Re: why does Capacitor break???

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "resonance" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxxxx>



If the specific type of cap you used was not designed as a pulse duty 
capacitor, ie, not designed for nearly 100% voltage reversals, it 
will, as you discovered, quickly fail.  Only pulse duty caps can take 
the higher RF currents and voltage reversals necessary in Tesla 
oscillator type circuits.

A Maxwell cap will not fail.  MMC type caps are very durable and will 
not fail.  I suspect you were using a DC filter cap which is not 
designed for high voltage RF use.

Dr. Resonance



> Hi, today I tried my first Tesla Coil. It's 65cm high (secondary), 
> it is powered by 10kV 20mA transformer (a bit too low for him). I 
> used 25kV, 22nF capacitor. It worked perfectly for about 20 minutes, 
> then capacitor went hot and then it was dead. Why?? transformer 
> power supply is 10kV and a capacitor is suitable for 25kV! I know 
> about a resonance... but... :( What capacitor should I use then???