Here is one that I built,
I will try to dig up the video but it will light up a florescent tube from 2 feet away!
Plans for a Mini 120V Tesla coil ( Science Demo style )
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27th January 2012 10:46 PM #1DJDAudio
Plans for a Mini 120V Tesla coil ( Science Demo style )
I have worked on so many of these things, I decided I would draw up the schematics and specs so others can build there own if interested, they are of a very unique design for a Tesla coil.
This will build you one like this,
:cool:
they do not use a normal High voltage transformer on the primary as most are used too, they use what is referred to as an oscillator, think of it is a large solenoidal relay.
From my best guess of the design, the High voltage back EMF pulse from the solenoid coil is used to charge up the caps, and when the contacts close the power is dumped into the primary.
Any questions ask away.
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28th January 2012 01:27 AM Thread Starter #2DJDAudio
0
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28th January 2012 01:59 AM #3DerStrom8
Tesla Fanatic
Very interesting idea, but though it looks like a tesla coil, I don't believe it fits the definition. A Tesla coil relies on resonance of the coils to increase the voltage exponentially. I think what you have here is actually an air-cored induction transformer that uses a circuit interrupter that operates with mains frequency, which is more closely related to an ignition coil than a Tesla coil. I'm still very curious about it though. What kind of voltage output do you get? It is definitely a very clever idea, and I am tempted to give it a try myself. I've built many tesla coils before, but I have not ever built a transformer of this style. Also, what's the output frequency sound like? I imagine it has a 60 hertz hum, rather than the several hundred kilohertz that a classic tesla coil would emit.
A video would be awesome! Thanks for posting!
Regards,
Der Strom0A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
- Douglas Adams -
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28th January 2012 01:36 PM Thread Starter #4DJDAudio
Will get a Video up very soon, the output arc will jump at 1.25" at STP
As for tuned resonance, I do feel there is something to that with this coil, for the knob will adjust the contacts and there is a 'sweet' spot where the output will be the greatest.
About the sound, the oscillator is so loud you can barely tell but I have some ideas on how to tell.
Also given the 1.75:260 turns or 1:148 Ratio , if the input was 1,600 that would be an output of 236,800V So you may be correct on this! but then again the input may only be 120V or 17,760V at the output. if that was the case it would never make the 1.25" Jump
Allot of Food for thought, you have me thinking now, and will look some more into this!0
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28th January 2012 01:43 PM Thread Starter #5DJDAudio
Also the Sprague 'orange drop' capacitors they use are high frequency capacitors if that helps.
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28th January 2012 01:48 PM Thread Starter #6DJDAudio
These where not an easy find for some reason,
http://www.tubesandmore.com/scripts/...em=C-SD05-1600
$2.95 each.
Capacitor - Orange Drop, .05 µF @ 1600 V (16PSS50-503K1600V)0
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30th January 2012 02:50 AM #7JimW
It is tough to tell from the schematic if it qualifies as a Tesla coil. I have several of them built similarly that are Tesla coils. They use an adjustable spark gap as the frequency adjust for the resonant frequency of the secondary wound coil. The easy way to tell if it qualifies as a Tesla coil is to make a moderate adjustment to the spark gap (and thus changing the frequency of oscillation). If the output discharge goes away, then it probably was running at the resonant frequency, and is a real Tesla coil.
-Jim0
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30th January 2012 02:59 AM #8DerStrom8
Tesla FanaticJim, there is no spark gap on this "tesla" coil. It is mainly just a standard circuit interrupter, and though you might be able to reach resonance with this one, it does not operate by it. I am about 90% sure this would not actually classify as a real tesla coil, but it is certainly a high voltage air cored transformer, and that in itself is very clever and fascinating. It does not need to be a real Tesla coil to be cool
Originally Posted by JimW
0Last edited by DerStrom8; 30th January 2012 at 03:01 AM.
A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
- Douglas Adams -
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30th January 2012 08:27 PM Thread Starter #9DJDAudio
Sorry this took so long, Ran up and got a Video for you guys. The 3' Tube was hand held and not grounded, or be it through me.
so what are your thoughts?
I will try to get a scope on it to see if it is high frequency soon.0
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30th January 2012 09:05 PM #10DerStrom8
Tesla Fanatic
Well, that is an interesting specimen now, isn't it
The output does indeed look like that of a tesla coil. However, I feel if it was a real Tesla coil, you'd be able to tune it to get streamers (to air) much longer than what you have. I really can't say for sure, though. I suppose you could call it a simple low voltage tesla coil, but it can't really be proved that it IS one without testing for resonance. Regardless of what it is called, you did a fine job DJ. It's a very interesting project indeed!0Last edited by DerStrom8; 30th January 2012 at 09:05 PM.
A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
- Douglas Adams -
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