RE: TC Operation Question

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "John H. Couture" <couturejh-at-mgte-dot-com> 


I agree. A Tesla coil operating on the 10th floor of a building is an
isolated electrical power source and only it's own ground plane is necessary
for it's proper operation. You would have the same setup with a Tesla coil
on the space station.

However, if the TC is near the earth and powered by the utility company the
utility ground and the TC secondary ground will always be connected at some
point. The grounding system will become a network and can pose safety
problems if incorrectly wired.

John Couture

-------------------------------------


-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 9:49 AM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: TC Operation Question


Original poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

You don't need a ground rod, IF (and only IF) you are running on top of a
suitable ground plane/counterpoise to serve as the RF return.  A ground rod
would be impractical if you were running a coil on the 10th floor of a
building, for instance.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 4:44 PM
Subject: Re: TC Operation Question


  > Original poster: Gregory Hunter <ghunter31014-at-yahoo-dot-com>
  >
  > Emmett,
  >
  > I strongly suggest that you NOT operate the coil again
  > without an RF ground. Running without the ground can
  > cause unpredictable and possibly destructive
  > consequences. Radio Shack sells a 4-foot copper plated
  > steel ground rod for under $10. Go buy one and install
  > it before applying power to your coil again. Use 12AWG
  > stranded (or thicker) copper wire to attach your
  > secondary to the ground rod. Make sure you have a
  > sturdy mechanical and electrical connection between
  > the secondary and the ground rod.
  >
  > To answer your question, the ground is an essential
  > part of the coil system, every bit as important as the
  > primary, secondary, or any other major component.
  >
  > Regards,
  >
  > Greg
  >
  > --- Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:
  >  > Original poster: "EMMETT SECREST"
  >  > <secrest2032-at-msn-dot-com>
  >  >
  >  > I am new to TC's so I have a lot to learn. I would
  >  > like to know what
  >  > relationship the RF ground has to the operation of
  >  > the TC. I know it is to
  >  > direct RF to ground but what I was wondering was
  >  > what effect it has on the
  >  > operation of the coil if it is not present at all. I
  >  > am still waiting on my
  >  > MMC's from The Geek Group and in the mean time I
  >  > built a saltwater bucket
  >  > cap. I hooked it up and tried out my coil without an
  >  > RF ground (it was
  >  > raining and I was impatient). It would make the
  >  > florescent lights glow but
  >  > would not generate any arcs.  I don't know if it is
  >  > a coupling issue, a
  >  > tuning issue or the lack of an RF ground.
  >
  >  > Emmett
  >  >
  >  >
  >
  >
  > =====
  > Gregory R. Hunter
  >
  > http://hot-streamer-dot-com/greg
  >
  >