Regular incandescent light bulb will act like a plasma ball and breakout point. Plastic handles will sometimes glow before catching on fire. I had a yellow handle file from harbor freight that would. A plastic dog water bottle or similar with and identical toroid on top will act like a cap and retain a small charge after turning off. A grounded strike target close to your max spark length will give you bright white arcs. If you have a plasma screen from a tv ( I fix tvs and usually have one laying around) you can charge it up like a plate capacitor ( works really good with a van DE graaf) . With a relay you can do like mine and have it where a separate nst starts a Jacobs ladder then switches to tesla coil once you key it ( I use Morse code paddle) letting go goes back to Jacobs ladder. I like a variac. Makes it more convenient to switch on and off vs unplugging. Also using the key can send Morse or play a tune if you have any rhythm on a spark gap coil. Any am radio or ham radio if have will break squelch like a regular lightening strike would so you can " hear" what your transmitting. Some sort of aluminum can electrostatic motor should turn to.
John WT5Y
Sent from my Samsung GALAXY S5™, a Cricket 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Timothy Gilmore <tdg8934@xxxxxxxxx>
Date:03/27/2015 14:37 (GMT-06:00)
To: Futuret <futuret@xxxxxxx>, Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc:
Subject: Re: [TCML] Mid sized Tesla Coil - Done
I'm planning on having a showing of my mid sized Tesla Coil on Monday at my
backyard for about 15+ co-workers that have shown interest in my mid size
tesla coil project. Here are some of the things we will be experimenting
with (3-4 foot sparks):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCagcW23FY4yx6D4kWodMbKA
Are there other things I can do with my coil?
Tim
On Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 4:26 PM, Futuret via Tesla <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Tim, The middle can be open. I used to use an X type central support
> as you mentioned when I used ducting toroid. There is no rule for
> thickness of center plates, etc. It doesn't matter. Just be sure
> to connect the top of the secondary wire to the toroid or even
> through the X type support to the toroid if the X support is metal.
>
> The toroid donut can be hollow (air filled inside), it makes no
> difference. Usually they are hollow (much more lightweight).
>
> John
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Timothy Gilmore <tdg8934@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: mddeming <mddeming@xxxxxxx>; Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> >
> Sent: Tue, Mar 24, 2015 4:56 pm
> Subject: Re: [TCML] Mid sized Tesla Coil - Done
>
>
> Thanks all for your excellent input on top loads - Toroids.
>
> Does the middle
> section have to be "filled in" with a metal object like a
> pie pan? I thought I
> saw a picture online that had an X or + shape middle
> section to reach out to
> the donut shape and hold it to the top of the
> secondary. If it has to be filled
> in with a metal surface like a pie pan,
> is there any rule on how thick it should
> be in the middle - or just enough
> to hold the donut shape in place?
>
> Also I saw
> online one design using filler material inside and outside of
> the donut shape.
> Should the donut not be hollow inside with air?
>
> Thanks - Tim
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tesla mailing list
> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>
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