RE: [TCML] VTTC geometries, opinions needed, Fo calc wanted, sword sparks, turning off a SCR in staccato mode

["Jim Mora" <wavetuner@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Dr. John,

I absolutely know and wish to repeat your astute warnings: that any
connection to either the HV or the tank would almost assuredly be fatal. My
tank will be inside a polygon fish tank with the bottom cut out. All HV will
be attempted to be arranged in a "no touch zone". I have given considerable
thought to safety on this project. ANY power will be fed via a fused safety
switch next to me with the door open (must be off to open).

Let it be known to our newer readers that second chances with MOTS or HV
plate transformers are likely not survival-able or would result in
incredibly painful burns and near death experiences. 

In my opinion, VTTC's are inherently more dangerous than spark coils and
many others as it is in your face all the time during the testing and tuning
phases. 4-5KVA is a mini pole pig! And rectified DC with filtering = cooked
death on contact.

If complete cardiac arrest doesn't happen, you need a partner to safely
disconnect you and call 911 and you have 3-5 minuites tops to get the
paramedics there to stop you're your fibrillating heart and restart it.

Sorry to be so grim. But this warning is real! 

I'll start building when the winter rains come. I will wind and coat the
coil in the meanwhile along with 4 others. 4",8", 12', and 22". The 4 and 8
need an Enviorotex <sp> coating only. I'll start with the 4" to get the hang
off it. I have built (2) very robust winders, one for the 4,6,8,and 10"
crowd and a second for 12" to >30". I think they merit picture posting on my
Gmail account for robust wider ideas.

Jim Mora 

-----Original Message-----
From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Dr. John W. Gudenas
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 7:35 AM
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: Re: [TCML] VTTC geometries, opinions needed, Fo calc wanted,sword
sparks, turning off a SCR in staccato mode 

Hi Jim
Quite frankly, I would start building the coil and get it tuned and  
functional.
Add the staccato controller after you have the VTTC performing well.
You can control your plate voltage and I suggest a variac to ramp up  
and set the filament voltage too.

Remember, that if you are standing close to the coil, don't touch any  
grounded metal objects when it is operating. RF burns are nasty.
You are building a really powerful RF source. The relatively quiet  
discharge sometimes produces a false sense of being harmless.
Your plate voltage & current or worse the primary tank circuit can  
easily put you in cardiac arrest. I know you are not a novice, but we  
have new members
reading these posts so I thought I would just add the warning.

Start building.
John

  John W. Gudenas, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science

On Sep 8, 2009, at 10:10 PM, Jim Mora wrote:

> Hi Dr. John, et al,
>
> I do have a big variable cap under oil which measures 35-260pf.I  
> thought I
> would set it in the center point, tap the primary, and tweak the  
> variable
> cap for fine tuning.  My main cap bank will be .004uf
>
> Fo calc wanted. I used a micrometer on my wire and the insulation is ~
> .002244" or slightly less. This gives me 944 turns or so at 32"  
> long. The
> top load is very small namely 7"x.25. I am trying to stay in the  
> 350Mhz ball
> park. The wire is 21awg. I know that ain't happening. Even reducing  
> to 30"
> self res is 309Mhz with 885 turns. I think I'll wind all 32 inches.
>
> In CW operation, I don't care if the sparks are brush like. There  
> will be a
> hell of a lot of RF energy! I should be able to burn a screw driver  
> and
> light big lamps @ near breakout.
>
> So here is the last question: when I run staccato mode, can I get the
> coveted swords? John seemed to think so and we know his vast  
> experience with
> this! Anyone else have experience with this to verify the outcome?
>
> I have yet to figure how to turn off the Staccato SCR with FW >4KV @  
> >4KW
> in.
>
> Ant help or suggestions welcomed!
>
> Thanks,
> Jim Mora
>
>
SNIP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++SNIP
John W. Gudenas, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science


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