Building a Tesla Coil - Part 2 (B)

This is Part 2 of my video describing how to build a typical spark-gap type Tesla Coil. I had to split the video into two parts to upload it on YouTube. Be sure you watch Part A before this one!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Tesla
• Coil
• high
• voltage
• sparks
• arcs
• induction
• resonance
• transformer
• AC
• ct92404

[thjarden]

What did you pay for each of the components to your coil? I'd like to make one, but don't know if it would be too costly to think about doing it soon.

[ct92404]

@thjarden

I think I got the transformer for about $10-$15. I don't remember exactly, it was a long time ago. I bought it at an electrical surplus place. The magnet wire is 28 gauge, and I bought a spool of it for about $12. I got really luck with the capacitors though...a friend gave them to me for free. I'd say that altogether with the wood and hardware to build the base, the spark gaps, etc it probably cost around $60 or so.

[timlyo]

what did you use to make the top part or the dome that the sparks discharge from, does it need to be a certain shape to resonate best

[ct92404]

@timlyo

For the small Tesla Coil that is in my videos, the terminal is a metal dish. I actually used a launch pad from an Estes model rocket kit! I did a lot of testing, and for that particular coil it just happened that a thin object with more surface area worked best. Probably because of the coil's high resonant frequency.

[INVENTOR3]

Looking at drawing of NST at end of video,,,,what is exactly meant by "neutral line on outlet can be used if no ground line is available"? I understand what the nuetral line is(white wire, wide prong). Hmm, there is a small green grounding srew on side of transfromer,,,what do i do with this? Does this "need" to be connected to earth ground, the third wire that comes from the wall outlet? Should safty gaps "only" spark if there is high reverse spike voltages,,and not all the time?

[ct92404]

@INVENTOR3

Yes, you would connect the grounding screw on the side of the transformer to the ground line on the outlet...OR you can connect it to the neutral line if you're using an outlet that doesn't have a ground prong. The reason I said that is because I live in an old house where most of the outlets only have two prongs (hot and neutral).

The safety gap should fire periodically. I'd say that once every 3-5 seconds is normal.

[gekiryudojo]

Great Video Thank you! it will come in very handy for my first Tesla Coil project

[INVENTOR3]

@ct92404 Thank you very much :-) I think my mistake was connecting transformer & tesla coil to same earth grounding rod.

[Matrix2458]

In the last diagram, what do you do with the center tap? should it be grounded?

[Coasterintheyard]

Is it possible to use an induction coil?

[INVENTOR3]

I keep blowing transformers, and all reactance is balanced, my coils are almost tuned perfectly. Maybe i need to add some choke coils,,hmm,, i dont see any places that the circuit is being shorted at.

my coils.... Paulslab dot blogspot dot com