Re: Is storage in sub-zero temperature conditions bad for my Tesla coil?

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-twfpowerelectronics-dot-com>

Hi Owen,

The parts should be pretty immune to cold.  NST's and the caps are not 
affected by cold unless they get ice covered.  Sometimes the secondary 
coils can shrink a bit and the wire can come loose.  If they are well 
sealed that helps that problem.  I guess I would keep the secondary coil 
indoors just to be safe but it really depends on how it is made.  As long 
as frost does not build up, it should work fine in very cold conditions.

Cheers,

         Terry


At 04:46 PM 11/10/2004, you wrote:
>    Hi, folks.  I had the good fortune of inheriting a Tesla coil.  It's now
>sitting in my shed in Ottawa, Ontario.  It's getting cold fast these days
>(-7C), and I'm wondering if I need to move the capacitor bank and
>transformer into the house for the winter.  Unfortunately I don't have room
>for the whole thing inside.  If the cold isn't going to hurt it, I'd like to
>leave it all there and still play with it.  Dry, dense air always makes for
>better sparks, even if it is a little chilly. :)  It's a 30mA neon sign
>transformer, and a bank of physically small capacitors.  The whole thing was
>built based on a Terry Fritz design.  Thanks.
>
>   - Owen -