Tesla Coil Theory

www.GardenBallistics.co.nr James Kelly 2008

Contents: Tesla coil theory Introduction Getting started The Tesla coil How a Tesla coil wor s The com!onents o" a Tesla coil Mains voltage supply + Variac Mains RFI/EMI filter High voltage power supply Power factor correction (PFC RF RC low pass filter + safety spar! gaps "roun#ing $tatic $par! gap Resonant %atching of the pri%ary an# secon#ary circuits &an! capacitor Pri%ary coil + stri!e rail $econ#ary coil + &op loa#

Theory o" a Tesla coil

Introduction ' &esla Coil is a #evice invente# (y the scientist )i!ola &esla (*+,-.*/01 2 It is a high voltage3 high fre4uency3 resonant transfor%er capa(le of pro#ucing %any thousan#s of volts in the for% of lightening li!e #ischarges2 It was pri%arily (uilt for e5peri%ents investigating 5.rays3 high fre4uency alternating current pheno%ena3 electrotherapy3 an# wireless power for electric power trans%ission2 6ith this coil3 &esla was a(le to generate voltages of such %agnitu#e3 they woul# shoot out of the apparatus as (olts of lightning7 &o#ay3 &esla Coils are %ainly (uilt (y a%ateur enthusiasts all over the worl# for the sole reason of the e5hilarating thrill of pro#ucing their very own lightning2 Getting started &he first 4uestion you shoul# pro(a(ly as! yourself is 86hat si9e of &esla coil shoul# I (uil#:; &his #epen#s on how %uch %oney you are willing to spen# an# how easily you can get hol# of the %aterials an# co%ponents nee#e#2 I personally woul# a#vise starting off with a s%all &esla coil as a 8first atte%pt %o#el; to get yourself fa%iliar with #esigning3 (uil#ing an# using a &esla coil2 &his will allow you to %a!e %ista!es an# learn valua(le lessons when you co%e to (uil# a larger3 %ore proficient %o#el in the future2 &hese #evices are not easy to #esign an# (uil#< they re4uire a lot of patience an# attention to #etail to o(tain an effective3 high perfor%ing &esla coil that=s worth the ti%e an# %oney spent on the pro>ect2

The Tesla coil &here are %any types of &esla coil an# there is no specific #efinition for a particular #esign that represents a true &esla coil2 &he %ain types are ?C resonant charging3 'C resonant charging3 soli# state &esla coils2 I a% concentrating on an 'C resonant charging &esla coil3 one of the %ost co%%on #esign types utilise# (y enthusiasts2 &he (asic circuit #iagra% for an 'C resonant charging &esla coil is shown (elow2

)eon $ign &ransfor%er

&an! Capacitor

&oroi#al &op loa#

High voltage3 high fre4uency #ischarge

Mains Voltage

AC

240V

~10,000V

$tatic $par! "ap Pri%ary Coil

$econ#ary Coil

RF "roun#

RF "roun#

' &esla coil is %a#e up of a s%all nu%(er of %a>or parts2 Firstly3 a high #oltage !ower su!!ly is nee#e# to convert @0A volts 'C %ains voltage up aroun# *A3AAA volts 'C2 &hese are usually neon sign trans"ormers ()$&=s 2 ' high #oltage tan ca!acitor is re4uire# to store charge in the circuit an# a high #oltage switch in the for% of a static s!ar ga! is nee#e# to pulse switch the charge in the capacitor through the pri%ary coil2 ' secon#ary coil supporting a %etallic toroi# or top loa# is couple# with the pri%ary2 How a Tesla coil wor s 's the capacitor charges fro% the high voltage power supply3 the potential across the static spar! gap electro#es increases until the air (etween the spar! gap ionises allowing a low resistance path for the current to flow through< the Bswitch= is close#2 Cnce the capacitor has #ischarge#3 the potential across the spar! gap is no longer sufficient to %aintain ionise# air (etween the electro#es an# the Bswitch= is open2 &his happens hun#re#s of ti%es a secon# pro#ucing high fre4uency (ra#io fre4uency 'C current through the pri%ary coil2 &he capacitor an# pri%ary coil pro#uces an DCR (in#uctor.capacitor.resistor circuit that resonates at a high resonant fre4uency2 &he secon#ary coil an# top loa# also create an DCR circuit that %ust have a resonant fre4uency e4ual to the resonant fre4uency of the pri%ary circuit2 &he high resonant fre4uency coupling of the pri%ary coil with the secon#ary coil in#uces very high voltage spi!es in the secon#ary coil2 &he top loa# allows a unifor% electric charge #istri(ution to (uil# up an# lightning li!e stri!es are pro#uce# fro% this to a point of lower potential3 in %ost cases groun#2 &he coupling (etween the pri%ary an# secon#ary coils #o not act in the sa%e way as a nor%al transfor%er coil woul# (ut wor!s (y high fre4uency resonant cli%(ing or charging to in#uce e5tre%ely high voltages2 &he true physics is still not co%pletely un#erstoo# (ut can (e %o#elle# e5peri%entally2

