Re: [TCML] Tesla Coil with Mesh as Ground

[Matt Siri <mattisonsiri@xxxxxxxxx>]

I'm not sure if surface area is as much a factor as mass.  More mass = more atoms that can take on more electrons and give electrons.  I'd say it's a combination of both, but mass seems more immediately relevant.  I've run my maggie (1.6kW) at my school a few times now.  The first couple of times, I used an old (and rather large) arbor press.  The last time (at a talent show), I threw a 3in*3in*~5ft steel bar that was laying around in the metal storeroom on a metal cart.  If you spread a bunch of chicken wire out, you're liable to have an arc pass from it to a conductor under the floor or somewhere else.  I once used a large steel cart as a ground; it sat on cement and where the wheels touched, large amounts of corona were visible.  Be careful with isolated grounds, I accidentally touched the cart during the talent show; no one could tell but it didn't feel very good.  BTW, how long of arcs are you getting with 225VA?

Matt Siri


________________________________
 From: Cole Awesome-Jordan <jordancole@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 6:54 PM
Subject: [TCML] Tesla Coil with Mesh as Ground
 
I have to operate a tesla coil in a gym for a demonstration, how much chicken wire should i use for a proper ground?

Coil is powered by 9000v 25ma NST, secondary is 3.5" by 18" and topload is about 37.5" off the ground.

_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla