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The problem is that the small hand-held Tesla coil is actually generating a series of individual sparks instead of a continuous current (such as you would get from a high voltage neon sign transformer). It takes voltage to initially break down (ionize) the air and create sparks - that's apparently working OK. However, it takes a supply of continuing current to convert a spark into a hot arc. And, it takes a continuing current to heat the air so that the arc will rise. Hope this helped! -- Bert --
: I need some suggestions about powering a jacobs ladder with a tesla coil
: for a science fair project. I have a hand-held tesla coin commonly used
: for physics demonstrations. It puts out approximatly 50,000 V at 30
: milliamps. It will throw a 2 1/2 inch arc to a good ground. It will
: produce an arc on the Jacobs ladder we built with coat hangers, but I
: can't achieve an upward climbing effect. What am I missing? Is the
: current insufficient to ionize/heat the air? Thanks in advance for your
: insights. - Peter
:
Peter,
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