The com!onents o" a Tesla coil ' realistic &esla coil re4uires %any other a##itional co%ponents than #escri(e# a(ove to operate efficiently an# safely2 &he co%plete circuit #iagra% of %y &esla coil is shown (elow2

RF %ains filter

Power factor correction )eon $ign Variac capacitor &ransfor%er

$i%plifie# &erry filter

&an! Capacitor

&oroi#al &op loa#

Capacitance (etween top loa# an# RF groun#

DC'?

DI)E

'C

$tatic $par! "ap

RF "roun#

Pri%ary Coil

$econ#ary Coil

Mains "roun#

Mains "roun#

RF "roun#

RF "roun#

Eelow3 I will #escri(e in #etail each co%ponent nee#e#3 how they wor! an# why they are nee#e#2 Mains voltage supply + Variac &his is si%ply the %ain electricity soc!et in your house which supplies @0AV'C F ,AH9 in the GH an# *@AV'C F -AH9 in the G2$2 ' varia(le transfor%er (or variac is often use# in line with the %ains supply to allow a varia(le input for the high voltage power supply2 It allows for #ifferent power outputs of the &esla coil an# allows you to gra#ually turn the &esla coil up to full power2 $i%ply turning on a &esla coil at full power can put a large strain on it co%ponents2 Mains RFI/EMI filter ' %ains or line filter is a co%%ercially availa(le #evice that filters out ra#io fre4uency noise an# electro%agnetic interference fro% a voltage line2 &hey are often use# in househol# appliances to filter out interference fro% the %ains si#e line an# stopping the interference fro% getting into the appliance which can potentially cause #a%age to the #evice2 In the case of using it in a &esla coil circuit3 it %ust (e wire# in reverse2 In other wor#s3 the line an# loa# ter%inals nee# to (e wire# the other way roun# I line for loa# an# loa# for line2 &his is (ecause we nee# to prevent ra#io fre4uency pro#uce# (y the &esla coil fro% entering the %ains si#e line which can #a%age anything plugge# into your house an# neigh(ours houses %ains soc!ets2 'n RFI/EMI filter is a %ust7 &he casing of the RFI %ains filter shoul# (e connecte# to the %ains groun# ()C& the RF groun# 2

High voltage power supply &here are a nu%(er of alternative power supplies that can (e use# for &esla coils2 &he %ost co%%on power supply use# is a neon sign transfor%er ()$& 2 &hese are use# to power neon gas tu(es for co%%ercial sign purposes2 &heir voltage output can vary fro% a(out @3AAAV to *,3AAAV an# can have a current output fro% a(out *A%' to *@A%'2 &here are two #ifferent types of )$& the ol#er iron core# an# the newer switch %o#e )$&2 For &esla coil use the ol#er type is i#eal as they have their own (uilt in current li%iting %agnetic shunt3 are secon#ary %i#point groun#e#3 have no "FI groun# fault protection3 they can survive high ra#io fre4uency current an# can run in#efinitely in short.circuit an# no.loa# con#itions2 &hey are very resilient to harsh electrical con#itions I great for &esla coils7 &he newer switch %o#e )$&=s are not i#eal for &esla coil use as they have (uilt in "FI groun# fault protection3 short circuit protection an# their co%ponents cannot withstan# high fre4uency ra#io currents I they will si%ply (e frie# if they wor! at all un#er &esla coil con#itions7

)$& I *A3AAAVolt F -A%'

