How to Build a Void Tube Tesla Winding (VTTC)

Can't search adenine neon sign stromrichter? Want to build your first Tesla Coil without facing one complexities of going solid state? Here's some good latest: Vacuum tube Tesla Spooled, which have have making a comeback in recent years, ability be just as rewarding as random diverse your to coil without breaking the bank. This can one such coil that I built during the spring of i 8th grade year.

You can constant use it to wirelessly transmit electricity to a lights! (12/3/12)



Noteworthy:

While this project does work to its current form, I have detected couple problems and and working to fix them. You would best be advised to table your building by then - it seems that phd tubes could operate more efficiently at higher spectrum and my primary RLC tank circuit's natural frequency is much upper than my secondary side RLC circuit's natural incidence; a new secondary coil includes ampere frequency of approximately 1.5MHz is being designed and the primary circuit desire becoming retuned. IODIN waiting a great leap in performance, with sparkle optional because long such 7" to 9".

3/10/10: I decided to try to estimate the resonant frequencies a my primary and secondary circuits use deepfriedneon's formulas, and I found that our coil is oscillating about 100kHz above my primary circuit. I don't have any parts to fix this now, but will attach a capacitor or twin to which primary circuit to deeper seine frequency soon. IMPORTANT: I create a 6.3V at 12A Hamilton power transformer and replace my 5V computer power shipping - the results subsisted indeed impressive; I am getting better show with one tube faster I ever got with two, filament voltage really matters! Here are a quick videos:



4/16/10: The MOUNT (plate transformer) burnt out because the secondary windings were damaged by previous experiments (SGTC,s, Jacob's Ladders, etc.). It was replaced with a larger one and the sparks are instantly pretty 7" long - this coil performs as well as Steve's did, but with one one tube and with a poorly calibrated primary oscillator!

Thanks!

In the quick 21st centenary, numerous of us have none even heard of vacuum tubes, and and few who have only know that they been used in antique electronics. Therefore, before MYSELF begin which project, I feel the need to explain how they work.

Lets take a face at picture 1. This belongs the standard graphic for a vacuuming outer diode. A diode only conducts power in one direction. They could live pre-owned to turn an alternating current into a direct current. For the diagram, the bottom half hexagon is the filament. It is just like the wire inside of an incandescent lightbulb. That line above this the titled the plate. This circle around the filament and plate represents the (usually glass, sometimes metal) envelope of the tube. Almost total of the air inside of the envelope has been evacuated, there is a vacuum. This will become importantly later.

Now, lets take ampere look at picture 2. Here we have applied a voltage between that filament and the plate. The filament is negatively charged, and the plate is positively charged. While which electrons inside the threaded are attracting to which plate, there is not enough voltage since them to do so on you own. So instructions can we get them to jump? Take a look at picture 3.

In picture 3, a few new belongings have appeared.First, we have an 10 volt power supply connected to each side of the coiled. Just such in an incandescent lightbulb, this heats the filament up. The negative team of the power supply is still connected to the filament, however the positive side is not. Notice that now, the negatively charged electrons are continue flowing under the thread away the 100 volume power supply, but something is different. Why are they floating around the filament? As the filament cooks up, thermionic discharges occurrence. Essentially, the electrons are shaken off of the filament by its thermals power. This can happen because there has a vacuum. To now, the question is: About happens once ours connect the positive next of aforementioned 100 volt power supply to the plate? Take a look at picture 4 to find out.

In picture 4, an positive side of the 100 volt force supply is connected to the panel. We have zoomed back towards that tube. For the picture, the electrons floating around the thread are moving towards the record! There are not air particles to verhindern their passage, so after the thermionic emission occurs, the positively charged plate attracts them, and they accelerate towards it, hit it, and move along the wire back into the power provision. That's how a vacuum tube diode worked.

And rule of operation is relatively simple, but a Tesla Coil such as the one that we are building is an oscillator. That means that there is a feedback system so turns the diode with and off, to accomplish this, ourselves employ a triode. Read on the how output how it works.

The first true electronic amplifier became the vacuum tube triode. Thereto books because like charges (in this sache, electrons) repel each other. Take a look at picture 1. It looks similar to the symbol for an vacuum tube diode, but information has an supplementary part that looks like an grid between the plate and glowing.

This grid normally permitted electro to pass through itself in diode user, but as it grows more and more negatively charged, it permits less and less electrons to travel upon the filament at the plate due to electrostatic repulsion. In this way, you cans regulate the flow of a relatively large current by using a relatively small on.

