Hello everyone,
Recently I have seen a few members asking about Tesla coils, looking for suggestions for parts, explanations of the theories of operation, reviews, etc. I think I'd better put this out there all at once, so that I don't have to repeat myself.
Tesla coils are not simple devices. They are very complex, need a lot of research and math, and require that the builder have a fundamental understanding of power electronics, resonant circuits, and high voltage safety. I, for one, am very happy to help people out with Tesla coils. I have built several and have spent the last decade researching and building Tesla coils in my spare time. I love to help members when they need some direction building their own Tesla coil. However, in order for me to do this, I need to know that you know what you're doing. Tesla coils are NOT for beginners. Even in their most simple form (a spark gap Tesla coil, or SGTC), they can KILL YOU instantly if you do something wrong. Solid state Tesla coils (SSTCs) are even more dangerous in some ways, because you're using discrete electronics that can explode and injure you even if you're standing at a distance. No amount of instruction, direction, or recommendations can help you if you don't have a basic understanding of what you're dealing with. Even if I could give perfect step-by-step instructions without any errors whatsoever (which in itself would be a feat), if you don't know WHY things work the way they do, then you're putting yourself in serious danger of bodily harm or death. If I urge you to put off a Tesla coil project, then it means that you strike me as not being experienced enough with high power electronic devices. This isn't intended to be an insult of any kind--I have been there myself, and I knew it. That's why I spent months and months doing research before even considering building my own, and took another year or two after that to build a working one.
In order for me to help someone with their Tesla coil I need them to tell me the following:
Regards,
Matt
Recently I have seen a few members asking about Tesla coils, looking for suggestions for parts, explanations of the theories of operation, reviews, etc. I think I'd better put this out there all at once, so that I don't have to repeat myself.
Tesla coils are not simple devices. They are very complex, need a lot of research and math, and require that the builder have a fundamental understanding of power electronics, resonant circuits, and high voltage safety. I, for one, am very happy to help people out with Tesla coils. I have built several and have spent the last decade researching and building Tesla coils in my spare time. I love to help members when they need some direction building their own Tesla coil. However, in order for me to do this, I need to know that you know what you're doing. Tesla coils are NOT for beginners. Even in their most simple form (a spark gap Tesla coil, or SGTC), they can KILL YOU instantly if you do something wrong. Solid state Tesla coils (SSTCs) are even more dangerous in some ways, because you're using discrete electronics that can explode and injure you even if you're standing at a distance. No amount of instruction, direction, or recommendations can help you if you don't have a basic understanding of what you're dealing with. Even if I could give perfect step-by-step instructions without any errors whatsoever (which in itself would be a feat), if you don't know WHY things work the way they do, then you're putting yourself in serious danger of bodily harm or death. If I urge you to put off a Tesla coil project, then it means that you strike me as not being experienced enough with high power electronic devices. This isn't intended to be an insult of any kind--I have been there myself, and I knew it. That's why I spent months and months doing research before even considering building my own, and took another year or two after that to build a working one.
In order for me to help someone with their Tesla coil I need them to tell me the following:
- How does a Tesla coil work? What are the parts required, and how do they work together to generate the very high voltages seen at the topload?
- What kind of safety precautions are you taking? There are MANY dangers involved in Tesla coil building, even if you do everything right.
- What are the specs for your coil that you're trying to build? This includes the dimensions of the secondary and topload, high voltage transformer voltage and current, wire gauge used on the secondary, etc.
- When and where do you plan on operating the Tesla coil? Do you have neighbors that you should notify ahead of time? Tesla coils are VERY LOUD!
Regards,
Matt