Microwave Cven &ransfor%er

Pole.Pig &ransfor%er

Cther high voltage power supplies that can (e utilise# for &esla coil use are Ignition coils fro% cars3 oil (urner igniters3 fly.(ac! transfor%ers3 %icrowave oven transfor%ers3 %e#ical K.ray transfor%ers an# power #istri(ution transfor%ers3 also !nown as pole.pig transfor%ers2 Power factor correction (PFC Power factor correction is provi#e# (y a non.polar capacitor in parallel with the %ains supply voltage lines2 PFC shifts the voltage.a%peres (V' rating of the high voltage power supply use# closer to its actual input an#/or output power an# re#uces the #raw current of the transfor%er2 Re#ucing the current is (eneficial as the si9e an# rating of the co%ponents use# in the circuit can (e less3 e2g2 switches3 RFI filter etc2 6ithout PFC the circuit co%ponents woul# have to stan# twice the current or %ore2 'lso large power losses #ue resistance in the wires can (e re#uce# this way P = I 2 R 2

&o calculate the capacitance nee#e# for *AAL PFC you first nee# to calculate the transfor%er input i%pe#ance either fro% the values written on the transfor%er or using a %ulti%eter with V i%pe#ance %easure%ent function2 &hen using Z = 3 calculate a value for the i%pe#ance2 I 1 )ow using C = where = 2f 3 calculate a value for the capacitance2 Z )ote that this is the theoretical PFC capacitance value for the transfor%er only an# %ay not pro#uce the opti%al value for the PFC for spar! gap &esla coil circuits as the operational fre4uency of the spar! gap affects the power factor as well2 $o%e neon sign transfor%ers alrea#y have (uilt in PFC capacitors2

RF RC low pass filter + safety spar! gaps High voltage ra#io fre4uency (RF RC.style low pass filters are the )$&=s protection circuit2 &hey are another essential co%ponent to ensure the )$& #oes not get #a%age# fro% the harsh electrical con#itions of the &esla coil circuit2 &hey filter out high fre4uency ra#io currents an# high voltage pea!s fro% the pri%ary circuit3 stopping the% fro% getting to the )$& where the RF current an# high voltage pea!s will #a%age the internal win#ings an# !ill your )$&2 &here are %any #esigns for an )$& protection circuit that use various co%(inations of resistors3 capacitors an# in#uctors (cho!es 2 $o%e people i%ple%ent circuits that use in#uctor cho!es for filtering out RF currents an# high voltage pea!s2 I personally (elieve that this is not a goo# i#ea (ecause while they are effective at isolating the )$& fro% the tan! resonant fre4uency3 they #o su(>ect the )$& to high voltage pea!s at the resonant fre4uency of the DC networ!2 ?a%ping resistors can help so%ewhat to co%pletely eli%inate these high voltage pea!s (ut these series resistors woul# have to have such a high resistance that they woul# waste far too %uch power to (e useful2 However3 there is a well !nown RC low pass filter circuit that has (een use# (y %any &esla coil enthusiasts an# has proven very effective of ti%e2 &his circuit is calle# a &erry Filter na%e# after the person that #evelope# it &erry Frit92 Eelow is the circuit #iagra% of the &erry Filter for /!V3 *@!V an# *,!V &esla coils2

&he safety spar! gaps are use# as a final resort to protect your )$& fro% high voltage pea!s pro#uce# in the pri%ary circuit of the &esla coil2 &hese safety spar! gaps nee# to (e set with an air gap #istance (etween their electro#es such that3 using only your )$& across the%3 they only >ust #on=t arc2 'lso notice how the )$&=s centre tappe# groun# of the secon#ary win#ings are connecte#2 &his groun# line %ust (e connecte# to an RF groun# separate to the %ains groun#2 ' large %etal pole in the groun# is i#eal for this2 ?C )C& connect this groun# to %ains groun# as this is e5tre%ely #angerous7

