Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

I helped a buddy build a small 5' tesla last year, spark gap version made from a few MOTs with beer bottle capacitors. Long story short is that we never got the chance to tune it. It sits in his garage and he doesn't have the gumption to finish it, he kinda lost steam after one of his spark ladders caught on fire :ror: I haven't been able to rile him back up and get into his garage.


Anybody else here mess with them? Maybe have some tuning tips that could help me rattle his cage since we are so close to having it run? I would love to have a mini version, solid state. Or even a corona discharge speaker. Something to distract me from work when I have the time.

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

I've built a couple Jacob's ladder's, with a large neon sign transformers.
Wild project but differant than what you are looking for.

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

Those are cool too. My crazy buddy with whom I build the tesla coil with has quite a few of them. One he built as a rotating spark gap with dual transformers that he could put in phase and out of phase with each other. Like a big ferris wheel with copper pegs around it. It would make streamers 3' high in one mode, and make a bazillion little streamers in the other.

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

really cool stuff..my neigboor for some time was john hutchinson and he was into some real crazy stuff playing with tesla coils and van der graaf generators..etc. i remember there used to be a set of house speakers on the market with a plasma arc tweeter system..i think they were banned due to ozone..good luck with your project

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

I've always wanted to mess with them, but with all the kids around, too dangerous...

But if you building one, build me one too....and one of those cool plasma balls and a jacob's ladder.

Later EddieO

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

I've been wanting to build one for a long time.
Not too long ago, I was searching for info and places to buy materials, when I stumbled upon this mini solid state frequency modulated version and I just had to have it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixXEMdQNv7w

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

I poked a hole in the bottom of my Coors Light can last night and shotgunned it, is that close enough? All I remember reading was beer bottle capacitors and a corona discharge speaker.....:flipoff:

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

http://tesladownunder.com/TeslaRotBr...opView1000.jpg

they make about a half of a bigillion volts but not enough current to hurt you, almost like a big static shock.

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

that is entirely to cool , wish i could build one .

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

You need a good capacitor to get it to work. I seen a home made one done while I was in electronics school and the guy used a 1F cap that is used in high power car stereo installations.

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

yeah i have been wanting to make one but cant find any neon sign transformers in my budget to much of a cheapskate.
If you ever talk your friend into getting it working post some pictures so we can see it up and running.


Whoopee

I work with high voltage for a living. When I was doing my apprenticship we got to play with Jacobs ladders and tesla coils... Pretty interesting stuff, never really thought about building one though

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

build it...they will come..and their hair will stand!

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

I have a couple transformers that I made a couple Jacobs ladders with. Anyone wants them and wants to pay shipping on the heavy suckers you can have them.

One is 15000 volts 30amps
Other is 9000 volts 30amps

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

What are the ratios? Wound for 30a on 220v?

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

IDE have to get back to you when I'm home with all the details but they are 120v

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

So it's a 12 and 15. But here's the labels I don't know technical stuff.


http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/IMG_9889.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/IMG_9888.jpg

Re: Anybody here build Tesla coils?
 

I've built a couple of them, both used spark gaps and beer bottle capacitors. I have pictures of them somewhere but can't find them right now. If I were you I would go with solid state design. I'm going to convert mine over to solid state eventually, whenever I get the time/money.

edit, found the pics:
http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/...9/IMG_0114.jpg
http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/...9/IMG_0100.jpg
http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/...9/IMG_0117.jpg
http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/...9/IMG_0113.jpg