Re: Tesla coil help

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Andrew,

We sort of need to know if the NST is 30 or 60mA.

Are your caps rated for very high current?  If so, you can probably put 
them in a 2 x 2 configuration for 20kV at 10nF (0.010mfd).  But be careful 
there since Tesla coils can fry caps that are not just right.

Usually a 2 to 3 foot secondary is nice.

Don't worry about pole pigs until you get this one working.  There are so 
many detail an options at that level it is just too messy to deal with 
until you figure out the first coil.  After that, many many things will be 
much more clear.

If you NST is 30mA the maximum expected spark if everything is just right 
is 36 inches.  Probably go to 50 inches at 60mA.  But those are for coils 
where everything is just perfect.  30 and 40 inches is probably more 
realistic for a first coil.

Right now, I would say to check or tell us more about those primary caps 
and the NST current.  Once that is all figured out, you can go to the coil 
construction.

Cheers,


Terry


At 10:23 AM 3/19/2005, you wrote:
> Hello im interested in building a tesla coil with BIG lightning 
> bolts.....I would like to use the transformer and caps i have now....what 
> would be the biggest secondary i could use with a 15kv nst and 4 .005mfd 
> at 10kvac caps. Also whats the next step up from that kind of transformer. 
> I mean is a pole pig the next step? Your replys are greatly appreiciated
>
>
>
>
> Andrew