TheTesla coil was created to perform experiments in creating high-voltage electrical discharges.It is made up of a power supply, a transformer, and aCapacitor set so that sparks jump between them.Electronics store equipment or surplus materials can be used to make a Tesla coil.The article describes how to build a spark-gap coil, which is different from a solid-state coil and can't play music.
Step 1: The size, placement, and power requirements of the coil should be considered before building it.
You can build as large a coil as you want, but the lightning-bolt-like sparks create heat and expand the air around them, creating thunder.They have electric fields that can play havoc with electronic devices, so you'll want to build and run your coil in an out-of-the-way place, such as a garage or other workshop.Should you build a coil from a kit or gather materials from scratch?There are advantages and disadvantages in the areas of cost, building time, resources for help, and reliability.Divide the length of the spark gap by 1.7 inches to figure out how much power you need to make it work.To find the spark gap length, multiply the square root of the power in watt by 1.7.A 600 watt coil that creates a spark gap of 150 cm is needed.A spark gap of almost 54 inches, or 1.37 meters, would be generated by a 1-kilo watt power source.
Step 2: You can learn the terminology.
Understanding scientific terms and units of measure is important for designing and building a coil.They need to be understood to make a coil.The ability to hold an electric charge or the amount of electric charges stored for a given voltage are some of the terms you'll need to know.A device that holds an electric charge is called a Capacitor.The farad is the unit of measure.A farad is defined as 1 ampere-second.The microfarad (abbreviated "uF"), a millionth of a farad, or the PicoFarad are examples of smaller units used to measure capacitance.The self-inductance of an electric circuit is determined by the amount of current in the circuit.The high-tension power lines have high inductance.The henry is the unit of measure for inductance.A henry is a unit of current.Inductance can be measured in smaller units, such as the microhenry, which is a millionth of a henry.The resistance to transfer of energy is at a minimum at resonance frequencies.This is the optimum operating point for transferring electrical energy between the primary and secondary coil.The hertz is defined as 1 cycle per second.A kilohertz is equal to 1000 hertz and is used to measure the resonance.
Step 3: You'll need the parts.
You will need a power supply transformer, a spark gap assembly, low-inductance primary inductor coil and something.The next section contains more information on the parts.The power source feeds the power through the chokes to the tank circuit, which connects the primary capacitor, primary inductor coil and spark gap assembly.The inductor coil of the secondary circuit is connected to the primary coil.Lightning bolts discharge from the secondary capacitor once it has built up enough electric charge.
Step 4: You can choose your transformer.
How large you can make your coil is determined by your power supply transformer.There is a transformer that puts out a voltage between 5,000 to 15,000 volts at a current between 30 and 100 milliamperes.You can get a transformer from a college surplus store or from the internet.
Step 5: The primary Capacitor should be made.
The best way to create thisCapacitor is to wire a number of small Capacitors in series so that each one handles an equal share of the primary circuit.This requires that the individual capacitors have the same capacitance.This type ofCapacitor is called a multi-mini-capacitor.You can get small capacitors and their associated bleed resistors from electronics supply stores or you can scrounge for ceramic capacitors from old television sets.The sheets of aluminum foil can be used to make the capacitors.Each half-cycle of the power being supplied to it, the primaryCapacitor should be able to reach its full capacitance.120 times each second is what it means for a 60 Hz power supply.
Step 6: The spark gap assembly needs to be designed.
If you are going to use a single spark gap, you will need metal bolts that are at least a quarter-inch thick.If you want to moderate the temperature, you can use a spark gap or blow compressed air between the sparks.An old vacuum cleaner can be used to blow the air.
Step 7: The primary inductor coil should be built.
You need something to wrap the wire around in a spiral shape to make the coil.If you want to cannibalize the outlet cord from a discarded appliance, you can get the wire from an electrical supply store.You can wrap the wire around an object that is either cylindrical or conical.The primary coil's inductance is determined by the length of the cord.The primary coil should have a low inductance so you won't use a lot of turns to make it.If you want to adjust the inductance on the fly, you can use non-continuous sections of wire.
Step 8: The primary inductor coil and spark gap assembly need to be connected.
This is the last part of the primary circuit.
Step 9: The secondary inductor coil should be built.
The wire is wrapped around a cylindrical shape.The primary coil must have the same resonance as the secondary coil.The secondary coil must be taller than the primary coil in order to prevent electrical discharge from the secondary circuit to strike and fry the main circuit.If you don't have enough materials to make the secondary coil tall, you can build a strike rail to protect the primary circuit, but this will prevent most of the discharges from dancing in the air.
Step 10: The secondary capacitor should be made.
The torus and sphere are the two most popular discharge terminal shapes.
Step 11: Attach the secondary inductor coil.
This is the final part of the secondary circuit.To prevent a stream of electric current from traveling from the transformer to the ground for your household circuits and possibly frying anything plugged into those outlets, your secondary circuit should be grounded separately.Driving a metal spike into the ground is a good way to do this.
Step 12: The chokes should be built.
There are small inductors that keep the sparks from hitting the power supply transformer.You can make one by winding thin copper wire around a narrow tube.
Step 13: Put the components together.
The power supply transformer should be connected to the primary circuit through the chokes.Your coil is ready to run when you plug the transformer in.The secondary coil can be set inside if the primary coil is large.