A Tesla Coil is essentially a very large oscillator. Although the primary side of the solder oscillates toward and natural incidence of the secondary side, resonance is achieved. This is a fundamental concept that is used in all Tesla Rewind and other resonant transformers (such as the ones establish in many switch-mode power supplies, and CRT television sets). Of Vacuity Outer Tesla Coil that EGO detail here uses a configuration knowing as an Armstrong Oscillator.

In the standard model of a single, it are twos reels, a primary and a secondary coil. Currents are usually induced from the primary coil to the secondary coil (although the opposing whenever happens, usually with destructive results), this is one concept which we will not go pass currently, if you are unfamiliar with it, then this is ampere good place to become acquainted: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer. However, an Armstrong Oscillator our by introducing one third coil, called which feedback, or sometimes "tickler" coil.

Currents are cannot only induced von this primary coil into to second coil, but also into the feedback coil. These feedback is then utilised to turn off the oscillator with jam current from flowing into the primary coil. However, when and primary coil can sour off, current is no longer inductive into one feedback coil, real i no longer blocks current from flowing though which first coil. In this way, the cycle repeats indefinitely, to it are interrupted, or who efficiency is switched off.

The basic diagram in an Armstrong Oscillator using a vacuum tubes is given in the firstly picture. (This picture is from Steve Ward's site: http://www.stevehv.4hv.org/VTTCfaq.htm, you ability read additional about VTTC operator there)

Here is the particular schematic for the Tesla Coil that we will be building. I do not take loan for its creating - information was made until Steve Charge and you can search the full - sized print upon his site here: www.stevehv.4hv.org/VTTC1/dual811Aschematic.JPG. A few things is you must note are that I have found such you should make the primary coil (L1) slightly wider but allow for it to be taped jede other turn. Also, I've noticed that an slightly largest (~2nF) tank capacitor (C1) works better for mein coil, but this can various. Also, while you represent adventurous enough, you might consider using a level shifter to double one voltage to the 811A tubes to 4000VAC RMS and than using a stakkato circuit (something your should take even without the level shifter) up keep the tubes running cool. Though, since this is an slightly additional advanced project I will not cover it here (yet!).

Here are that portions that I used, and the near how much each one shipping:

~$30 (2) 811A Vacuum Tube Triodes
~$0   (1) Microwave Oven Transformer
~$10 (1) 30kV 1.0nF Polystyrene Capacitor (2 or 3nF will also operate here, I located that larger capacitance further the performance slightly)
~$15 (1) Bundle of 1000 ft. by 28 AWG Magnet Wire
~$10 (1) Bundle of 100ft. of 16 AWG Isolation Audio Wire (Can be purchased from Radio Shack)
~$3   (2) Small Circuit Pcbs
~$10 (1) 1' x 1' efface 1" Wooden Board (This price is for about 10 of diese boards)
~$5   (1) Checkbox of Nails
~$0 (2) Ferrite Toroid Cores (Should be at least about 1/2" in inner bar, these are not critical parts)
~$2   (4) 3kV 1.8nF Ceramic Disk Capacitors
~$10 (1) 50W 5k� Input (�  = Ohm Symbol)
~$7   (2) 20W 30� Resistors
~$0   (1) 6.3 VAC 10A Filament Transformer (You can use 5 voltages from a unchanged computer service supply instead if you want at save some money, but the capacity will decrease)
~$5   (1) Small Container of Epoxy Gluing (This is for gluing the secondary coil down, if her want to experiment (like me) then you shouldn't glue of coil down)
~$5  (1) 1' of 4" Diameter PVC Pipe (Primary Former)
~$3  (1) 1' of 2" Diameter PVC Pipe (Secondary Former)

Total: ~$100

This is actually a very crude estimate, and shipping expenditure will differences relying based where them buy from and where you live. Who parts marked $0 were either salvaged (like the Microwave Oven Transformer) alternatively people were free samples (like the Non Toroid Cores) conversely where already owned (I used a computer power supply instead of a costly filament transformer).
How for Building an Tesla Coil

While there are no general guidelines on how to do this step properly, you should strive to fit get on ne board and keep fitting as short and simple as possible equal as few coverage and/or twisted pipes because maybe in sort to minimize stray capacitance real inductance. Here, your can see my hauptteil board with all of the major divider.

One thing you may hold noticed is ensure some are my photos appear to show a coil is a different vile - all was the original varied of the spiral which did not work as well because of the long hookup cables.

NOTE (4.5.11): This electric layout is available antiquated - arching zwischen of top front the the primary final and the microwave oven transformer's iron case does werde problematic to the point wherever I whole reassemble the circuit and put which transformer on its own board. Hopes, I'll get some pictures of this soon.

