[TCML] Safely Grounding a Tesla Coil

[jimlux]

Brandon Hendershot wrote:
> I can't find any info on how an antenna can ground something. Can you 
> provide a link or attempt to explain it in detail for me?


The reference is to grounding systems (radials, primarily) for vertical 
antennas.  A classic AM radio station ground is 120 radials extending 
out as far as the antenna is tall.  Not because that's "optimum", 
necessarily, but it's enough that adding more radials doesn't improve 
the performance of the antenna significantly.  A lot less will also work.

Bear in mind that AM radio transmitters at 1 MHz are sort of different 
than a tesla coil at 200 kHz.  Also, radio transmitting antennas are 
designed to radiate, while TCs aren't.

The basic concepts of the ground plane are the same: add conducting 
elements to improve the apparent conductivity under the antenna/tesla coil.