[TCML] Safely Grounding a Tesla Coil

Sun Feb 7 16:20:03 MST 2010

I thought of this exact method just before reading this. Thanks'

On Feb 7, 2010, at 3:31 PM, "Richard Schmuke" <rdj at wildblue.net> wrote:

>
> I use 10ft copper pipes, for my coil operating spot and another set  
> up at
> the base of my radio tower. Install a garden hose fitting on the end  
> of the
> pipe , hook up a hose , hold the pipe vertical , have a friend turn  
> the
> water and the pipe will slip right into the ground as the water  
> pushes the
> dirt aside.
>
> Rich , KDØZZ
>
> No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However a great  
> number
> of electrons were inconvenienced.
>
>
> On Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:31 -0700, "Brandon Hendershot"
> <brandonhendershot at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi "Fuzzy"'
>>
>> These things are like 8 feet long. Unless I'm hiring Micheal Jordan  
>> to
>> help me, I'm going to need to know how to start it in. (That's
>> supposed to be funny, just in case it came off the wrong way.)
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Brandon
>>
>> On Feb 6, 2010, at 8:23 PM, "Reverend Fuzzy"
>> <cmayeux at msbministries.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Best way to sink a ground rod (with all seriousness intended) is
>>> with as large of a hammer or maul, as you are physically capable of
>>> handling.  If your aim leaves something to be desired, hold a chunk
>>> of 2x4 on top of the rod, and pound that... much bigger target, and
>>> less likely to smack your hand.  And above all, it is highly
>>> recommended that you slip the clamp, or other attachment device onto
>>> the rod BEFORE driving it in, as there is more than likely to be
>>> some "mushrooming" on the end of the rod, and it's a HUGE
>>> possibility that you won't be able to slip it on after.
>>> Stop hammering when there is just enough rod showing to comfortably
>>> deal with the clamp.
>>> ---
>>> Reverend Fuzzy
>>> Pastor, MSB Ministries
>>> Hattiesburg, MS
>>> http://www.msbministries.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: tesla-bounces at pupman.com [mailto:tesla-bounces at pupman.com] On
>>>> Behalf Of Brandon Hendershot
>>>> Sent: February 06, 2010 7:30 PM
>>>> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [TCML] Safely Grounding a Tesla Coil
>>>>
>>>> Hi Richard,
>>>>
>>>> A lot of what you guys are trying to explain seems way over my  
>>>> head.
>>>> How about some advice for sinking a ground rod? Lol, but I think I
>>>> will try the chicken wire counterpoise before I do any permenant
>>>> damage to the lawn.
>>>>
>>>> Thank you all for your patience with me,
>>>> Brandon
>>>>
>>>> On Feb 6, 2010, at 5:27 PM, "Richard Schmuke" <rdj at wildblue.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Lets try this Brandon , if you have a antenna, the standard is a
>>>>> dipole ,
>>>>> 1/4 wl out the center of the coax and 1/4 wl out the shield side.
>>>>> You can
>>>>> set this on the ground and have a rod going up from the center 1/4
>>>>> wl, now
>>>>> from the shield side spread out several wires 1/4 wl length to act
>>>>> as the
>>>>> other half of the antenna. This is sometimes called a  
>>>>> counterpoise.
>>>>> It gets
>>>>> more involved but did this help? If not I can sent you some simple
>>>>> drawings
>>>>> I use for my radio classes.
>>>>>
>>>>> Rich , KDZZ
>>>>> Disclaimer: Any errors in spelling or facts are transmission  
>>>>> errors.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: tesla-bounces at pupman.com [mailto:tesla-bounces at pupman.com]  
>>>>> On
>>>>> Behalf
>>>>> Of Brandon Hendershot
>>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 11:11 AM
>>>>> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
>>>>> Subject: Re: [TCML] Safely Grounding a Tesla Coil
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Jim,
>>>>>
>>>>> Could you explain the concept of "counterpoise" for me or  
>>>>> provide a
>>>>> link to some documentation? I've never heard of anything like  
>>>>> it...
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks btw,
>>>>> Brandon
>>>>>
>>>>> On Feb 5, 2010, at 9:39 PM, jimlux <jimlux at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Brandon Hendershot wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>> I know that it's said that you need an entirely seperate ground
>>>>>>> rod
>>>>>>> when opperating tesla coils because the high voltage grounding
>>>>>>> through the house wiring is extremely dangerous to anything
>>>>>>> plugged
>>>>>>> into any other grounded outlet on the same circuit.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Not precisely..
>>>>>> You need a separate RF return for the coil, be it a counterpoise,
>>>>>> good grounding system, etc.
>>>>>> The reason you don't want it interconnected too well with the
>>>>>> "house
>>>>>> ground" is that it will propagate HV transients into your house
>>>>>> wiring system (by capacitive and inductive coupling).. those
>>>>>> transients wreak havoc on most consumer electronics.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I wouldn't say "extremely dangerous".. I'd reserve that for
>>>>>> something like juggling chain saws.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> But what if you attached the coils
>>>>>>> ground wire directly to the ground rod. It would be bypassing  
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> house wiring, so the high voltage won't be running by any  
>>>>>>> precious
>>>>>>> electronics inside the house. It shouldn't be running back up  
>>>>>>> into
>>>>>>> the house right?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Exactly.. But there is a problem because at some point, you  
>>>>>> need to
>>>>>> bond to the "green wire ground" at least for things that are
>>>>>> plugged
>>>>>> in or that you might touch (e.g. equipment cases).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm trying to be minimalistic so I don't have to try to pound  
>>>>>>> down
>>>>>>> a ground rod of my own.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Think counterpoise.. a big conductive sheet.. chicken wire works
>>>>>> well. A circle that has radius = the height of the top load above
>>>>>> it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hook that to the bottom of your secondary.
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>
>  johnbrooks at airpost.net
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