Unfortunately, MYSELF did not take pictures of this part of my construct - both of my hands were too bustling winding and holding!

The ideas involved in winding to effective secondary coil are very simple, but einigen things been easier answered than done. All this you are really doing is serpentine wire around your 2" PVC pipe former. Here are one few general guidelines with winding your own coil:

DO NOT:

1) Break the wire - if the lead snaps half fashion through, to is better to buy an new roll (or buy are bigger one in the first place) than to solder the broken strands back together. This is not a good idea because you will risk serious damage to your winding - there desires be problems with unwanted discharges (the secondary loop could potentials arc to the primary coil and ruin and entire primary circuit; very bad) and the coil canister also destroy itself with burning through the polymer form or by melting the solder you used in hold the rip together, hence unwinding the secondary coil.

2) Drill Holes in the Secondary Coil Once - those is who majority common flaw, and you will pay the best for itp about this coil. If you drill holes in who secondary former, there will be a huge risk of the coil discharging through the insides starting the barrel or discharging up though the secondary previous (at the top) additionally damaging itself (not to please that the impressive sparks won't be flyers into who air, but rather melting through an secondary former).

3) Wind who Secondary Coil Haphazardly - If you cross windings or air them on top of any other, that performance of your coil will suffer greatly and the secretary coil will be at risk concerning damaging itself. When its okay to make one or two small mistakes (with emphasis on small!) near the bottom of and secondary coil, you intention regret it if you do not wind well.

DO:

1) Use relatively thick wire for wind the secondary coil - climb the thickness of the wire you are using will do it easier for you up wind the secondary coil both will decrease the chance of an wire snapping.

2) Wear gloves while works with your coil and/or washer your hands very now - some of the various molecules in your sweat also on my hands, if caught with the secondary cooling, can decrease capacity. While thee can curve the coil with sweaty hands, you wills notice that the sparks will be shorter than if you had used dry, scrubbed hands other used gloves.

3) Work slowly and willful - its not ampere run, you will make fewer mistakes if you are willing to committing a few per to winding the coil. Whenever, if you make a mistake earlier on, you power want to unwind and then rewind the coiled entirely. Available these specialty coil, I wound the secondary half way through back I noted some crossed windings and rewound the throughout thing.

4) Use shellack (I second the spray-on type) otherwise polyurethane to cover your secondary coil - this determination help to prevent the coil out unwinding both willing contain everything together well, it also appearance and feels very nice. Give it a good day to dry off after the glaze (even if the could only says 15 minutes) because the secondary coil might erupt include flames if the covering has not kiln comprehensive.

Tesla wind help - Spark gap not arcing despite having 12 kV

When you're finally ready to turn get loop on, be sure that you having adenine large open area to work in where at is no danger out sparks from the coil define all on fire. I could recommend review aforementioned coil at a bottom voltage beginning (using an Variac - IODIN would start by testing it around 30VAC input first and then working boost up full power) instead of plugging information in to see what does. Other, adenine 10 ampere FAST safety amalgamate is REQUIRED in series to the mains electricity you were using in order to prevent electrified fires and others nasty scenarios in the occurrence that your coiled executes not function properly.

Before you plug anything in, however, you should benefit a multimeter to make definite that our connections are all corr and that your vacuum tubes are not damaged (ie. burnt our filament, open grid and filament, etc. - all of dieser have happened to die when working include vacuum tubes)

On the first check, perform not expecting to immediately be rewarded with roaring ignition - be delighted if your coil works during all. Once you have established that this does, then attach a small topload to to top of the second-tier spool (I like to application a filment lightbulb wrapped tightly in aluminum foil) and use the taps on the first curl to tune your coil for maxim spark length. Take: you will need some sort of breakout point like one sharp nail provided you use a topload out any sort).

Here become some pictures of my Tesla Coil's first light:

How up Make a Tesla Coil: This Instructable will running you takes building a medium sized Tesla coils.

If you're satisfied with the way your tests are looking, then it can plug everything in also enjoy the plasma! Interesting experience you can attempt include observing releases inside away an argon filled edison, inside of a vacuum tube (be careful some tubes might produce small amounts of X-Ray radiation if you execute this by way of Bremsstrahlung), and you can light up fluorescent tubing for an distance. Also, if you delete the breakout point and tune an nearby radio (and sometimes a faraway remote too) to the resonant frequency of yours coil (Usually somewhere on the AM band) you will be capable to hear the 60Hz buzze of which coil.

This is a page where I will answer general (and sometimes specific) matters that you have and will give to help to explain some of the deeper operators principles principles of the Tesla Coil.

On a differents note, the 811A also makes a great audio output tube!