"roun#ing In &esla coils there two types of groun# point3 the %ains groun# an# the RF groun#2 Mains groun# is si%ply the groun# pin on an# %ains supply2 &he RF groun# is a separate groun# to %ains usually o(taine# (y connecting to a large %etallic ro# ra%%e# #eep into the groun# outsi#e2 &he only things that shoul# (e groun#e# to the %ains groun# are the co%ponents an# #evices on the %ains si#e ((efore the HV transfor%er that are safe to touch such as switches3 #ials3 RFI/EMI filter groun# etc2 &he high voltage secon#ary si#e of the HV transfor%er (pri%ary circuit si#e %ust not (e groun#e# at all as seen in so%e sche%atics2 However3 the centre %i#point groun#e# )$& connection shoul# (e connecte# to RF groun#e#2 &he &esla coil secon#ary circuit shoul# (e groun#e# #irectly to a low i%pe#ance3 low in#uctance RF groun# fro% the (otto% of the secon#ary coil2 &his separate groun# will a#e4uately sin! RF current an# voltage2 If the %ains groun# was use#3 the high voltage high fre4uency woul# easily #a%age electrical e4uip%ent in your house connecte# to the %ains an# will even (ypass %ains surge protectors2 &he thic!ness of the %ains groun# wire is li!ely (e too thin if use# as a RF groun#3 having consi#era(ly large i%pe#ance at the high fre4uencies present2 &he high i%pe#ance is not i#eal as the secon#ary coil woul# not (e properly groun#e# an# the wire coul# suffer fro% a voltage #rop of the or#er of J*A+!V resulting to corona #ischarge fro% the wire so%e #istance along its length I potentially lethal to anything near(y3 (e it electrical e4uip%ent or a person2 ' high i%pe#ance groun# will also shift the 9ero voltage no#e along the wire to a place close to the soli# groun#2 &his will cause a phase shift in the secon#ary circuit possi(ly resulting in (rea!outs occurring fro% any point along the secon#ary coil3 not >ust fro% the top loa#2

$tatic $par! gap &he static spar! gap is a si%ple high voltage switch that is very easy to %a!e an# operate2 's the tan! capacitor charges fro% the high voltage power supply3 the potential across the static spar! gap electro#es increases until the air (etween the spar! gap ionises allowing a low resistance path for the current to flow through< the Bswitch= is close#2 Cnce the capacitor has #ischarge#3 the potential across the spar! gap is no longer sufficient to %aintain ionise# air (etween the electro#es an# the Bswitch= is open2 &his happens hun#re#s of ti%es a secon# pro#ucing high fre4uency (ra#io fre4uency 'C current through the pri%ary coil2 ' high voltage spar! gap (eco%es very hot #uring operation an# the ionise# air surroun#ing the spar! gap will !eep the switch close# for longer than #esire#2 It is therefore co%%on for a static spar! gap to %a#e up of %any s%aller spar! gaps aligne# in series this will re#uce the heat pro#uce# an# #issipate the heat create# %ore effectively2 It is also co%%on practice to integrate a fan to 4uench the spar! gap which will (low away the ionise# air 4uic!ly an# help to !eep the electro#es cool2 Muenching the spar! gaps allow the Bswitch= to (e open an# close# 4uic!er which will allow the pri%ary circuit to pro#uce higher firing fre4uency pulses2

' %ore a#vance# spar! gap is the rotary spar! gap where %ultiple electro#es on a rotating #isc pass two fi5e# electro#es2 &he rotating #isc is powere# (y a synchronous %otor to allow an easy %etho# of varying the spar! gap firings2 &his also helps to !eep each electro#e cool as there are %any electro#e where only two on the rotating #isc are firing at one ti%e2 'n i#eal %aterial to use for the spar! gap electro#es is tungsten ro#s as they resist ware an# tarnishing #ue to prolonge# use in spar! gaps2

