Tesla coil... AC or DC input?
Slava, Sun Nov 08 2015, 09:59PMA lot of schematics that I looked at are based on AC HV output from a transformer. Can you use a HV DC input? Will it be the same? Better? Worse?
Re: Tesla coil... AC or DC input?
nzoomed, Sun Nov 08 2015, 11:52PM
Some people do it, but expect losses and you will need more capacitors.
nzoomed, Sun Nov 08 2015, 11:52PM
Slava wrote ...
A lot of schematics that I looked at are based on AC HV output from a transformer. Can you use a HV DC input? Will it be the same? Better? Worse?
AC is better, but i expect you need to rectify AC anyway if you plan to use a high voltage DC supply.A lot of schematics that I looked at are based on AC HV output from a transformer. Can you use a HV DC input? Will it be the same? Better? Worse?
Some people do it, but expect losses and you will need more capacitors.
Re: Tesla coil... AC or DC input?
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Mon Nov 09 2015, 04:00AM
DC requires you use a large high voltage rated choke, like 2 - 10 H rated to handle 30-50KVDC. This is to limit the surge current of the DC supply trying to charge up the high voltage capacitor.
Most of us do not have a choke like this lying around(they're huge), and rectification is an extra step, so AC is easier to deal with.
Plus, you are firing your AC system once the capacitors have reached a peak voltage, there are two peaks per cycle, so essentially you are firing once the caps are fully charged just like a DC system, so what would be the point of over-complicating what you are already doing?
MK
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Mon Nov 09 2015, 04:00AM
DC requires you use a large high voltage rated choke, like 2 - 10 H rated to handle 30-50KVDC. This is to limit the surge current of the DC supply trying to charge up the high voltage capacitor.
Most of us do not have a choke like this lying around(they're huge), and rectification is an extra step, so AC is easier to deal with.
Plus, you are firing your AC system once the capacitors have reached a peak voltage, there are two peaks per cycle, so essentially you are firing once the caps are fully charged just like a DC system, so what would be the point of over-complicating what you are already doing?
MK
Re: Tesla coil... AC or DC input?
nzoomed, Mon Nov 09 2015, 06:10AM
Yes i agree with Hazmatt.
With my first post i had a DRSSTC on the brain, so ignore that. For a SGTC, go AC all the way!
nzoomed, Mon Nov 09 2015, 06:10AM
Yes i agree with Hazmatt.
With my first post i had a DRSSTC on the brain, so ignore that. For a SGTC, go AC all the way!
Re: Tesla coil... AC or DC input?
Mads Barnkob, Mon Nov 09 2015, 08:02AM
The DC resonant charging coil might be a more complex (and heavier) construction, but the sound of a high break rate coil like that is scary in a whole other way than a regular SGTC :)
Mads Barnkob, Mon Nov 09 2015, 08:02AM
The DC resonant charging coil might be a more complex (and heavier) construction, but the sound of a high break rate coil like that is scary in a whole other way than a regular SGTC :)
Re: Tesla coil... AC or DC input?
omegalabs, Mon Nov 09 2015, 09:09PM
Depends on the power input. I planned a 3 phase spark gap TC, and it could be used only as a DC coil with a charging choke.
The charging choke is pretty complex since the extremely high peak voltage and the high saturation effect of the DC and the high inductance.
For 1 phase, I prefer AC, and likely with synchronous spark gap.
omegalabs, Mon Nov 09 2015, 09:09PM
Depends on the power input. I planned a 3 phase spark gap TC, and it could be used only as a DC coil with a charging choke.
The charging choke is pretty complex since the extremely high peak voltage and the high saturation effect of the DC and the high inductance.
For 1 phase, I prefer AC, and likely with synchronous spark gap.
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