Most people who run coils begin with 120 volts @ 60 cycles. If this is the case with your anticipated power feed, then one of your two feed lines will be a neutral wire (zero voltage), and a slight circuit modification will be required. THIS CIRCUIT SCHEMATIC IMPLIES 240 VOLT OPERATION THROUGHOUT, WHERE BOTH 60 CYCLE FEED LINES ARE HOT, AND, A HIGH VOLTAGE STEP UP TRANSFORMER THAT DOES NOT HAVE A GROUNDED CENTER TAP. Those who start out using 120 volt line feeds usually end up switching over to 240 volt operation in a hurry: the amperage requirements of Tesla Coil power supplies makes 240 volt operation very desirable. However this ZIP package includes the specific instructions required for safe, RF supressed operation when using 120 volt feed lines, and/or, neon sign (grounded center tap) step up transformers. Alternate wiring diagrams for these, and other, modifications are provided in the following suppliments: CHOKE.GIF & CHOKE.TXT, CHOKE1.GIF & CHOKE1.TXT, CHOKE1A.GIF & CHOKE1A.TXT. When and where these alternate wiring diagrams are employed they will be referenced. --------------------------------------------------------------- Starting with the upper left hand corner of CIRCUIT.GIF, the 60 cycle line feed provides power to the circuit. These line feeds are labled 60 Hz in the CIRCUIT.GIF schematic. CP1 refers to Circuit Protection devices. This is a fuse, circuit breaker, or fusable link. The current rating of the Circuit Protection device is dependant upon the current rating of the step up transformer (X1). I allow a 150 - 200% margin over the transformer input current rating when using the plate value of unmodified neon sign transformer(s) {transformer = xfmr or xfrmr}. The text files in this packet contain precise instructions for modifing neon sign xfmrs for high efficiency Tesla power supplies. When using modified neons or other types of step up xfmrs, then I allow a 35 - 50% margin over the plate rated input current of X1. SW1 refers to the power control switch(s). In the old days a knife blade switch was common, but I prefer a remotely operated power relay/contactor. When the sparks are flying I am hesitant to grab hold of live switch: I like a remote operated relay with a step down transformer and a low voltage switch. The choice is yours... Line Filter: These are pretty much self explanatory; except that I run them in reverse. We are trying to prevent the RF generated from the apparatus from entering into the house wiring, not the other way around, which is how these filters are designed. These filters are generally marked on the case, just put the "LINE" side facing towards the coil, the "LOAD" side faces the 60 cycle breaker box. NOTE: alternate filter schematics are given and described/debated in CHOKE.GIF and CHOKE.TXT in this packet. VX1 This is a Variable Xfrmr, Variable Transformer, Powerstat, Variac, Autotransformer, Autoxfrmr, etc.... Some type of variable transformer used to control the input voltage to X1. The current rating on the variable transformer should be matched to the value of the Circuit Protection device. Line Filter: see above. X1 High voltage step up transformer. Typical types include Neon Sign Xfrmrs, Potential Xfrmrs, Plate Xfrmrs, Pole Pigs (pole type power distribution type xfrmrs). This is where circuit modifica- tions may have to be made to the general diagram in CIRCUIT.GIF. If you plan on using a neon sign xfrmr for X1, then plan on modifing BC1 according to the layout given in CHOKE1A.GIF and CHOKE1A.TXT. Precise values and layouts to protect neons and the 60 cycle line supply are given in these documents. Plate type, pole type, or potential type xfmrs are protected according to the layout given in CIRCUIT.GIF and CHOKE1.GIF, CHOKE1.TXT. BC1 is the protective Bypass Capacitor. See the CHOKE documents refered to in the above paragraph depending on transformer type. RFC1, RFC2 are Radio Frequency Chokes: Values and construction details are given in CHOKE.TXT, CHOKE1.TXT and CHOKE1A.TXT. G1 is the main system spark gap. Please refer to AIRBLST.GIF & AIRBLST.TXT or CYLNDR.GIF & CYLNDR.TXT for detailed construction specifications and diagrams of these components. C1 is the High voltage, plastic film, pulse rated, Tesla capacitor. Refer to CAP.TXT for construction details of this component. The general text files from OCT-93.TXT or NOV??-93.TXT contain additional detailed information on these capacitors. See TESLA.TXT for commercial sources of Tesla Capacitance. L1 is the Tesla Tank primary coil. Construction details and theory are extensively covered in the general text files (see the OCT-93.TXT or NOV??-93.TXT) L2 is the Tesla Secondary Coil. Construction details and theory are covered extensively in the general text files. Specific construction details for 200 KHz and 450 KHz coils are given in the general texts included in this packet. T1 is the discharge Terminal. Spheres have been traditonally recommended, but TOROID discharge terminals give the last word in Tesla coil performance. Again... The general text files give complete descriptions and construction guides. It should be noted that the RF GRND (Radio Frequency Ground) is a dedicated Tesla ground: The core of X1 and all grounded compon- ents on the coil side of X1; are grounded to a heavy, dedicated, Rf grounding system. The general text files cover RF grounding extensively. Other coil notes: In the event that X1 is not internally current regulated (neons are internally regulated, the other types are not) then some type of current limiting should be added (in series) to the primary of X1 to prevent "brownouts" and "blackouts" when you throw the switch. Pole types transformers in particular are dangerous without some type of current limiting. Details are given in the general text files included in this packet. Tesla Tank configurations (C1 - L1 - G1) are varied, and need not conform with the layout given in CIRCUIT.GIF; see the layouts in TANK.GIF, TANK1.GIF, & TANK2.GIF for the common variations. There are no related text files for these GIFs, the variations being pretty much self explanatory. The layout given in CIRCUIT.GIF tends to be less brutal on X1 during operation.