Hey all, this is my first post. I just recently built my first TC from old junk I had laying around and one automotive ignition coil. The coil is an old oil-filled one that says Delco-Remy on it. (?) I am using a lamp dimmer to control the ignition coil, with a clothes iron heating element in series to limit the current. the cap is a 2 liter pop bottle filled w/salt water in a bucket with more salt water, lined with foil. the foil and a copper pipe in the bottle are the terminals. the spark gap is simple, just a couple of bolts that can be twisted in and out. the primary is 13 turns of heavy wire (#12 if i remember right) around half a 2 liter pop bottle. the secondary is about 720 turns of wire i pulled off of a blower motor around a 7/8in diameter cardboard tube. The secondary stands about 12in high. the toroid is just an old stereo speaker cone frame wrapped in foil (looks pretty cool). My RF ground is a 2 foot pipe hammered in the ground out the window, nothing special. I can get about 6-7 cm sparks at best off of the toroid when tuned at about 6 winds on the primary, and spark gap as far out as it will still spark reliably.
Is there any way to improve spark length, i think maybe my secondary is too skinny maybe. I havent seen any under 2in diameter.
I have another auto coil now too, any advice on dual coil system? when i hooked 'em both up it hardly worked at all. I tried series, paralell, no good.
I also have a BIG OL microwave transformer, but it sucks (2-3cm sparks at best when hooked up to the TC. It was pulled from an old radarange (60's model, i believe.) It draws about 2400 watts, dims my lights and all.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
=Rockinriley14=