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TDU Microwave/Telsa prize

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LAN_403

Tesladownunder

Thu Aug 31 2006, 04:38PM

Registered Member #10 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 09:45AM
Location: Bunbury, Australia
Posts: 1424

Ok, I reckon that there is not enough ingenuity and resourcefulness going on in budget coiling these days.
I propose a prize of $US 50 to be paid by PayPal by me to the person who makes a Tesla coil with the longest sparks from a standard microwave oven.

Conditions:
This is meant to be fun
One standard domestic MO (microwave oven) less than 1000W to be obtained free.
MO must be the transformer type not the inverter type.
Only the parts of one oven to be used. No other parts to be used apart from solder, hot glue or epoxy in reasonable amounts (not large amounts to make secondary formers).
This also means no PVC, tape, paper or other extraneous substance.
How you adapt the internal parts is up to you.
Progress, results and sparks must all be photographed to confirm use of only parts of one MO are used. Spark length measured from the photo with a ruler adjacent.
Enter as many times as you wish
If you think you might be bending the rules in some way post your question or PM me if it is confidential.
I will be the sole judge (possibly - may be a group vote is best)
Competition closes December 1 2006.

And you thought that was hard. The hardest thing is that you will be competing with me who doesn't want to lose his money!

I expect the useful parts to be the 2000V transformer, 1uF mylar capacitor, 10kV diode, fan, wires and round glass plate. Also turntable motor, low voltage transformer etc.
Clearly none of these parts are ideal at all and would normally not be associated with coiling.
I reckon they can make a successful coil with a 1 or more inch spark at zero cost but you need to think outside the box here. I have a lot of ideas and have done some preliminary work.

Comments?

Peter

Nik

Thu Aug 31 2006, 05:06PM

Registered Member #53 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:31AM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 638

This sounds like a great challange, I will begin my hunt for a <1000w microwave. I have a 1100 in the basement but there is a blunk garbage pick up soon so I will find one shortly.

ReddyK

Thu Aug 31 2006, 05:25PM

Registered Member #92 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 03:11PM
Location: Indian Trail, NC
Posts: 39

I like this! Can I assume that the use of a variac is ok?
Steve

Tesladownunder

Thu Aug 31 2006, 05:49PM

Registered Member #10 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 09:45AM
Location: Bunbury, Australia
Posts: 1424

Variac from the mains seems OK. I can think of some creative cheating by using 15kV as the power source but a variac should be no problem. I don't think you will need to turn it down much though

Peter

EDIT Sorry, I have had a rethink on this. I think it is an expensive add-on that does not enhance the project. So no variac, sorry.

Nik

Thu Aug 31 2006, 07:07PM

Registered Member #53 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:31AM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 638

Will you makes alowances on things like marrets (screw on wire connectors) for joints? I would rather not have all my joints laying around and exposed while the thing is plugged in.

Electroholic

Thu Aug 31 2006, 07:15PM

Registered Member #191 Joined: Fri Feb 17 2006, 02:01AM
Location: Esbjerg Denmark
Posts: 720

sounds fun, i will begin my hunt

Roger

Thu Aug 31 2006, 09:04PM

Registered Member #221 Joined: Mon Feb 20 2006, 05:36PM
Location: Chillicothe Ohio
Posts: 12

This sounds like fun. I normally power my larger coil with two microwave oven transformers but I cant really tell what my maximum spark length would be because my garage isn't big enough. If I set it up to run with just one MOT maybe I can tell. Ops, I just took a closer look at the rules of the contest. Now I see that every thing has to come from just one microwave oven. That might be a little harder.

Roger

Marko

Thu Aug 31 2006, 09:12PM

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

I think most interesting part is going to be finding wire and something to wind the secondary around. Wire may come from a relay or something (if there is any) but the form is tricky thing

Making spark gap that is going to work with 2 kV is also going to be challenging, we may see some new ideas over there..

I unfortunately can't get a MO for myself but challenge is very interesting anyway..

Nik

Thu Aug 31 2006, 09:16PM

Registered Member #53 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:31AM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 638

fan motor may help for some sort of rotary

Thats what I thought too but it is also a VERY good source for secondary wire. I wish I still had that 80's microwave. It had a 4kv reed switch in it.

JimG

Thu Aug 31 2006, 09:44PM

Registered Member #52 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:22AM
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 57

I think most interesting part is going to be finding wire and something to wind the secondary around. Wire may come from a relay or something (if there is any) but the form is tricky thing

In the few microwaves that I've pulled apart the fans have had magnet wire that was easy to remove.

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