By covering over the opening with aluminum tape this loss is eliminated.I use 16 gauge stranded wire salvaged from old microwave ovens. The wire is rated at 600 volts. I strip about an inch of insulation off the end and fan out the wire. With a 1 inch square of Al tape I tape the fanned wire to the top electrode--which is the *bottom* of the soda can. Soda cans do not need to be sanded to get the paint or graphics off; the graphics are only on the sides of the can, not the top or bottom. A generous wipe down with acetone or xylene cleans the aluminum prior to taping down the wire.
Once the wires are taped in place I cover the top with about an inch of melted wax. See pictures at http://www.instructables.com/id/SGRQI2PFVS7L7BG/
The jars are in parallel. Each top electrode is connected to the can in front of it with a length of 16 gauge wire. The rearmost and frontmost jars are then connected to the string of jars beside them. At one of the end jars I leave a free length of wire (usually with a quick-connect attached, recycled from the microwave wiring harness). I make another connection to the outside foil of another jar on the same end with fanned wire and taped down with the usual Al tape.
The outside of the jars are connected to each other by strips of two inch wide Al tape. The whole array is wrapped with rubber bands to make the connections snug, but not so tight as to deform the jars. I use a HDPE garment box as an insulated mount.
Paul----- Original Message ----- From: "Quarkster" <quarkster@xxxxxxx>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 4:44 PM Subject: Re: [TCML] Capacitor calculator?
Paul - Two questions:1.What benefit is obtained by sealing the aluminum soft-drink can so it is airtight?2. How do you make a reliable electrical connection from your tank circuit to the aluminum can?Regards, Herr Zapp----- Original Message ----- From: "PAUL THOMPSON" <mrapol@xxxxxxxxxxx>To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 3:16 AM Subject: Re: [TCML] Capacitor calculator?----- Original Message ----- From: "chuck" <asimov@xxxxxxxxxxxx>To: "'Tesla Coil Mailing List'" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 4:40 PM Subject: RE: [TCML] Capacitor calculator? "An empty, sealed, inverted aluminum soda can will not quite fit in thecanister; you have to warm the plastic with a hair dryer before you can pushthe can in. (You also have to make a small hole in the bottom of the canister to let the air out. This hole you later plug with silicone caulk)."Why not just make a hole in the bottom of the soda can? The air can escapeand you won't have to seal it. Just sayin' . . . Reply:I seal the can's pop-top with metal tape, so the can is an airtight unit. I'd have to pierce the can twice (top and bottom) to allow the air trapped inside the lemonade canister to escape. That would work, but it seems easier and neater to poke one small hole in the bottom of the plastic canister.PBT _______________________________________________ Tesla mailing list Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla _______________________________________________ Tesla mailing list Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla_______________________________________________ Tesla mailing list Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxhttp://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
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