[TCML] Need Help Troubleshooting My First TC

[jimlux]

Wm A Tickhill wrote:
> I Am A Dedicated Gadgeteer With Several Projects Under My Belt ( Tebuchet -
> Babington Burner - Sundry Gadgets ) Yet I Am New To The High
> Voltage Hobby/Obsession. After Building A Jacobs Ladder, And A Plasma Globe,
> I Began My First Classic TC.
> 
> The Basic Specs
> 
> 15/20 NST  With Safety Gap
> 
> .375 Copper Electrode Adjustable Spark G
> 
> .005uF Wound Poly/Foil In 4" PVC Tank Cap
> 
> Primary Coil  12.5 Turns Of .25" Tubing With .5" Spacing Between
> 
> Secondary Coil  3.5" Diameter 18" Height With #26
> 
> Top Load  5" X 12" Toroid ( dryer duct/foil tape )
> 
> 
> MY PROBLEM >  When I Power My NST And Spark Gap Alone, It Works Well - Draws
> An Arc .005" To .5"  HOWEVER When I Connect It To The Primary Coil/ Tank Cap
> The Spark Gap WILL NOT FIRE. Out Of Desperation I Swapped Out The NST For An
> OBIT I Had, I Got The Same Result. Out Of Greater Desperation I Swapped Out
> The Tank Cap With A Grossly Underrated HID Lighting Cap, Still The Same
> Result. No Matter What I Do, If I Connect The Primary Coil/ Tank Cap, The
> Spark Gap Will Not Fire.
> 
> A


The HID lighting cap is probably not particularly useful.

What's the wiring diagram for your primary?  Is the spark gap across the 
NST and the primary coil and C in series? or do you have the C across 
the NST, with the spark gap and primary in series?