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Registered Member #1731
Joined: Thu Oct 02 2008, 02:22PM
Location: Indiana
Posts: 52
So after many years of building Tesla coils and feeling generally happy about they way they work, I just realized this morning that I don't understand a fundamental concept properly.
In a basic NST/tank cap/spark gap TC the NST is used to "charge" the tank cap up to a point where the spark gap breaks down and activates the LC circuit causing primary oscillation.
I don't quite get how the NST can charge the tank cap - since it will be putting out AC and effectively charging / discharging the cap. Net result = 0.
Or is just one AC cycle enough to charge the cap up and break down the spark gap?
It's odd how you think you 'get' something for years, and then you realize that maybe you don't.
Half the AC cycle is usually more than enough to charge the cap bank till breakdown. This can happen several times per half-cycle. In the other half of the cycle, the cap tank is charged with the opposite polarity. This does not affect the coil operation. Many details in this great writeup :)
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I just realized I don't understand something.
