[TCML] A couple of questions - bipolar earthing.

[mrapol at frontier.com]

My experience is limited, but when I tried grounding either end of my small 
*horizontal* bipolar coil, the arcing greatly diminished. Does it make a 
difference that this design is not for two vertical coils linked, but for a 
single wound, horizontal coil?

The coil in question has two fairly tall terminals ending in small brass 
balls that I can swing apart or closer together. I use a 7,500 volts 30 mA 
NST usually and I have never had problems with it not being grounded.

PBT


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Terren" <pterren at iinet.net.au>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla at pupman.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 11:27 AM
Subject: Re: [TCML] A couple of questions - bipolar earthing.


> Yes, a bipolar coil does need the base connection earthed.
> I have blown a couple of MOT's before I realised this.
> While a bipolar coil develops a potential between the two coils there is 
> still a capacitance between each toroid and the ground which will try to 
> get back into your equipment to the base of the TC. An inch or two of 
> spark it might be controllable particularly when there are sparks between 
> the two toroids lower the voltage. But try to run streamers and that will 
> be a different matter. And if the toroid gets close to ground or a 
> grounded object then you are guaranteed a flashover from secondary to 
> primary.
>
> Peter
> tesladownunder.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <mrapol at frontier.com>
> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla at pupman.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 11:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [TCML] A couple of questions
>
>
>>A bipolar coil does not need a ground connection. That's one reason I 
>>chose to build one as my first coil.
>>
>> (mrapol at frontier dot com)
>>
>> Paul
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "B McPeak" <bmcpeak363 at att.net>
>> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla at pupman.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 6:21 AM
>> Subject: Re: [TCML] A couple of questions
>>
>>
>>> Paul,
>>> Thanks for the help!
>>> One question... I think I saw somewhere that a Bi-polar coil does not 
>>> need a ground? Or does not need an earth ground?
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> On 2/22/2011 9:44 AM, mrapol at frontier.com wrote:
>>>> Modestly I offer:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.instructables.com/id/Tabletop-Tesla-Coil/
>>>>
>>>> A bipolar tabletop model. You can email me with questions too.
>>>>
>>>> Paul
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "B McPeak" <bmcpeak363 at att.net>
>>>> To: <tesla at pupman.com>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 8:45 AM
>>>> Subject: [TCML] A couple of questions
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hello all,
>>>>> Does anyone know of plans for a tabletop Bi-polar coil? I have found
>>>>> lots of videos but not a lot of hard or modern info. I have the Boy
>>>>> Electrician book plans. Suppose it could be modified. I would like to
>>>>> build one with a cylindrical secondary, not cone shaped.
>>>>> Also I know this has been asked before. I need to put in a ground rod
>>>>> for my present coil. My concern is that any practical location is near
>>>>> the mains ground and copper water lines or the ground cable would be
>>>>> very long.Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> --
>>>>> Brad McPeak
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Tesla mailing list
>>>>> Tesla at pupman.com
>>>>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Tesla mailing list
>>>> Tesla at pupman.com
>>>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> Brad McPeak
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tesla mailing list
>>> Tesla at pupman.com
>>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tesla mailing list
>> Tesla at pupman.com
>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>>
>
>
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