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Invisibleidiotek
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Registered: 02/06/04
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Re: salvaged tesla coil [Re: Psychedelic Pupil]
    #23431686 - 07/11/16 10:07 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Thanks for checking, regardless! 

I took a photo of my coil in operation yesterday in honor of the 160th birthday of Nikola Tesla. 



I'll share some more videos of it if I can get them uploaded today.  I suck at operating the power switch and getting photos/video/etc.


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Invisibleidiotek
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Re: salvaged tesla coil [Re: idiotek]
    #23431794 - 07/11/16 11:14 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Also, here's a video: 



The quality sucks because I'm keeping a firm hold on the power switch in case something bad happens.  At one point you hear the spark gap fail so I switch it off and the video ends.  I think if I ever make another one of these I'll just make a proper spark gap with bolts and L brackets and keep them clean, etc.


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InvisiblePsychedelic Pupil
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Re: salvaged tesla coil [Re: idiotek]
    #23431856 - 07/11/16 11:47 AM (7 years, 6 months ago)

Right on man! Tesla has been an idol of mine for years! The world would be a much different place had more of his inventions gained popularity.


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I'd like to think I'm smart enough to realize how much knowledge I don't have.


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Invisibleidiotek
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Re: salvaged tesla coil [Re: Psychedelic Pupil] * 1
    #23491431 - 07/30/16 05:51 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

I wrapped the entire primary coil section in electrical tape to stop all the random dead shorts that kept occurring when the old wire coating crumbled away and left a place for it to leak.  So now with that taped up nicely, it seems to be working much better and reliably, but anything can happen with this thing and the capacitors could go anytime (not that there's any indication I could see about them).


I took a flat square shaped heat sink out of an old PC component kit and, having used an aftermarket heat sink that was much larger, I had no real use for it.  So I covered all the fins in HVAC foil tape and left the copper center exposed.  It rests perfectly on top of the coil's discharge electrode (carriage bolt) and changes the shape and way in which the whole output behaves.  I'm sure it changes the capacitance a lot.  Hanging a grounded incandescent bulb above it gave the voltage something grounded to aim at, so I captured it building steam before the bolt jumped.  I had to doctor the photo like crazy to get a glimpse of the gathering electromagnetic field, but it's visible.  I thought the finished photo was neat, but I plan to get a few better ones later.



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InvisibleDividedQuantumM
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Re: salvaged tesla coil [Re: idiotek]
    #23492037 - 07/30/16 09:49 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Fun stuff. :thumbup:


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Invisibleidiotek
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Re: salvaged tesla coil [Re: DividedQuantum]
    #23492051 - 07/30/16 09:53 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

thanks.  i intend to keep updating the thread, although i will keep bumping at a minimum and just edit the first post or something..


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InvisibleMojo
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Re: salvaged tesla coil [Re: idiotek]
    #23492215 - 07/30/16 10:37 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Sweet!  I have wanted to build a Tesla coil in the past. In fact I was recently at a metal recycler and found a 20kV transformer but passed on it.  Where did you dig yours out of?  Was it a dumpster find?


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Invisibleidiotek
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Re: salvaged tesla coil [Re: Mojo]
    #23492231 - 07/30/16 10:43 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

It's a special transformer used for neon signs.  It's current-limiting on the secondary side to prevent burning out the windings, and so far has been very forgiving with the experimentation I've put it though.  It has also driven the Tesla coil circuit I built with ease. 

I'd imagine the 20kv one has some stuff built in that would make it harder to tinker with, it's hard to tell.


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OfflineEywa_devotee
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Re: salvaged tesla coil [Re: idiotek]
    #23492919 - 07/30/16 03:45 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

The holy grail for Tesla coil builds are used X-ray machine transformers since you can go for 0 to 60KV just using a variac. Great for larger table top or smaller trailer builds. If you want to build a really big one, a couple old school pole-pig transformers ran in reverse, wired in series for 28,800 to 60kV VAC output. Use a big magnetic AC arc welder to regulate the juice. You can get some truly sick power with those. 12 foot or better streamers and such. Had my fair share of fun with tesla coils and other HV stuff back in the day. Absorbed enough juice that i should be able to power my computer by now...


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"Love one another." "To Love is to know me." "Love is the Law, Love under Will." "In Compassion, all sorrows end." Regardless of the Master, the message is the same- Choose love and you shall live, Choose Fear and you shall die. Help bring peace to this Earth: Love one another, and serve others before yourself.


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Invisibleidiotek
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Re: salvaged tesla coil [Re: Eywa_devotee]
    #23495269 - 07/31/16 11:16 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Thanks for sharing.

I've read about using the pole pigs and stuff but I'm not interested nor do I have the space to fuck with that.

If anything, I might try to rebuild the Magnifying Transmitter circuit eventually.


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