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My first solid state tesla coil

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LAN_403

Physics Junkie

Mon May 20 2013, 08:45PM

Registered Member #7267 Joined: Tue Oct 16 2012, 12:16AM
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 407

Ahhhh!! Lol ToOO big!

From my experience Having the secondary too high can also cause racing sparks. You will probably have to keep messing around with tuning and coupling. Have you tried using javatc to help equate these things?

ShadowSpark

Mon May 20 2013, 08:58PM

Registered Member #16605 Joined: Wed May 08 2013, 02:09AM
Location:
Posts: 12

i may try that later and somone told me it could be the fact that the old system dosent have enough capacitence or somthing i will have to try javatc

Physics Junkie

Mon May 20 2013, 10:20PM

Registered Member #7267 Joined: Tue Oct 16 2012, 12:16AM
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 407

Well if you are using a different capacitance then your tuning will be way off.

ShadowSpark

Mon May 20 2013, 11:01PM

Registered Member #16605 Joined: Wed May 08 2013, 02:09AM
Location:
Posts: 12

so i was right i can't use the old system on this coill...owell i just have to wait till i make the solid state stuff to run big bertha

HV Enthusiast

Mon May 20 2013, 11:01PM

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

Based on everything i've read regarding your coil and experience, i would strongly advise checking out some of the other coiler's websites and building a small DRSSTC based on their designs to at least familiarize yourself DRSSTC operation.
DRSSTCs are highly complex compared to spark gap coils and if you are unable to use the appropriate calculators to determine primary and secondary resonance, you are going to have a very difficult time with getting a DRSSTC to work.

I know you had come to me originally looking for DRSSTC components to complete your build, but i'm not getting a good feeling that you have the concepts down to simply sell you block components to build a DRSSTC. If I sell products to someone
i want to make sure they are capable of utilizing them so as not to just take your money - thats not what we are about. I'm not about blindly selling something to someone if i don't feel they would be able to succesfully build the coil.

There are a number of coilers on this forum that have designs documented extremely well that you could follow as a framework. I would review them and then choose one and try building and learning about DRSSTCs.

I know you are very anxious to build a DRSSTC and get it running, but like everyone else here who has started with solid state Tesla coiling, we all learned to walk before we could run.

If you are seriously considering venturing into solid state coiling, I would strongly recommend building just a simple SSTC first. We have the SSTC 1.0 kit, and there are numerous other examples on the web you can follow to build your own. Richie Burnett and Steve Ward both have a lot
of nicely documented SSTCs which you can use as a starting point.

Good luck with your projects.

Physics Junkie

Tue May 21 2013, 12:08AM

Registered Member #7267 Joined: Tue Oct 16 2012, 12:16AM
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 407

Well said, EVR.

Shadowspark, just a friendly reminder, you should edit your post instead of double posting

Also, just because you don't get massive sparks on your first try does not mean it will not work. EVR gave you a great recommendation. I'd be happy to provide you with some links to good basic sstc's and drsstc's with documentation and helpful info, if you want...

Graham Armitage

Tue May 21 2013, 01:25AM

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

I just picked up on this thread and can give some personal experience to echo what has been said. After much spark gap coil work, I built a small SSTC based on one of Steve Ward's circuits published on the web. Then upgraded to a DRSSTC and built the MiniBrute from EVR. From my experience, I strongly suggest that you check out the EVR site and start with something there. What that will cost you is nothing compared to what can be wasted in trying to figure it out yourself and blowing up expensive components. The details can get pretty overwhelming and complicated - especially if you don't have the deep electronics background and understanding that some folks on 4HV have. Just my 2c worth.

ShadowSpark

Tue May 21 2013, 01:52AM

Registered Member #16605 Joined: Wed May 08 2013, 02:09AM
Location:
Posts: 12

what do u mean by double posting?
oh wait... now i see the thing whare i kept saying i couldent post photos. and see this is my issue .... to build the sst 1.0 ok nvm i was about to say the sst 1.0 must be like 1000 dollars ..but its not its accually very afordable. curious can i audio modulate that to start? then i could just use the same audio modulator later on. hmm... so ok i like that idea except i can't go like sstc...to microbrute to minibrute to my big one id have to go from sstc to my big one ...unless i just made it into a moster spark gap tesla coil. oh what to do ...

Physics Junkie

Tue May 21 2013, 02:15AM

Registered Member #7267 Joined: Tue Oct 16 2012, 12:16AM
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 407

just a suggestion, start with something like this

this coil is highly "modifiable" and can serve as a very good learning platform. It's not expensive to make, and it's still a fun little coil that can be audio modulated. I built this as my first coil and I had a lot of fun with the build that I ended up building two more just to improve my mechanical construction skills and do other things to try and improve the spark output. I highly recommend something like this to start, you will not be disappointed. After that you can start dabbling in double resonant stuff. After I built my mini sstc's I went straight to building a DRSSTC larger than the minibrute. It took almost 6 months to get it fully operable at just under 5ft sparks and I learned a hell of a lot through the whole experience.

ShadowSpark

Tue May 21 2013, 02:37AM

Registered Member #16605 Joined: Wed May 08 2013, 02:09AM
Location:
Posts: 12

im probbily gunna start with that little kit from evr then go to the minibrute

on a side note does anyone know how to turn on a pc powersupply without it being on a mobo i think u short out 2 points but idk which 2 it is and i ahve old ones laying around i plan to use for running fans for the coils i make

i have now purchased the kit so i will build that and see how it goes but for now i would like to continue my efforts on getting ready to either build a minibrute or make my coil solid state. what im trying to decide is do i make the minibrute and make my big one into just an op spark gap coil thats huge or do i just make it into a drsstc after this kit..

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