Resonant %atching of the pri%ary an# secon#ary circuits &he pri%ary circuit of the &esla coil consists of the high voltage tan! capacitor3 the spar! gap switch an# the pri%ary coil (in#uctor 2 &he secon#ary circuit consists of the secon#ary coil (in#uctor 3 the top loa# an# RF groun#2 Eoth circuits have the for% of a series DCR circuit which resonates at a particular resonant fre4uency governe# (y the co%ponent part values2 &here will (e a capacitance (C 3 an in#uctance (D an# a resistance (R 2 &he capacitance in the secon#ary circuit co%es fro% the self.capacitance of the top loa# an# the capacitance of the top loa# with RF groun#2 &he resistance in (oth circuits co%e fro% the resistance of the parts use# in the circuits2 &he circuit will resonate at its resonant fre4uency when the su% of the capacitance an# in#uctance i%pe#ances e4ual 9ero2 &he resonant fre4uency of an DCR circuit is given (y the e4uation 1 0 = 2f 0 = where 0 is the resonant fre4uency in ra#ians per secon# an# f 0 is the LC resonant fre4uency in Hert92 &he resistance of the circuit acts as a #a%ping factor to the resonance of the circuit an# in %ost circu%stances can (e neglecte# for use in &esla coil circuit #esign2 &he pri%ary an# secon#ary circuits of the &esla coil %ust have the sa%e resonant fre4uency to ena(le high fre4uency resonant charging (etween the pri%ary an# secon#ary circuits which results in the e5tre%ely high in#uce# voltage in the secon#ary circuit2 &an! capacitor &he tan! capacitor consists of a high voltage capacitor rate# at a(out two or three ti%es the RM$ voltage rating of the high voltage transfor%er3 so if you have a )$& rate# at *A3AAA V'C its RM$ voltage woul# (e J*03AAAV'C3 so the tan! capacitor %ust (e a(le to withstan# J0A3AAA volts2 &his is (ecause the pri%ary circuit can have %any very high voltage pea!s present when in operation which can #a%age a too lower rate# capacitor2 &he tan! capacitance usually varies (etween a(out *nF to a(out ,AnF #epen#ing on the resonant properties of the pri%ary circuit #esign2 &here are a nu%(er of alternative %etho#s for o(taining high voltage capacitors2 ' very co%%on %etho# of pro#ucing such a capacitor is to create an array of s%aller rate# capacitors3 !nown as an MMC (Multi Miniature Capacitor 2 &he in#ivi#ual capacitors are set in parallel an# series co%(inations to get the #esire# voltage an# capacitance rating2 &he following two e4uations are use# for calculating the co%(ine# total capacitance parallel an# series arraysN

C parallel = C1 + C 2 + C 3 + ...

C series =

1 1 1 1 + + + ... C1 C 2 C 3

'##ing capacitors in series3 effectively #ou(les their voltage rating3 whilst a##ing capacitors in parallel has no effect on the voltage rating2 High voltage (J*3AAAV polypropylene capacitors are usually use# for MMC types of tan! capacitor2 &his %etho# can (e 4uite e5pensive #ue to the nu%(er of capacitors nee#e#3 #epen#ing on the #esign so%e can have over *AA in#ivi#ual capacitors2 'nother %etho# is to (uy a few higher voltage rate# (J*A3AAAV cera%ic capacitors (J*nF an# set these up in parallel an# series co%(inations to o(tain the re4uire# ratings2 &his is another type of MMC (ut can (e cheaper #ue to the s%aller nu%(er of capacitors nee#e#2 &his is the style I have use# on %y &esla coil2 I have use# four @A3AAAV3 *nF cera%ic capacitors3 two in series an# two sets of these pairs in parallel to o(tain ratings of 0A3AAAV an# *nF for %y tan! capacitor2 'nother %etho# is to roll or (uil# your own high voltage capacitor using alu%iniu% foil an# sheets of polypropylene3 however this %etho# can (e har# to o(tain an accurate capacitance an# pro#uce an efficient capacitor2 Pri%ary coil + stri!e rail &here are three %ain types of pri%ary coil (in#uctor N spiral3 helical an# inverse conical2 Helical coils are woun# into a heli5 of e4ual #ia%eter2 $piral coils (or panca!e coils are woun# into a flat spiral2 Helical coils are woun# into a vertical helical spiral2 Inverse conical coils are woun# into a conical spiral with an incline# angle of 1AO to 0,O2 &he pri%ary an# secon#ary coils nee# to (e loosely couple# in#uctively (nor%al %ains transfor%ers have high coupling (etween separate coils to get (etter perfor%ance an# efficiency to allow the secon#ary to un#ergo resonant cli%(ing to very high voltages2 &he helical coil is generally not reco%%en#e# over the other #esigns as it is not as efficient #ue to a too larger in#uctive coupling (etween the secon#ary coil3 preventing efficient resonant cli%(ing2 It is also higher3 increasing the chances of top loa# #ischarge to its upper win#ings which can #a%age the co%ponents of the pri%ary circuit especially the tan! capacitor2 &he inverse conical coil an# spiral coil are far %ore co%%on an# (oth can (e use# in s%all an# %e#iu% power &esla coils2 For larger high power (*AAA6 an# over &esla coils the spiral pri%ary coil #esign is (est2 I personally prefer the spiral coil #esign for all power ranges of &esla coil #ue to its si%plicity an# no o(vious #ifference in efficiency fro% that of the inverse conical coil #esign2 &he coil is %a#e fro% hollow copper tu(ing (%icro (ore with a #ia%eter of a(out -.+%%2 ' fra%e is constructe# to support an# fi5 the copper coil in place2 &he fra%e is usually %a#e fro% sheets of a goo# insulator li!e polypropylene (plastic chopping (oar#s are a goo# source for this 2 &here is a reason for using hollow tu(ing !nown as the s!in effect2 &he current #ensity within a con#uctor #epen#s of the fre4uency of the current2 'lternating current within a con#uctor ten#s

