What would you do with a 15KV Transformer? NST

[Helios]

So my roommate works construction and picked up this baby during a demo for free!

The obvious projects came to mind...Jacob's ladder, tesla coil.

Any other ideas? I am leaning towards the tesla but I have only lightly researched the topic and it seems quite finicky to get right.

Also I know that the output on these can be fatal. I will not be playing around with it lightly.

 

[USAbro]

As a matter of fact, I am building a tesla right now (mini tesla) and powering it by a cfl board through a flyback. Arcs are about 1 inch. Yeah, you should build a tesla too. It's not that hard. Getting a neon sign transformer is about the hardest part. Please though, be careful. These are much more dangerous than lasers!

 

[Helios]

Any good guides out there? I have looked at a few but they seem to vary widely. Also looking at videos it seems that the results vary widely as well. If I am going to do it I am going to do it right.

Also any pics of yours that you might want to share feel free!

 

[USAbro]

I may post an image but it's hard, I gotta convert it and all to a smaller size, but anyways here you go.

All you need is a secondary rapped around pvc with about 600-1200 turns of 28 gauge wire. The around the base just do a primary about 5-8 turns of 8-10 gauge wire. Then wire the NST to the primary and on one side of the NST to the other side of primary make a spark gap about 1mm. Works awesome. Not really a need for the toroid.

 

[Helios]

There are so many different styles of primary though like using copper pipe and how it's spaced, flat or conical etc. Also I haven't seen a set number of turns for either primary or secondary. I assume this is because NST output varies by unit but for a given output it would seem there is an ideal setup. Can I calculate this? I would just like to avoid the guess work and know I am doing it right based on something beyond a tutorial. Also most tutorials I've seen include a capacitor bank. I'm looking for simple and efficient.

 

[DashApple]

NSTs are current limited by design so you could make a SGTC or Jacobs ladder or something .

 

[Sigurthr]

With all due respect, disregard all the oversimplified nonsense USAbro posted. He left out one of the most critical parts of the classic SGTC circuit; the tank capacitor.

It's very straight forward to make a common Spark Gap Tesla Coil, but it isn't "throw together XYZ and call it good" like the above posts suggest. A little planning goes a tremendous way.

I recommend you look through our very on LPF thread about tesla coils: http://laserpointerforums.com/f60/tesla-coil-build-thread-73702.html

If you need any reference websites, calculators, modeling programs, or even quick answers feel free to ask. Keep in mind, much of that is contained in the above thread though! I've helped many, many members here and on 4HV get their first TC running, I certainly don't mind helping another. I DO mind misinformation being spread though.

 

[Helios]

With all due respect, disregard all the oversimplified nonsense USAbro posted. He left out one of the most critical parts of the classic SGTC circuit; the tank capacitor.

It's very straight forward to make a common Spark Gap Tesla Coil, but it isn't "throw together XYZ and call it good" like the above posts suggest. A little planning goes a tremendous way.

I recommend you look through our very on LPF thread about tesla coils: http://laserpointerforums.com/f60/tesla-coil-build-thread-73702.html

If you need any reference websites, calculators, modeling programs, or even quick answers feel free to ask. Keep in mind, much of that is contained in the above thread though! I've helped many, many members here and on 4HV get their first TC running, I certainly don't mind helping another. I DO mind misinformation being spread though.

Thanks for the link! I was under them impression that a good amount of thought and planning was required.

Still open to non sgtc options if anyone has any out of the box ideas

 

[shokkunlasers]

You could build a simple TEA laser for the sake of science and fun

 

[Blarg King]

Farnsworth fusion reactor? (Dunno if 15 Kv is enough. Probably isn't). Could get some Crookes tubes and play with them. Maybe experiment with making xrays using some vacuum tubes? Get some low pressure gas vials and make some pretty colored plasma?

 

[Down with Umbrella]

Hmmm Subscribing to this thread because I have two 12kV/30mA franceformers and a 12kV/60mA not being used.

Thanks for the link! I was under them impression that a good amount of thought and planning was required.

Looks like you might have other plans besides a TC.
I could be mistaken but that transformer looks new and probably has a GFCI, it says something about it in the photo on the case. Those protection circuit do not work well with tesla coils and could hinder other projects possibly.
As it's been said above USAbros statements are misleading it is not that simple. I am 3/4 the way through my second TC built and sigurthr's help has be extremely insightful.

You could build a simple TEA laser for the sake of science and fun

interesting....Have to check into something like that!

 

[Sigurthr]

TEA N2 lasers are awesome but deceptively complex. The key is finding perfectly uniform arc chamber rails and a thick enough dielectric sheet. Where I live now there are no places to get overhead transparencies or non-scrap grade metal angle or bars. I tried it with what was available here but uniform arcing was impossible to achieve and the dielectric PE sheet failed fast.

 

[Helios]

Hmmm Subscribing to this thread because I have two 12kV/30mA franceformers and a 12kV/60mA not being used.


Looks like you might have other plans besides a TC.
I could be mistaken but that transformer looks new and probably has a GFCI, it says something about it in the photo on the case. Those protection circuit do not work well with tesla coils and could hinder other projects possibly.
As it's been said above USAbros statements are misleading it is not that simple. I am 3/4 the way through my second TC built and sigurthr's help has be extremely insightful.

interesting....Have to check into something like that!

It does have gfci but I have read elsewhere that this can be disabled. I do not know however how difficult or involved this procedure is. I am $0 invested at this point so if it won't work that's fine. If anyone has some information or experience working around this issue I would love some input!

I have several projects in the works so this is in the idea stage at the moment. I just shared it because this community is always full of great ideas!

I am shying away from the TEA laser simply because it is cool in theory but the results are not very interesting to the lay person. One of my favorite parts about building things is showing others to peak their interest in these types of projects. The TEA laser is cool if you know what's going on but just a loud dot generator if you dont.

 

[Alaskan]

While getting the things together to make something more sophisticated, this is always fun:

 

[Flaminpyro]

Well since your in AK if your out in the country side you might think about using it as bear deterrent, with a pressure switch that would turn it on when the bear steps on a trigger plate

 

[Down with Umbrella]

I tried it with what was available here but uniform arcing was impossible to achieve and the dielectric PE sheet failed fast.

Ahh well, I suppose it was worth trying. I saw the schematic and you're right it seems pretty straight forward but materials can be hard to come by.

With there being a lull in my regular welding work I had to take a job locally with a boiler outfit. On the plus side there are plenty of OBITs(10kV/25mA) and Mercury switches kicking around the shop. I'm hoping to do some steampunk art project in the future.

It does have gfci but I have read elsewhere that this can be disabled. I do not know however how difficult or involved this procedure is. I am $0 invested at this point so if it won't work that's fine. If anyone has some information or experience working around this issue I would love some input!

Maybe if you can take the case off it might be able to be bypassed. Keep us updated if you have any luck. But hey for getting if for free it's worth a shot!