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First Tesla Coil Help

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Jazzman56

Mon Nov 05 2012, 11:04AM

Registered Member #7222 Joined: Sat Oct 13 2012, 06:04AM
Location:
Posts: 18

Hi 4hv

Is Steve Wards Micro SSTC a good place to start for a first or should a try a SGTC first.

Jazzman56

zzz_julian_zzz

Tue Nov 06 2012, 04:01AM

Registered Member #3964 Joined: Thu Jun 23 2011, 03:23AM
Location: Valenzuela City
Posts: 332

it depends on your understanding of TCs and resources/ability as a builder/engr..

SGTC typically do not use solid state devices, SSTC does. SGTC uses high voltage transformers for supply, SSTC dont. Both are interesting starter.
I suggest to know first your resources, which and what are easily available...

Micro SSTC is a good place to start, but MINISSTC is more advance(but not too complicated) and yet, nearer concept onto latest generation coils, utilizing feedbacking circuitry.. anyways, it's completely your call =)

Jazzman56

Tue Nov 06 2012, 04:34AM

Registered Member #7222 Joined: Sat Oct 13 2012, 06:04AM
Location:
Posts: 18

Julian

The parts for a SSTC would be more available and accessible than a SGTC, unless it's Uzzor2k's first tesla coil i do not have access to a neon sign transformer.

It also needs to be relatively SAFE so that i can learn how SSTC works but minimise the risk/problems i will encounter.

Is there any other MICRO type SSTC like Steve Wards?

Thanks
Jazzman

zzz_julian_zzz

Tue Nov 06 2012, 05:21AM

Registered Member #3964 Joined: Thu Jun 23 2011, 03:23AM
Location: Valenzuela City
Posts: 332

what output on the whole project are you after? if you're after long sparks, then i suggest you go first with mini SSTC. It's not that complicated, if you can see Steve ward's first attempt to make an SSTC without the 555 timer starter circuit. Just like the micro SSTC which needs to have a kick starter 555 timer. and to lessen the complexity of the SSTC, you can just remove the 555 interrupter, just connect the pin 3 of both UCC ICs to the positive 5v, this will make the TC uninterrupted (continuous)

I suggest you read this site

there are lot of things about SSTC you can learn on.

Jazzman56

Tue Nov 06 2012, 08:24AM

Registered Member #7222 Joined: Sat Oct 13 2012, 06:04AM
Location:
Posts: 18

Julian

Thanks for your help so far + the link
I'm after long low powered sparks, i have some experience with the 555 timer so building the interrupter will probably be not an issue.

Compared to the Micro is the MINI still relatively safe?

Am i correct in staying that the Gate transformer protects the sensitive driving circuits from the High Power Switching>

My native power is 240 volts how would this effect the circuit?

Jazzman

zzz_julian_zzz

Tue Nov 06 2012, 09:18AM

Registered Member #3964 Joined: Thu Jun 23 2011, 03:23AM
Location: Valenzuela City
Posts: 332

Hi Jazzman,

No prob. In this forum group all members are willing to help you.
its good to hear that you have experience with 555 circuits.

Actually, output of these tesla coils are not safe, even the gas that it emits is bad when inhaled. It all depends of course on the power produced on the arc/input to the system. BUT If i were you, i wouldn't touch those arcs and probably get away from the system once you planned to energize =).. If you are planning to build a TC, you are automatically / and should be aware that you are exposed to risks, you should be always attentive on what you are doing and in your environment.

What size are we talking here? in terms of secondary coil size? What arc length you are after? you should see first your goals before you design it, ask first design questions and hope that we can answer it hahah

of course, we can!

"Am i correct in staying that the Gate transformer protects the sensitive driving circuits from the High Power Switching"

-YES, other concepts of this is the ISOLATION of low power electronics to high powered circuitry so that when the bridge failed, the controller will not be damaged. Don't worry, here in my country, the AC mains are 240 V/ 60Hz.

you can PM me if you have related specific questions.

Graham Armitage

Tue Nov 06 2012, 08:59PM

Registered Member #6038 Joined: Mon Aug 06 2012, 11:31AM
Location: Salado, TX
Posts: 248

Jazzman,

I have a bunch of experience with SGTCs but wanted to get into SSTCs. I decided to start with the MiniSSTC so that I could develop a good understanding of the electronics and have a working coil to experiment with. I was really happy I did, and with help from folks on this forum got it working very reliably with 10-12" arcs. Very manageable indoors and still impressive.

I did make some modifications to Steve Ward's circuit. I replaced the antenna with a current transformer on the bottom of the secondary to get the feedback. I also replaced the 555 interrupter with a more feature rich modulator. Once I had that working, I decided to make an arduino-based audio modulator and replace the hard wired modulator connection with fiber-optic. All of this was possible with this base circuit so as you can see I have been expanding my knowledge of SSTCs with this circuit. Great place to start.

Good luck

zzz_julian_zzz

Wed Nov 07 2012, 02:53AM

Registered Member #3964 Joined: Thu Jun 23 2011, 03:23AM
Location: Valenzuela City
Posts: 332

@ Bushman, its nice that you replaced the antenna with CT, hehe im sure that the performance greatly increased! =D

Jazzman56

Wed Nov 07 2012, 09:23AM

Registered Member #7222 Joined: Sat Oct 13 2012, 06:04AM
Location:
Posts: 18

Bushman

This is going to sound very silly but what exactly did you alter in place of the antenna and how does this give better results ?

Graham Armitage

Wed Nov 07 2012, 01:38PM

Registered Member #6038 Joined: Mon Aug 06 2012, 11:31AM
Location: Salado, TX
Posts: 248

Not a silly question at all - take a look at Steve's 1.1b driver circuit http://www.stevehv.4hv.org/newdriver08/DRSSTC_pndriver_modsb.pdf

I took the section of the circuit from the feedback CT that has the 4 clamping diodes (to prevent over voltages) and replaced the antenna with it. Add a 1k resistor after the 0.1uF cap and the rest of the driver circuit is the same. I did not wind my own CT as the ones from digikey (part number 237-1096-ND) are $3.44 and do the trick. I fed the wire from the ground side of the secondary through the CT before connecting to ground. This provides a signal to the driver that is at the same frequency that the secondary is resonating at.

hope this helps.

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