[moved] The Theremin DRSSTC Controller . . . / Tesla Coils / Forums

Forums

4hv.org :: Forums :: Tesla Coils

« Previous topic | Next topic »

[moved] The Theremin DRSSTC Controller . . .

1 2 next

Move Thread

LAN_403

HV Enthusiast

Thu Jun 29 2006, 02:07AM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

Inspired by watching an old space martian movie this past weekend, I have decided to pursue an interested project. Design a theremin device to control the output of a DRSSTC.

Stay tuned for more info. Should be a fun project!!!!

Desmogod

Thu Jun 29 2006, 02:45AM

Registered Member #139 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 11:01AM
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 358

I know when I run my SSTC that I get capacitively coupled and arc across to anything metal. Is this going to be a problem with DRSSTC's and the theremin aerial?

mind you, being able to play "Good Vibrations" on a DRSSTC might be highly amusing.

ragnar

Thu Jun 29 2006, 02:52AM

Registered Member #63 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:18AM
Location:
Posts: 1425

ROFLLES at the irony of 'good vibrations'...

...then again, I'm not sure I'd want to be waving my hand near metal plates in the close vicinity of a DRSSTC =D

...and there must be sooo many people here who don't know what a theremin is

sounds great, EVR =)

And I bet Steve is feeling left out since he posted his musical DRSSTC and started this musical trend =P hehe

HV Enthusiast

Thu Jun 29 2006, 03:12AM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

Not sure how the DRSSTC will affect performance or operation - i'll have to build one and test it to find out for sure . . . but at the least, i'll have a way cool musical instrument to annoy my co-workers with.

In regards to good vibrations, they actually used a Tannerin, which is a varient of the Theremin in that an actual mechanical slider is used to change frequency rather than antennas.

Michael W.

Thu Jun 29 2006, 04:39AM

Registered Member #50 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:07AM
Location: Vernon, B.C, Canada
Posts: 324

Strange coincidence...I started building a simple theremin this morning....EVR Do you have a schematic you are working from?

HV Enthusiast

Thu Jun 29 2006, 10:38AM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

There are a few reference designs i was looking into, although i'll probably modify them to my tastes before using them. Here is one that claims 20Hz to 2000Hz operation.

http://www.oldtemecula.com/theremin/

Michael W.

Thu Jun 29 2006, 01:54PM

Registered Member #50 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:07AM
Location: Vernon, B.C, Canada
Posts: 324

That link has the one that I'm making, the site includes some audio clips as well as plans for an optical psuedo-theremin. It puts out a soild square wave which can then be smoothed out into a sine wave giving a really nice rich sound...

HV Enthusiast

Thu Jun 29 2006, 03:02PM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

Actually, upon further research, i may try this digital theremin circuit. It provides DC outputs on the volume and pitch control and these can easily be implemented into pulsewidth and PRF control.

Of course, i have my reservations as to whether this will even work in the proximity of a DRSSTC, but only an actual experiment will tell . . .

Steve Conner

Thu Jun 29 2006, 09:23PM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

I guess there would be serious EMI problems since the theremin works by generating and picking up small RF currents at frequencies not too far off where a Tesla coil works. All the more reason to use what a previous poster called an "Optical Pseudo-Theremin".

Marko

Thu Jun 29 2006, 09:41PM

Registered Member #89 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 02:40PM
Location: Zadar, Croatia
Posts: 3145

Even if you put yourself and theremin into faraday cage you'l still have lots of interference coupling trough cables. Best try would be powering the thing from a battery and using optical link, then caging yourself.

Without a cage coil would make an enormous 'microphony' (sort of) effect on the antennas, you may fry input HC14 chips.

When you approach it it gets even worse, since body acts as huge capacitance to the coil and just throws more of coil's electric field to the antenna, with unpredictible results.

EMI interference is actually a lesser problem, mostly it's radio frequency noise generated by sparks also helping such a circuit to go nuts.

I don't know if it is predictible to tell what will happe, depending on the reaction of the circuit, I guess it will enter an sort of 'microphony' with the coil and blow the fuse (or even worse IGBT's) with high break rate.

1 2 next

Moderator(s): Chris Russell, Noelle, Alex, Tesladownunder, Dave Marshall, Dave Billington, Bjørn, Steve Conner, Wolfram, Kizmo, Mads Barnkob