High Voltage And Tesla Coil Thread!

PLEASE NOTE :
This thread will discuss construction of high voltage devices including Tesla coils

THESE DEVICES (DUH) UTILIZE HIGH VOLTAGE (DUh) and are shock hazards and electrocution hazards. We will be dealing volatges on this thread from 10Kv to about 6Mv


NEVER TOUCH A TESLA COIL IN OPERATION UNLESS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO!
ie) coils running over 1KW are potentially dangerous and pack a nasty wallup!

Charged capacitors store enough energy to kill in a tesla circut operation ( pulsed discharge). NEVER TOUCH THEM WHILE THE CIRCUT IS IN OPERATION OR AFTER UNTILL THE CAPACITOR HAS BEEN PROPERLY DISCHARGED!

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RUBBER and LATEX ARE NOT INSULATORS AT HIGH VOLTAGES AND WILL BREAK DOWN IN TESLA COIL ENVIRONMENTS! ACRYLLIC, TEFLON and PHENOLIC are good insulators with high voltage AC

 

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fun fun, i cant wait for our first experiment

 

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Now for experiment #1 THE JACOBS LADDER !
Materials you will need:
1) An NST (Neon sign transformer) 12Kv to 15Kv at a minium of 60mA $60 -120 USD


2) Two Nichrome or copper rods about 4-6ft long. you could go all the way to 12-16ft if you are really crazy but you will need HV insulators to keep the rods from crossing .

Follow these instructions below

1) Theory of Operation : http://www.kronjaeger.com/hv/hv/exp/jacob/index.html

2) THE Instructions:
Introduction:
------------

A Jacob's Ladder is the type of high voltage display seen in many old (and
usually bad) sci-fi movies. Jacob's Ladder come in all shapes, styles, and
sizes. Here is info on a common type that is easy to construct with readily
available parts. However, read the section: "SAFETY" before attempting to
power any high voltage project of this type.

Basic components:
----------------

There are only two major parts to a basic Jacob's Ladder: a high voltage
power source and a pair of wires or rods arranged in a narrow V configuration
on an insulated and fire proof support.

You will need 12 to 15 KV AC at 60 mA XMFR. However, the exact values are
not at all critical. A neon sign (luminous tube) transformer is the usual
source for this power though!!!

* Luminous tube transformers can be obtained used from sign shops or demolition
companies. The cost will be anywhere from free to $50 or more depending on
size and condition and whether the seller has a use or other buyers for this
sort of equipment.

Typical ratings: 12,000 to 15,000 VRMS current limited to 30 to 60 mA.

* I DO NOT recommend the following: microwave oven transformers, utility pole
transformers, and 100 KVA substation transformers

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. See the section:
"Why you don't want to use microwave oven transformers for a Jacob's Ladder"
for additional comments if you are not yet convinced. THEY ARE WAY TOO DANGEROUS!

- Microwave oven transformers produce only about 1,500 to 2,500 VAC which
is too low. Several in series would be required but this is an extremely
dangerous and unwieldy arrangement. They can supply AMPS of current which
is an instantly lethal situation, are not current limited, and do not
have the required insulation for such operation.

- Utility pole and substation transformers. Aside from requiring a fork
lift or 10 ton crane to move, I don't think the power company would be
happy if one of these were to disappear one night

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. It goes without
saying that these would even be overkill (no pun...) for the State
electric chair.

Having said that, see the section: "Notes on really BIG Jacob's Ladders" for
some more information.

Construction:
------------

Take a pair of thick wires - the steel wire from old metal coat hangers works
pretty well - straighten them out and mount them with a gap of about 1/4
inch at the bottom and 1-3 inches at the top. Of course, all on an insulated
non-flammable material! Connect the high tension output of the transformer
to the two wires and you should be all set. Some adjustment of the spacing
at the bottom (to get the arc started) and at the top (to determine when
the arc is extinguished and how fast it rises) may be required (but do so
only with the power off!). Depending on the voltage and power rating of
your high voltage source, these dimensions may vary considerably. Spirals
and other more creative configurations are also possible.


BEWARE ! Carbon tracking is a kind of arcing that occurs in organics and plastics that contain carbon to produce the black colouration of the plastic.


IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Essential line fuse, power switch, and power indicator
lamp not shown. Centertap (case) MUST be connected to Safety (earth) Ground or you may kill yourself by touching a ELECTRICALLY HOT case!

