If you need assistance, please send an email to forum at 4hv dot org. To ensure your email is not marked as spam, please include the phrase "4hv help" in the subject line. You can also find assistance via IRC, at irc.shadowworld.net, room #hvcomm.
Support 4hv.org!
Donate:
4hv.org is hosted on a dedicated server. Unfortunately, this server costs and we rely on the help of site members to keep 4hv.org running. Please consider donating. We will place your name on the thanks list and you'll be helping to keep 4hv.org alive and free for everyone. Members whose names appear in red bold have donated recently. Green bold denotes those who have recently donated to keep the server carbon neutral.
Special Thanks To:
Aaron Holmes
Aaron Wheeler
Adam Horden
Alan Scrimgeour
Andre
Andrew Haynes
Anonymous000
asabase
Austin Weil
barney
Barry
Bert Hickman
Bill Kukowski
Blitzorn
Brandon Paradelas
Bruce Bowling
BubeeMike
Byong Park
Cesiumsponge
Chris F.
Chris Hooper
Corey Worthington
Derek Woodroffe
Dalus
Dan Strother
Daniel Davis
Daniel Uhrenholt
datasheetarchive
Dave Billington
Dave Marshall
David F.
Dennis Rogers
drelectrix
Dr. John Gudenas
Dr. Spark
E.TexasTesla
eastvoltresearch
Eirik Taylor
Erik Dyakov
Erlend^SE
Finn Hammer
Firebug24k
GalliumMan
Gary Peterson
George Slade
GhostNull
Gordon Mcknight
Graham Armitage
Grant
GreySoul
Henry H
IamSmooth
In memory of Leo Powning
Jacob Cash
James Howells
James Pawson
Jeff Greenfield
Jeff Thomas
Jesse Frost
Jim Mitchell
jlr134
Joe Mastroianni
John Forcina
John Oberg
John Willcutt
Jon Newcomb
klugesmith
Leslie Wright
Lutz Hoffman
Mads Barnkob
Martin King
Mats Karlsson
Matt Gibson
Matthew Guidry
mbd
Michael D'Angelo
Mikkel
mileswaldron
mister_rf
Neil Foster
Nick de Smith
Nick Soroka
nicklenorp
Nik
Norman Stanley
Patrick Coleman
Paul Brodie
Paul Jordan
Paul Montgomery
Ped
Peter Krogen
Peter Terren
PhilGood
Richard Feldman
Robert Bush
Royce Bailey
Scott Fusare
Scott Newman
smiffy
Stella
Steven Busic
Steve Conner
Steve Jones
Steve Ward
Sulaiman
Thomas Coyle
Thomas A. Wallace
Thomas W
Timo
Torch
Ulf Jonsson
vasil
Vaxian
vladi mazzilli
wastehl
Weston
William Kim
William N.
William Stehl
Wesley Venis
The aforementioned have contributed financially to the continuing triumph of 4hv.org. They are deserving of my most heartfelt thanks.
Registered Member #2628
Joined: Fri Jan 15 2010, 12:23AM
Location:
Posts: 627
I seem to be in a bit of a dilema, while originally I was working on a dc resonant spark gap tesla coil, I saw some pretty amazing discharges on youtube from SSTC (the dagger like discharges) and now im having second thoughts.
while I have enough electronic know how to build both, I dont have enough components so I can only build one or the other, In your humble opinions, what system is better to use, an SGTC or an SSTC?
Registered Member #1228
Joined: Tue Jan 15 2008, 01:08AM
Location: Curitiba, Brazil
Posts: 162
SGTC is a circuit easier to be done, few parts, but applied to the power input coil is much dissipated as heat, losing your income, need in this case, knowledge about the size of the coil can be used.
SSTC has a better yield with coil absurdly small, compared to SGTC. A SSTC is possible to set the exact frequency of operation, with the best value possible, however a circuit much more complicated, requiring knowledge of various electronic components.
Registered Member #152
Joined: Sun Feb 12 2006, 03:36PM
Location: Czech Rep.
Posts: 3384
I don't like SGTC's because of the extreme noise and interference they make, and like you said it isn't possible to create the sword-like discharges with a SGTC. You can also built a VTTC which is a lot simpler than a SSTC and produces similar results, but you'd need to get a good vacuum tube first if you don't have one.
Registered Member #2161
Joined: Fri Jun 05 2009, 03:36PM
Location:
Posts: 247
Dr. Kilovolt wrote ...
I don't like SGTC's because of the extreme noise and interference they make, and like you said it isn't possible to create the sword-like discharges with a SGTC. You can also built a VTTC which is a lot simpler than a SSTC and produces similar results, but you'd need to get a good vacuum tube first if you don't have one.
That is my main problem with SGTC and DRSSTC, they are way to loud for me. Especially a DC SGTC it shrieks like a mad banshee.
Personally I have no problem recommending an SSTC, it may seem a bit "daunting" at first but, if one takes his time and does his homework great results can be had. Not to mention it is a really great learning experience and opens the possibility of many other projects in power electronics.
Just 2 points:
-I would not build one without an o-scope...if you do not have one, purchase one of e-bay. The amount of FET's that will be saved and frustration that will be prevented more than makes up for the investment.
-Take your time. Check, re-check and re-re-recheck all waveforms, settings etc. Power FETs can be expensive, more costly is the unnecessary stress of popping your last 4 fets on an H-bridge. When you have it working be slow with your tunning process, only change one variable at a time and take notes of the coils behaviour power draw, heating etc.
Registered Member #2628
Joined: Fri Jan 15 2010, 12:23AM
Location:
Posts: 627
yeah, I think Ill build an SSTC, while and Ill probably start with a PLL driver with a half bridge, Ill make the coil in a decent size, as for the oscillioscope, I can fashion one out of an old TV and a variable saw tooth generator and an amplifier, (read it somewere, but forgot were). Im too cheap to get a O-scope. as for a VTTC, I dont have a vacuum tube, so no luck there. having build a SGTC before, the noise they make is very loud, and a DRSSTC is above my current skills, so I will probably stick with an SSTC and might audio modulate it. dont worry about the fets, I have some old power mosfets I liberated from some apple computers, (rated around 15A 600V) and some gaint heatsinks and fans. (SEC ssf9n80a) and (IRFP450) quite frankly, I havent really made up my mind yet, Ill think ill build the shrieking banshee first and then gather more parts and build an SSTC
This site is powered by e107, which is released under the GNU GPL License. All work on this site, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License. By submitting any information to this site, you agree that anything submitted will be so licensed. Please read our Disclaimer and Policies page for information on your rights and responsibilities regarding this site.
SGTC or SSTC, help...
When you have it working be slow with your tunning process, only change one variable at a time and take notes of the coils behaviour power draw, heating etc.