to have a higher current #ensity at its surface than at its centre2 's the fre4uency of the current increases so #oes the #ensity of the current towar#s the surface of the con#uctor2 &he #iagra%s (elow try to illustrate the effective current #ensity within the cross section of a ro# li!e con#uctor2

Dow fre4uency

High fre4uency

$o for higher fre4uencies3 the centre of the con#uctor is not use# or availa(le for the current to pass through2 Gsing a soli# con#uctor is >ust wasteful not re4uire#3 so for high fre4uency applications tu(ing is i#eal for use as a con#uctor2 &he s!in #epth can (e calculate# using the following e4uation ($I units N
=
1 f

6here f is the fre4uency of the current in the con#uctor3 P is the relative per%ea(ility of the con#uctor %aterial an# Q is the electrical con#uctivity of the con#uctor %aterial2 &he reason for using a relatively large con#uctor for the pri%ary coil is to %ini%ise the i%pe#ance an# resistance for the high fre4uency2 'lso3 not only woul# a soli# copper tu(e (e very e5pensive (ut it woul# also (e e5tre%ely har# to for% into a spiral shape2 &he s!in effect also causes the effective resistance of the con#uctor to increase with the fre4uency of the current2 &he s!in effect is (asically #ue to e##y currents in#uce# in the con#uctor (y the 'C current2

&he e4uations for each coil #esign are shown (elow for calculating the appro5i%ate theoretical in#uctance2 $!iral % &anca e coil

L=

( NR ) 2
8 R + 11H

D R in#uctance of coil in %icro.Henry=s (SH R R average ra#ius of the coil in inches3 %easure# fro% the centre of the coil to the %i# point (etween the inner win#ing an# outer win#ing2 ) R nu%(er of turns2 6 R wi#th of the win#ings in inches3 %easure# fro% the inner win#ing to the outer win#ing2

Helical coil L=

( NR ) 2
9 R + 10 H

D R in#uctance of coil in %icro.Henry=s (SH 2 ) R nu%(er of turns2 R R ra#ius of coil in inches3 %easure# fro% the centre of the coil to the %i##le of the outer wire/s2 H R height of coil in inches2

In#erse conical coil

L1 =

( NR ) 2
9 R + 10 H

L2 =

( NR ) 2
8 R + 11H

L=

2 2 L1 sin 2 ( x ) + L2 2 cos ( x )

D R in#uctance of coil in %icro.Henry=s (SH 2 D* R helical in#uctance factor2 D@ R spiral in#uctance factor2 ) R nu%(er of turns2 R R average ra#ius of coil in inches3 %easure# fro% the centre of the coil to the %i# point (etween the inner/lower win#ing an# the outer/upper win#ing2 H R vertical height of the coil in inches2 6 R wi#th of win#ings in inches3 %easure# fro% the inner/lower win#ing to the outer/upper win#ing2 5 R inclination angle of the coil in #egrees2
(Pictures and equations obtained from: http://alumnos.elo.utfsm.cl/~bikers/TCC.html)

&he pri%ary coil is locate# un#erneath the secon#ary coil an# top loa# which leaves it suscepti(le to #ischarge stri!es when in operation which can easily #a%age the co%ponents of the pri%ary circuit2 &hese #ischarges can easy (rea! the tan! capacitor an# filter co%ponents that are not #esigne# to withstan# such high fre4uencies an# high voltage2 &o protect the pri%ary coil an# circuit a stri!e rail is place# a(ove the pri%ary coil2 &his stri!e rail is locate# usually a(out @ inches a(ove the highest win#ing of the pri%ary coil an# #irectly a(ove the outer win#ing of the pri%ary coil to intercept any #ischarges that coul# (e #rawn to the pri%ary coil2 &he stri!e rail is #irectly connecte# to RF groun# via a low in#uctance3 low i%pe#ance thic! wire or %ore co%%only a thic! %etallic strip2 &he stri!e rail is %a#e fro% a length of copper tu(ing si%ilar to the pri%ary coil %aterial2 &he stri!e rail shoul# )C& (e a co%plete# loop (i2e2 it %ust

