Hi,

 

My latest project is a spark gap tesla coil. I started to get the first decent streamers a couple of days ago. I thought some of you might be interested . Here's some specs:

 

4 MOT (Microwave Oven Transformer) Power Supply.

Inductive Ballast (limits the current draw to 10A).

Secondary Diameter 110mm (1000 turns of 0.55mm wire).

Asynchronous Rotary Spark Gap.

80nF MMC Tank Cap (originally bottle caps).

 

It still needs some more tuning, but so far the results are quite nice. I've attached some pictures of it running. Although the pictures never quite capture the full effect. I've got other details and pictures on my website (http://www.craigsarea.com/sgtc.html).

 

 

 

The following image shows a close up of the toroid. The full size image, which is much bigger than this one, is available on my website.

 

 

If anyone is interested in Tesla coils then I also have a solid state tesla coil on my website (http://www.craigsarea.com/sstc.html).

 

Hope you like it .

That was so Kool! I sent it to some friends of mine that are interested in that stuff. Your photos are awesome!

 

Bettina

Great pictures.........I'll check out your website

I'm impressed!

Are you in an EE degree program?

I think you may have missed one of the forum rules. Anybody who posts at 4hv AND sfh about the same tesla coil must submit at least one(1) MOT to Lance.

 

(It is also quite a nice coil but forum rules must be upheld)

Lance, contrary to popular belief I haven't forgotten my promise. I'll get those caps, and maybe even my 7.5 kv NST to you. I grow tired of them

Thanks for the kind words everyone .

 

Are you in an EE degree program?

 

No, I recently finished a degree in computing. My skills are mostly in programming. Although I find the electronics / high voltage stuff really interesting.

 

I think you may have missed one of the forum rules. Anybody who posts at 4hv AND sfh about the same tesla coil must submit at least one(1) MOT to Lance.

 

Consider the MOT on its way . It might take sometime to get to you though .

 

I'm probably going to do some more Tesla coil runs tonight. I've made some changes to the setup which should hopefully result in bigger streamers.

What is your max spark length so far? Do you know what the output of your MOT stack is? I'm Assuming you have it arranged for 8kv but have you measured the current output?

What is your max spark length so far?

 

The maximum spark length so far is 1 meter. I usually get 2 or 3 streamers at the same time.

 

Do you know what the output of your MOT stack is? I'm Assuming you have it arranged for 8kv but have you measured the current output?

 

Yeah, I've got it setup for 8KV. Each MOT outputs 2.2KV. Although the inductor (ballast) introduces a small voltage drop, so I'm not sure of the exact output. I will measure it as some point. I'm controlling the power supply with a large variac. In my pictures the variac was turned upto 200V out of a possible 240V.

 

I haven't measured the current output yet, but the inductor (ballast) should limit the primary side current draw to 10A. A little while ago I made a Jacobs ladder with the power supply and I measured the primary side current draw to be a little above 11A @ 220V.

 

I'm still in the early stages of tuning the coil. Once I'm confident that it's all setup correctly I'll make some more accurate measurements.