A Jacob's Ladder works on the principle that the ionized air in the arc
is a lower resistance than the air around it and heated air rises. The
arc strikes at the point of lowest breakdown voltage - the small gap
at the bottom. The heated plasma rises and even when it is an inch or
more in width is an easier path for the current to follow. Eventually,
the gap becomes too wide, the arc extinguishes and is reestablished
at the bottom. For best results, shield the whole thing from drafts but
don't use anything that can catch fire!

SAFETY:
------

CAUTION: See Safety Guidelines for High Voltage and/or Line Powered Equipment
before firing up this circuit!

Make sure that no one can come in contact with this - particularly curious
onlookers. Separating the potential victims from any possible contact
with the high voltage is really the only foolproof way of protecting
against fools or the unaware - and you from a lawsuit. People not
familiar with high voltage phenomena (or aware only through grade-C
sci-fi movies) can be incredibly naive.

A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is of no use in protecting against
HV contact since the secondary of a neon sign transformer is isolated from the
line but its centertap is usually connected to the case - which should be
grounded. GFCI IS USELESS IN THE CASE OF HVAC!

12,000 volts will jump approximately anywhere from 3/8 to 3/4 inch in dry air,
with sharp points and edges generally but maybe not quite always favoring
longer distances. This distance occaisionally varies unpredictably with
humidity. Don't forget that 12,000 VAC is approximately 17,000 V peak. Neon
sign transformers have current limited outputs - 60 mA is typical - but that
is still highly dangerous - lethal under the wrong conditions.

* Do not work alone.

* Always keep one hand in your pocket when anywhere around a powered
line-connected or high voltage system.

* Wear rubber bottom shoes or sneakers. WRONG! WON'T WORK!

* Don't wear any jewelry or other articles that could accidentally contact
circuitry and conduct current. YUP!

* Use an isolation transformer if there is any chance of contacting line
connected circuits.

* Don't make adjustments with power on.!!!!!!! DUH!

* Finally, never assume anything without checking it out for yourself!
Don't take shortcuts!

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Allright here it is the plans for a big tesla coil unit!!

Follow these links carefully as they tell you how to build one!
http://www.apc.net/bturner/coils.htm
http://home.earthlink.net/~electronxlc/
http://home.gallatinriver.net/mhammer/coil.htm
http://www.ttr.com/

 

Word of warning NEVER touch the output of a +1Kw class tesla coil unless you are insulated well above ground! IT HURTS BAD!!! BEEN THERE DONE THIS !!! Tesla coils will give you RF burns just like microwave ovens do and he burns do not heal very well.


NEVER EVER TOUCH THE PRIMARY CIRCUT WHEN THE COIL IS IN OPERATION OR AFTER. THE PRIMARY CIRCUT CARRIES 1000'S OF AMPS AND WILL KILL YOU IF YOU TOUCH IT !!

 

here are more links to build more tesla coils
http://home.earthlink.net/~electronxlc/
http://www.teslamania.com/

 

Chi?

Are you powering your Chobits with this information, Mr. Matsumoto?

Interesting thread, I thought that NST's can range from 6000 Volts at 30 milliamps to 15000 Volts @ 120 milliamps. You can also use Residential and Industrial Distribution Transformers, though it's a bit more dangerous. I know you recommend not to use them, but they are more effective. Either one can kill you, really. I suppose it's a matter of choice and not just accessibility. Not that I expect anyone who wanted to build a Tesla Coil to be frequenting these forums.

Would also add warnings about keeping a fire extinguisher on hand, and never allow children, pets or stupid adults anywhere near it.

 

Cool. Let's do some dangerous stuff. Like a weapon that can shoot a charge of electricty in an aimed direction. zzzZZZAAAPPPPOOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Needs more HERF gun.

 

I know that some neon Xmfrs are availible at 120mA but they are not easy to get ahold of! Franceformer makes cold cathode neons that can go up to 240mA but they are $1000 USD. They are +200lbs of tranny!

I have actually built a cold cathode neon unit out of very old tabuchi microwave Xmfrs. My outbut voltage is in the neighbourhood of 13Kv @ 615mA - 800mA ! I have to run this unit on an 50 Amp 240Vac service! when the arc is draw in a jacobs ladder the peak to peak flame is well over 5ft in length! If a person were t o screw up with this unit and accidently touch it while in operation the result would be instant death!

 

MOTs aren't current limited and will pop a breaker if allowed to arc unballasted.

