I have a 12Kv 30mA 60hz neon sign transformer/ (1442.9, 36'' tall, 3'' wide, 22g wire) secondary coil / (15.5 turn, .25'', 3'' cemter diameter) spacing flat coil / (12'' diameter, 4.5 tube diameter) torrid. I calculated that I needed 6.8nf tank cap ( My caps are home made) but when I tested the cap that I made which was very close to 6.8nf I had not sparks from my torrid. Would anyone please help me .. atleast point me in the right direction for good tesla coil formulas and building instructions or help.
Re: Tesla coil problems
Posted by Bert Hickman on 5/11/2006, 11:04 am, in reply to "Tesla coil problems"
--Previous Message-- : I have a 12Kv 30mA 60hz neon sign transformer/ (1442.9, 36'' tall, 3'' wide, : 22g wire) secondary coil / (15.5 turn, .25'', 3'' cemter diameter) spacing : flat coil / (12'' diameter, 4.5 tube diameter) torrid. : I calculated that I needed 6.8nf tank cap ( My caps are home made) but : when I tested the cap that I made which was very close to 6.8nf I had not : sparks from my torrid. Would anyone please help me .. atleast point me in : the right direction for good tesla coil formulas and building instructions : or help. :
Some thoughts: It looks like your coil should be "in tune" when tapped somewhere between turn 5 and 6 on the primary. Is the bottom of the secondary winding roughly at the same point as the plane of the primary? Do you have a good RF ground on the secondary? Also, what are you using for a spark gap, and is the gap cooled by a fan or blower?
You may also want to consider joining the TCML (Tesla Coil Mailing List). If the above tools don't seem to help, you can always pose your questions to the very knowledgeable members of the TCML).