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Registered Member #4373
Joined: Sat Jan 28 2012, 08:44PM
Location:
Posts: 11
Hello there this is my first time posting on this forum.
The problem im currently having is that my toroid will not create a spark with out putting a discharge terminal (i use a nail on the toroid) that arc to the same ground that my secondary is connected too. The maximum spark that i have been able to achieve is 8 inch but normal i can only get multiple streamers of 5-6 inchs in distance to the object im targeting. Id like to try and understand why i see videos on and tesla coils arcing on there own with out a discharge terminal added to there toroid and can shoot stearmer into the air its almost like my tesla coil cant discharge into the air. I have tunned my coil to the best i coild by moving my tap on the primary all around to have the best output. Please help
To start off im using this set-up currently
Capacitor: 20 nano-farad salt water capacitor Transformer: 10 000 volts 23 mA x 2 ( ran in parallel) Series spark gap 5 of them (richard quiks) toroid : alumminum duct 4 x 15 16.6 pF primary: 12 turns 3/8 copper pipe (tapped at turn 10) secondary: 1016 turns 20 inchs high
Visual help i put a few picture to try and better understand i show a picture of the arc that is shooting out of my discharge terminal id like to have my toroid shoot stearmer out a random dirrections if any more info is needed id like to get my coil to be have 18inch streamers.
Registered Member #195
Joined: Fri Feb 17 2006, 08:27PM
Location: Berkeley, ca.
Posts: 1111
I think you need another case of beer, but seriosly I think it needs more capacitance. With more capacitance you could reduce primary inductance. Beer bottles have more surface erea than those jugs. Reduce the length of wire between your caps and primary.
Registered Member #4373
Joined: Sat Jan 28 2012, 08:44PM
Location:
Posts: 11
Thanks ya iv reduced the lenght of wire and made the set up much cleaner. Still having the problem that it would discharge with out a discharge point. do you think it has to do with my wine bottle capacitors iv built im not sure how efficent they are but i used my meter to read them having 20nF. This is a spark gap tesla coil if you didnt notice. How can beer bottles have more surface area
Registered Member #4118
Joined: Mon Oct 03 2011, 04:50PM
Location: MD
Posts: 140
The resistance of your caps may be hurting the performance. See if you can put aluminum foil on the inside. Since your meter has a capacitance function, I assume it has a frequency function too. If so, you should check to make sure the resonant frequencies of the primary and secondary are the same. See the TC tuner here
But discharging without a discharge point is cool! You make lichtenberg-like figures in the air! At least your coil is arcing. Mine doesn't do a thing without a grounding stick. The NST itself produces a longer spark :/
Registered Member #4373
Joined: Sat Jan 28 2012, 08:44PM
Location:
Posts: 11
m4ge123 wrote ...
I think he meant his TC won't make any sparks without a discharge point close to RF ground.
Ya i meant to say that iv gotta use a nail attached to my toroid by taking a peice of tape and stick it on my toroid so that i can discharge it with out it my coil doesn't seem to want to work no streamers are produced also streamers are more effective to rf ground. I dont understand how other peoples coil work with out this discharge terminal. any advice?
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Need Tesla coil help not working properly
