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types of tesla coils?

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EvilTesla-RG

Tue Jun 24 2008, 01:58AM

Registered Member #1523 Joined: Sat Jun 07 2008, 02:05PM
Location:
Posts: 97

I know about static spark gap tesla coils....

but what are the differnt types of tesla coils?

how do they compare to ssgtc's?

and where can I learn about them?

J. Aaron Holmes

Tue Jun 24 2008, 02:14AM

Registered Member #477 Joined: Tue Jun 20 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 546

I would probably say that there are three general classes of Tesla coils:

SGTCs = Spark Gap Tesla Coils (I think that's what you meant; "static" is just one type of spark gap, and usually isn't called out as "SSGTC").
VTTCs = Vacuum Tube Tesla Coils
SSTCs = Solid State Tesla Coils. SSTCs are probably the most various. A notable sub-class is the DRSSTC = Dual-Resonant Solid State Tesla Coil.

Since people tend to build these for different reasons, comparison is probably best done with some kind of goal in mind.

Cheers,
Aaron, N7OE

Bjørn

Tue Jun 24 2008, 02:21AM

Registered Member #27 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 02:20AM
Location: Hyperborea
Posts: 2058

This is a reasonable place to start:

Arcstarter

Tue Jun 24 2008, 02:29AM

Registered Member #1225 Joined: Sat Jan 12 2008, 01:24AM
Location: Beaumont, Texas, USA
Posts: 2253

J. Aaron Holmes wrote ...

I would probably say that there are three general classes of Tesla coils:

SGTCs = Spark Gap Tesla Coils (I think that's what you meant; "static" is just one type of spark gap, and usually isn't called out as "SSGTC").
VTTCs = Vacuum Tube Tesla Coils
SSTCs = Solid State Tesla Coils. SSTCs are probably the most various. A notable sub-class is the DRSSTC = Dual-Resonant Solid State Tesla Coil.

Since people tend to build these for different reasons, comparison is probably best done with some kind of goal in mind.

Cheers,
Aaron, N7OE

Oh, and oltc= offline tesla coil.

J. Aaron Holmes

Tue Jun 24 2008, 04:06AM

Registered Member #477 Joined: Tue Jun 20 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 546

Arcstarter wrote ...

Oh, and oltc= offline tesla coil.

I'm counting DRSSTCs, OLTCs, SISG TCs, SSSSSTCs (I think TDU's built the only one of those

), feedback-type and non-feedback oscillator-type SSTCs as "SSTCs".

EvilTesla-RG

Tue Jun 24 2008, 04:31AM

Registered Member #1523 Joined: Sat Jun 07 2008, 02:05PM
Location:
Posts: 97

besides just looking cool, what are the various goals you can have for a Tesla coil?

and how do these types of coils achive it?

*looking at link now*

J. Aaron Holmes

Tue Jun 24 2008, 05:11AM

Registered Member #477 Joined: Tue Jun 20 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 546

EvilTesla-RG wrote ...

besides just looking cool, what are the various goals you can have for a Tesla coil?

Well, maybe you're interested in the principles of switch-mode power supplies or vacuum tube oscillators, and want to know how these things work. Maybe you want your coil to produce audio. Maybe you're shooting for maximum efficiency or maximum frequency or minimum size. Maybe spark length is the most important thing. Maybe you're trying to avoid spending money and are challenging yourself to come up with a design that uses only parts on hand, or are trying to extrapolate a design from a favorite item (transformer, capacitor, etc.). Maybe you're interested in the actual contruction aspect of the project, learning to work with plastics, ceramics, wood, learning to weld, solder, drill, etc. Or maybe it's some combination of the above plus things I didn't put down.

Or maybe there's some really geeky chick you're just dying to impress

Cheers,
Aaron, N7OE

Arcstarter

Tue Jun 24 2008, 05:16AM

Registered Member #1225 Joined: Sat Jan 12 2008, 01:24AM
Location: Beaumont, Texas, USA
Posts: 2253

EvilTesla-RG wrote ...

besides just looking cool, what are the various goals you can have for a Tesla coil?

and how do these types of coils achive it?

*looking at link now*

Well a sstc can have threadlike long sparks and short flamelike sparks. The flamelike sparks are acheived with VERY high frequency, it the mhz range. A vttc has thick and flamelike sparks. With my vttc with 811a, i had 4-6 inch sparks that turned into a flame when i drew an arc. But sgtc have least efficiency due to spark gap losses. Oltc's work on the exact same principal as sgtc's. they just use a mosfet or igbt to discharge the primary capacitor into the primary instead of a spark gap. Since it does not have the losses it can be run on line voltage.hence the name 'off line'. there are very few oltc's though. They use an oscillator to tell the transistor when to discharge. it runs at lower frequencies than sstc, about the same as sgtc's. It is probably the hardest tesla coil to build though. i don't know this though :P.

EvilTesla-RG

Tue Jun 24 2008, 07:53PM

Registered Member #1523 Joined: Sat Jun 07 2008, 02:05PM
Location:
Posts: 97

all very....interesting.

thnks for the information.

dingo27

Tue Jun 24 2008, 09:01PM

Registered Member #890 Joined: Tue Jul 10 2007, 10:06PM
Location: Slovakia
Posts: 180

What is SSSSSTC? I never heard of it...

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