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Re: [TCML] Is my 10" Tesla Coil Illegal ?



Gary, what kind of transformer do you have driving your coil?  Dennis Hopkinton MA









-----Original Message-----
From: gary350@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tue, Jan 19, 2010 5:22 pm
Subject: Re: [TCML] Is my 10" Tesla Coil Illegal ?


I don't have a control cabinet.  Look at the photo.  The HV transformer is 
etting directly under the primary coil.  The three .01 uf caps in parallel are 
nder the primary coil too next to the transformer.  The variable speed vacuum 
an spark gap is there too.  I have the fan speed on the spark gap turned up 
retty high probably close to 90% speed.  I turn the coil on/off several times 
nd adjust the spark cap air speed I can dial in maximum spark length real easy 
y changing the fan speed.  I keep moving my target and adjusting the fan speed 
ntil I get max length sparks.  Now that I think about it maybe it has something 
o do with my variable speed vacuum fan spark gap.  No tellin what is going on 
nside that spark gap with all the high speed air braking up the arcs in the 
ap.  I have a strike rail around the outer edge of the primary coil connected 
o ground too.  I have two 240 VAC wires running from the HV transformer into 
he shop.  I am using a Lincoln Arc welder as current limiting.  I am using a 60 
mp braker as the on/off switch.  The high voltage transformer is 14kv output.  
ax output is about 12KW I can crank the power up to 14KW but the output does 
ot get longer.  At 10KW sparks get slightly shorter only by about 6 inches. 
ith the targets removed I get sparks everywhere so I have to cover all the 
ires, caps, transformer, gap on the ground with pieces of sheet metal for 
rotective shielding they are all grounded.  I have about 20 well used bad 4ft 
luorescent light bulbs I can stick them in the ground all around the TC in the 
ard and they all light up.  Bottom end of secondary is grounded to earth ground 
ith a #6 copper wire to a 6 ft ground rod.
http://home.earthlink.net/~gary350/tc10-4.jpg


-----Original Message-----
From: mddeming@xxxxxxx
Sent: Jan 19, 2010 3:34 PM
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [TCML] Is my 10" Tesla Coil Illegal ?


Hi Gary,

Sounds like you have a lot of RF energy coupling into your distribution system.

1) Do you have any hash filters on your lines going to your control cabinet? If 
ot, definitely install some.

2) Is your RF ground short and solidly connected at both ends? A long or poorly 
onnected  RF ground line can act as an antenna.

3) Are there any power lines or phone lines running across or very near to your 
ack yard? This may require moving the coil if you are coupling to them..


A battery-operated radio will tell you about how far you're radiating. When 
urned on, the LCD of a hand-held cheap calculator will go crazy in the magnetic 
ield of a coil. If radiating is the problem, you may get an FCC visit. If you 
re linking back through the power lines you can be in trouble under various 
nuisance ordinances". If someone claims that you are "knowingly interfering 
ith security systems",  then you can be in deep stuff under the anti-terrorist 
nd conspiracy legislation.

Matt D.


-----Original Message-----
From: gary350@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tue, Jan 19, 2010 12:56 pm
Subject: [TCML] Is my 10" Tesla Coil Illegal ?


This time of the year when the air is cold and the humidity is extremely low 
tatic electricity is very high I get shocked every time I get IN or OUT of my 
UV, take off my jacket or put on my jacket.  If I move the blankets in bed at 
ight I see all kinds of sparks.  It is perfect for firing up my Tesla Coil and 
etting some very long sparks.   But I worry that this might be illegal.  My 10" 
>C makes 12 foot arcs I can make a 27 ft circle of arcs and sparks in the back 
ard with the 3 ft top load.  It makes every motion detector light and every 
ecurity alarm system go off in a 4 block radius around my house.  After dark I 
an see motion detectors lights going on/off, on/off, on/off, on/off, on/off, in 
>ll directions as far as I can see.  My automatic garage door and all the 
eighbors garage doors are freaked out going up/down, up/down, up/down, up/down, 
>p/down, up/down, over and over.  I can hear security alarms in all directions.  
> road my bicycle through the neighbor hood and I can find alarm systems going 
ff 4 blocks away in several directions from my house.  It totally distroys TV 
nd it makes no difference if you have cable, satallite, or antenna TV is 
otally wiped out all reception for several blocks.  I don't fire up my 10" TC 
ery often anymore I worry it might be illegal.  

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