A few problems..

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "M G" <gt4awd@xxxxxxxxx>

Hi everyone,

I finished my first coil a little more than a week ago. A 4" spark 
gap coil, using a 9kv 30ma NST, and eleven 2kv .15mfd CD capacitors 
in series. For past week or so I have been adjusting certain parts of 
the coil to get better output. My recent changes include making a tap 
for capacitor eleven, which helped increase secondary streamer output 
by some. Raising the secondary coil up more to prevent overcoupling 
racing arc's. Still seems to happen on full power runs.

The secondary appears have not received any damage from the problems, 
but I will probably add more polyurethane coats just in case. Some 
may remember that my primary is at too high an angle, 55 degree's. Is 
it time to just scrap the primary and make a flat spiral or can I get 
good coupling just by raising the secondary up more? So far the best 
output of the coil is only around 12-14", which is no where near the 
28" that should be possible using a 9kv 30ma PSU. The coil uses a 
"Terry filter" setup as shown in the standard filter schematics. I 
was wondering if the filter degrades overall performance some in 
trade for less stress on the NST?

The toroidal topload, 4"x8.5", is made from aluminum ducting, and 
covered in aluminum tape in an attempt to smooth out the sharp points 
some. Secondary end is connected to topload by end of the wire. I 
have yet to make the secondary top end cap. Secondary bottom ground, 
with end cap, is made with end wire wrapped around solid brass bolt. 
I would appriciate ANY suggestions for improving the coil output. Max 
output is around 10" with occasional 12-14" air stramers.

All of the images I have taken so far of the coil can be viewed on my 
imageshack public page.
Link: http://profile.imageshack.us/user/gt4awd/
I would just put links if there was not so many images.

Here are some coil specs I did not mention.

Secondary: 4.20"x20.25" using 26AWG single build magnet wire on thin wall pvc.

Primary: 55 degree angle using 10AWG non-insulated solid copper wire. 
Tapped at turn 9.7 with a total of 11 turns. Inside diameter is 
nearly 7", outside diameter 13", height of 4.5", and primary turn 
spacing of about 1/2". Both connections leading to primary are nearly 2' long.

Wire: Primary circuit wire and ground wire using 12AWG insulated 
solid copper wire.

Filtering: Standard "Terry Filter" for high voltage end, and a 2x10 
amp CD RFI filter for mains line.

Ground length: Coil support stands about 2' above ground level. 
Ground wire has a total length of around 15'.

I might be missing some important information. Let me know if I am.

Thanks,
Matt G.

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