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Registered Member #2873
Joined: Sun May 23 2010, 10:22PM
Location:
Posts: 2
Hi, I am new to coiling and this forum. I was wondering if there is any reason I should avoid using a spark plug as the spark gap for my coil. I am using a 6000V 20mA NST as my power source, so the coil isnt all that powerful. A quick reply would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, InvncibiltyCloak
Registered Member #2628
Joined: Fri Jan 15 2010, 12:23AM
Location:
Posts: 627
Most sparkplugs have internal resistance, this is not good, also, you cannot really adjust a spark plug, and the usual width of the gap is very small, and thus insufficient for the voltage of your supply (let alone the tank capacitor)
you are better off using a pair of bolts then a spark plug.
Registered Member #2628
Joined: Fri Jan 15 2010, 12:23AM
Location:
Posts: 627
yeah, mine had resistance far lower, but what I was reffering to, is that the outer electrode will still be too close for the gap, since it will probabaly not fire properly.
Registered Member #480
Joined: Thu Jul 06 2006, 07:08PM
Location: North America
Posts: 644
IC -
Aside from the probability of having an internal RFI-supression resistor, the electrodes on a spark plug are just the wrong shape for efficient use in a Tesla coil; instead of sharp edges, you want smoothly curved surfaces with large radii.
Gary Lau built a very nice little spark-gap TC powered by a 4KV, 20ma NST. He used two small segments of 1" dia. copper pipe to create a single gap that had large radii and good thermal conductivity. His writeup may give you some ideas on how to construct your coil.
Registered Member #2463
Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
Location:
Posts: 1546
I was just wondering out there in the coil community, how common are trannys like this one? the pencil is pointing out the shunt.
Gatedbreakdown, I have a dmm like that but it also has a RS232 cord wich allows graphing of values with the software. Handy for curves over time os stuff hooked up. Also there are many sparkplugs with no resistors.
Registered Member #2628
Joined: Fri Jan 15 2010, 12:23AM
Location:
Posts: 627
radiotech wrote ...
I was just wondering out there in the coil community, how common are trannys like this one? the pencil is pointing out the shunt.
that has a simular construction to a bug zapper transformer, also, this reminds me of microwave transformer construction, with the shunt in the middle. also, some old NSTs have simular construction, could you perhaps give us a few ratings of the primary and secondary if there are any?
Registered Member #1902
Joined: Fri Jan 02 2009, 07:59PM
Location: Lancaster, NY
Posts: 75
I too have a transformer from Allanson, one of my close friends up in NY has an uncle that puts up the big signs for commercial chains. I got a 15kv 60ma NST for FREE. Unfortunately 500vac is not nearly enough voltage for a TC, if that's what you intend to do!
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Spark Plug?
