Re: Table-top mini coil contest update

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

Original poster: Chris Roberts <quezacotl_14000000000000-at-yahoo-dot-com> 

Whew. Just did the 5 minute run today. Keep in mind that although things 
may be harder to break down at a lower voltage, this is ME that we are 
talking about. I've fried so many caps... Anyway, the caps were not really 
the thing that I was worried about the most. My transformer has had most of 
the shunts taken out of it to make up for the fact that it's only a 3kv. 
It's also very old and used already. I'm glad it held up though. The thing 
that gave me the most grief was the spark gap. It got way too hot to touch 
and immediately melted an ice cube down that I was using to cool it 
afterwards. (Don't worry, it was completely unplugged and everything, and I 
made sure to dry it to remove any deposits) But anyway, I made it! Now as 
soon as I get an official reading on the current of my NST, (instead of 
just estimates) I will enter it into the contest. It gets about 11 - 12" 
sparks, and I still need to try it out on chicken wire.

Tesla l! ist <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:
Original poster: "Steven Ward"


The 4020 france NST is tough! I did not sweat the 5 minute run and usually
ran that coil for very long periods of time. The NST does get rather warm
after 5 minutes, but its a transformer! Assuming you are using a nicely
rated MMC design cap or similar, the 5 minute run is no problem really. At
4kv it seems that very little can break down. My coil stayed consistent
for the 5 minutes, no problem. Good luck!

Steve Ward

 >From: "Tesla list"
 >To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 >Subject: Re: Table-top mini coil contest update
 >Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 20:12:03 -0600
 >
 >Original poster: Karl L
 >
 >Chris,
 >
 >Thanks for the reference in your post. I assume you plan on entering your
 >mini-coil under Ca! tegory II rules? Since I have finally found a new 4020
 >NST, I can redesign my coil to compete under Category I. Then Gary, Dan
 >and Steve had better watch out!
 >
 >Do you have any specs for your coil yet? The only way to see if your coil
 >will survive the 5 minute test, is to have a fire extinguisher nearby,
 >and simply let it rip. Works for me.
 >
 >Happy coiling,
 >
 >Karl
 >
 >On Sat September 20 2003 10:52 am, Tesla list wrote:
 > > Original poster: Chris Roberts
 > >
 > > Sounds like something to try with my mini coil. We've got an old
 > > pidgeon coop in the backyard so I'll have to see if it also works for
 > > me. I'm planing to enter mine as soon as I pass the 5 minute run.
 > > (Still too scared to attempt it, I love my mini coil =) ) At least as
 > > soon as I do it, we'll have a second entry for the category 2 contest.
 > > (Karl, no more winning by default =D )
 > >
 > > Tesla list wrote:
 > > Original poster: "Lau, Gary"
 > >
 > > I'm proud to announce that I have taken the #1 spot in the mini coil
 > > competition!
 > >
 > > Last month, Dan Mccauley and I brought our minicoils to the RATCBA
 > > Teslathon. While I had been seeing about a 12" max streamer at home (1"
 > > shy of Steve Wards 13" record), I found that using Ed Wingate's chicken
 > > wire covered Cage of Death (faraday cage) as a target, I was able to
 > > achieve 14.5" strikes to the cage. Dan achieved 13" strikes, tying
 > > Steve's previous record.
 > >
 > > I finally put together a chicken wire target at home and have been able
 > > to reproduce 14" strikes, so I'll claim that as my record.
 > >
 > > Since my initial entry, I have changed my t! ank cap to .025uF, and have
 > > increased my toroid size to 3.5" x 10.75". But most important seems to
 > > be using a chicken wire target, and using a 1/2" brass ball! on my top
 > > load breakout point.
 > >
 > > The minicoil web page has been updated, see
 > > http://www.laushaus-dot-com/tesla/minicoilcontest/index.htm
 > >
 > > My coil details may be seen at
 > > http://www.laushaus-dot-com/tesla/minicoil.htm
 > >
 > > Regards, Gary Lau
 > > MA, USA
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > > -Chris



-Chris