanese translated
This makes it my 4th most popular photo so it didn't really go big time like I hoped.
Still all in good fun. Will have to dismantle the models sometime unless I can mine enough ore to afford a Soviet Storage Base.
BTW I thought I was far enough away from the trees but the streamers from the top sphere were bigger than expected and a few branches have dead leaves on them.
TDU
Tesladownunder, Sat Nov 10 2007, 12:36PM
Well the run on the net is all but over. About 35,000 hits to my site totalling about 70gig downloads. I have picked up about 60 English and 30 other sites (mostly German) that feature the photo or link. A few samples:
Digg with 126 diggs
Great Geek Manual
Makezine
Red2 and Japanese translated
This makes it my 4th most popular photo so it didn't really go big time like I hoped.
Still all in good fun. Will have to dismantle the models sometime unless I can mine enough ore to afford a Soviet Storage Base.
BTW I thought I was far enough away from the trees but the streamers from the top sphere were bigger than expected and a few branches have dead leaves on them.
TDU
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Fri Nov 16 2007, 03:20PM
Hey, this is clever. A Japanese (?) site posted 32 of my photos in a blog which is cool but what I didn't realise immediately is that they took some of my pic series and converted them into animated gifs.
ixiqi Site is here
Translated site is here
First gif is the Tesla trooper firing at the TC
Second is the schematic
TDU
[Edit: img:width=400]
Tesladownunder, Fri Nov 16 2007, 03:20PM
Hey, this is clever. A Japanese (?) site posted 32 of my photos in a blog which is cool but what I didn't realise immediately is that they took some of my pic series and converted them into animated gifs.
ixiqi Site is here
Translated site is here
First gif is the Tesla trooper firing at the TC
Second is the schematic
TDU
[Edit: img:width=400]
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
..., Fri Nov 16 2007, 05:28PM
Wow, the RAT project seems to have caught on quite nicely...
Simply amazing how well that turned out!
..., Fri Nov 16 2007, 05:28PM
Wow, the RAT project seems to have caught on quite nicely...
Simply amazing how well that turned out!
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
teslaguy, Fri Nov 16 2007, 05:34PM
yea, congrats man.
teslaguy, Fri Nov 16 2007, 05:34PM
yea, congrats man.
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sat Dec 15 2007, 05:41AM
"All your base are belong to us..."
Tesladownunder, Sat Dec 15 2007, 05:41AM
"All your base are belong to us..."
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Crow187, Sat Dec 15 2007, 06:41AM
Ohhhh! The tesla power was not able to stop enemies?
Crow187, Sat Dec 15 2007, 06:41AM
Ohhhh! The tesla power was not able to stop enemies?
Re: Red Alert Tesla project
Tesladownunder, Sat Dec 15 2007, 07:07AM
Allied engineers disabled the power stations
Tesladownunder, Sat Dec 15 2007, 07:07AM
Allied engineers disabled the power stations
Print this page