What do you use for a ballast for that thing?

 

Wrong, MOTS are current limited with BIG SHUNTS! BUT, mots are not current limited for 15 Amps, especially the old tabuchi MOTS. they will draw easily draw 40A from a 15A circut when you use them on a jacobs ladder (ie arcing), Idle the mots will draw about 3A. Here is what you do to current limit them. use the capacitor that they came with. That will knock the current down to 8-10Amps. MOTs use secondary side capacitance ballasting, the shunts are there only as a backup safety measure.
I run 6 tabuchi mots with 8 mot caps. each cap is 2500V rated at 0.96uF. I also knock the shunts of every transformer which cools them right down! I am running my six pack on a 240Vac 50A service with no problems! I get about 13.2 - 13.5Kv at 564-650mA. I case you are wondering I also run the six pack under Voltesso xmfr oil to prevent coronaing.

I once ran this unit with no caps just to see what kind abuse these Xmfrs could take and had an output of 12Kv at 4 Amps output!! That was too fucking scary for words and I melted my jacobs ladder with 3/4" copper uprights in seconds! but the transformers barely got above 30c!
I have a movie on the web of this !! I will show the link soon!

PS By the way the output of a single MOT is instantly deadly! DO NOT USE A VOLTMETER TO MEASURE THE OUTPUT UNLESS IT IS 10Kv class or better!
TO MANY MICROWAVE REPAIR PERSONS HAVE DIED REPAIRING MICROWAVES THIS WAY!

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A 1Mv marx generator project to amuse those who dare!!

This is a really cool project to try!!

I have built one sort of like this but operating only at 650Kv

DANGER THE OUTPUT OF THIS DEVICE IS QUITE DEADLY! READ ALL WARNINGS BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS PROJECT
http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/marxthree.html

Pics of the UK teslathon 04
http://www.roffesoft.co.uk/tesla/amberly2004

Movie of a medium tesla coil running a massive radar tranny in 1999
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brianlepage/mandb/vids/BM3_first.mpg

 

DANGER THIS TRANSFORMER SUPPLY IS INSTANTLY LETHAL, KNOW HIGH VOLTAGE AND HAVE A PERSON WITH CPR/ SAFETY TRAINING. NEVER WORK ALONE!

Here is a Potent power supply called the MOT STACK MK6 it has the same power output as a 10 KVA pole transformer.
Output is 13.3-14.4Kvac @ 600mA - 4000mA
Get construction details!

http://web.a-znet.com/~teslacoiler/8inch.htm

 

CHECK THIS OUT !!!

ANYONE want to build a plasma globe or a small Solid state TC here is the link for you
This is the ultra simple way of driving those TV flyback transformers.
http://www.loneoceans.com/lo_main/labs/flyback/

 

some cool and interesting electrostatic machines from the 1800's.
interesting to note that some of these machines were used for X-ray work during the early 1900's.
http://www.coe.ufrj.br/~acmq/electrostatic.html

 

Ah, yes the death ray everyones been talking about... communist hamster this is a project for you.

http://www.lod.org/Projects/Other/index.htm

 

worlds largest tesla coil in operation. 130Kw Electrum coil
take a look at these hair raising pictures. yes 50ft sparks!!

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thats about 16.5MV of spark!
http://www.lod.org/Projects/electrum/index.htm
http://www.lod.org/Projects/electrum/testing/index.html

 

thats the wimhurst machine that i'm trying to build. does anyone know how to build 2 good, and somewhat powerful leyden jars that can hold seperate charges???

 

Not really a traditional Leyden jar, but pretty similar: Take a glass bottle, like a beer bottle, and wrap it with aluminum foil secured by a jacket of tape. This will be one of the plates. Get a cork or a rubber stopper (a stopper is preferable) with a hole in it, and a metal rod, preferably something that won't readily oxidize like brass, about 2 inches longer than the depth of the bottle. Jab the rod through the stopper so that, when the stopper is inserted, the rod sits maybe an inch off the bottom of the bottle. The rod will be the other plate.

Now, fill the bottle with saline. Get some hot water and keep mixing table salt into it until it won't dissolve anymore. Put the stopper in, and there's your el-cheapo HV unipolar capacitor. The electrolyte only needs to be changed maybe once a month as a saline solution will stay homogeneous for a long time. I've used this in a tabletop tesla coil and oudin coil with excellent results. It's much easier to assemble and works better than a window pane glass capacitor.