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I have always had an interest in HV and always wanted to build a TC since I was young. I would love a large one but it's not really practical where I live so a small one, especially my first, was in order. I read and read here and settled on Peters (TeslaDownUnder.com) briefcase spark gap tesla coil (SGTC). It's simple, small and extremely portable.
It uses a 5kv, 20ma neon sign transformer, 3.5" x 7.5" secondary, 10 turn primary, double copper tube spark gap with 0.025" gaps across each and three banks of two 30KV 1000pf caps. The secondary RF ground is the same as the mains with no problems at all. I also did not use a safety gap. I borrowed a filter from an old microwave oven for the mains to transformer connection. It is almost the most basic SGTC I can imagine.
I don't know how Peter can interact so easily with his briefcase SGTC, mine stings the crap out of my hand when I tried. LOL.
Shot a short video. It's kind of dark though.
5MB in size. Link here.
http://www.blackgto.com/tesla/tesla_briefcase1.avi
Thumbnail pictures.
It uses a 5kv, 20ma neon sign transformer, 3.5" x 7.5" secondary, 10 turn primary, double copper tube spark gap with 0.025" gaps across each and three banks of two 30KV 1000pf caps. The secondary RF ground is the same as the mains with no problems at all. I also did not use a safety gap. I borrowed a filter from an old microwave oven for the mains to transformer connection. It is almost the most basic SGTC I can imagine.
I don't know how Peter can interact so easily with his briefcase SGTC, mine stings the crap out of my hand when I tried. LOL.
Shot a short video. It's kind of dark though.
5MB in size. Link here.
http://www.blackgto.com/tesla/tesla_briefcase1.avi
Thumbnail pictures.
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