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Registered Member #2292
Joined: Fri Aug 14 2009, 05:33PM
Location: The Wild West AKA Arizona
Posts: 795
I was about 8 or 9 when I started with electronics, building mechanical stuff way before that as well. I built my first SGTC back in 2009 when I was 17, I have sense built a couple of SSTC about 5 DRSSTC a QCW and a lot of other HV stuff, I'll be 20 in NOV and have just completed one of the largest twin DRSSTC systems in the world with my friend Steve Caton.
Age has almost nothing to do with Tesla coil building if you ask me, it's all about your experience level. (and how deep your pockets are ) Some of the best coilers I know are under 20.
I amassed enough knowledge in two years to build some awesome stuff. Study hard and make mistakes, it's how you learn!
Registered Member #514
Joined: Sun Feb 11 2007, 12:27AM
Location: Somewhere in Pirkanmaa, Finland
Posts: 295
17 seems to be the magic number here. I did my first real TC at 17, a half bridge SSTC. I did a simple single switch one before that, and attempted a SGTC a few years earlier, but that ended up being more of a step down transformer.
Registered Member #1589
Joined: Sun Jul 13 2008, 06:40PM
Location:
Posts: 70
12 when I built a 15/60 SGTC, 14 when first SSTC, 16 15kW SRSGTC... Havn't done very much new creation since then. I'm working on a 833A VTTC right now though. (19)
Registered Member #4052
Joined: Thu Aug 11 2011, 04:43AM
Location: IN ,USA
Posts: 69
I have worked with electrical and construction for as long as I can remember. My dad is a professional machinist and does carpentry for a hobby. So I learned things like how to make a perfect hole with a crappy drillpress forever ago.
However I am not sure where I learned the electrical, because I have done most of the wiring in our house, because my dad did not understand it. In fact I was probably 14 or 15 when I wired up the garage to be a shop, and the 220v line that I ran for my dad's air compressor, I now use for my coils.
I started playing with the gets from a broken plasma globe a few years ago. then I built my first coil (asynchonous rotory spark gap) a little over a year ago. I have since built a new sgtc (synchonous rotory), am working on a sstc and have plans for more after that. I am now 17.
So yes, I would agree that it is based on knowledge, a willingness to learn the hard way, and your funds, Not age.
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How old?
) Some of the best coilers I know are under 20. 