(e an open loop 3 an# shoul# have a gap of a(out @ or 1 inches2 &his is to stop the stri!e rail fro% e5periencing any in#uctive effects fro% the pri%ary an# secon#ary coils which woul# effectively #raw out energy fro% your circuit an# groun# it2

$econ#ary coil + &op loa# &he secon#ary coil is a large single layere# coil often %a#e with %agnet wire2 &he for% of the coil is usually a PVC #rainage pipe2 &his pipe nee#s to (e co%pletely free fro% %oisture an# nee#s to (e s%ooth2 Deaving the pipe out in the sun for a few hours will re%ove %ost of the %oisture2 It %ust then (e coate# insi#e an# out with polyurethane varnish to seal it fro% %oisture2 Each en# of the pipe %ust also (e seale# off either with co%%ercial PVC pipe en# caps or ho%e %a#e PVC en# caps2 Magnet wire is usually use# for the win#ings an# nee# to woun# very tightly with no !in!s or gaps2 &his process can ta!e a very long ti%e (y han# an# the process %ust (e #one with care2 Cnce the coil is woun# each en# of the win#ings can (e te%porarily cla%pe# an# the whole coil nee#s to (e coate# with a few coats of polyurethane varnish until a s%ooth finish is o(taine#2 &he appro5i%ate #i%ensions for the secon#ary coil are the height of the coil shoul# (e a(out , to T ti%es the #ia%eter of the pipe use# an# the nu%(er of turns on this pipe shoul# (e a(out *AAA2 ' goo# starting #ia%eter for a &esla coil is aroun# -A%% to +A%%2 I (elieve it is easier to #esign an# %a!e the secon#ary coil an# top loa# first an# (uil# the other co%ponents of the &esla coil aroun# these co%ponents as the other co%ponents can (e a#>uste# %ore easily whereas the secon#ary coil an# top loa# are fi5e# once (uilt2 &he top secon#ary win#ing is #irectly connecte# to a top loa# #ischarge ter%inal usually in the for% of a toroi# or so%eti%es a sphere2 &he (otto% secon#ary win#ing is #irectly connecte# to an e5cellent RF groun# connection2 I #on=t reco%%en# a sphere as the top loa# they are not as efficient at shiel#ing the top of the secon#ary coil fro% a large %agnetic fiel# which prevents #ischarge fro% the top win#ings2 &he toroi# also loo!s a lot %ore i%pressive in %y opinion2 ' toroi# can (e constructe# fro% fle5i(le alu%iniu% air #uct hose (use# for air con#itioning an# e5traction 2 &he fle5i(le hose is cut an# (ent into a toroi# an# fi5e# together using epo5y resin2 &he toroi# is %ore efficient with a s%ooth %etallic finish an# so it is a goo# i#ea to cover the toroi# with alu%iniu% tape to provi#e this s%ooth finish2 &he secon#ary coil has an in#uctance an# #ue to the high fre4uencies use# it also has a self capacitance2 &he toroi# itself acts a single plate of a virtual capacitor with the air (eing the #ielectric an# the groun#/Earth acting as the secon# plate of the virtual capacitor2 &he in#uctance of the secon#ary coil is calculate# using the sa%e e4uation a(ove for the helical pri%ary coil2 &he self capacitance of the secon#ary coil is given using the Me#hurst e4uation2 &his e4uation is only an appro5i%ation (ut is sufficiently accurate to allow an inaccuracy of only a few pico. fara#s2 R3 Me#hurst e4uationN C = 0.29 L + 0.41R +1.94 L

6here C is the self capacitance in pico.fara#s3 D is the length of the coil in inches an# R is the ra#ius of the coil in inches2 &he capacitance of the toroi# is appro5i%ate# (y the following e4uationN

D2 C = 1.4 1.2781 D 1

D2 ( D1 D2 )

6here C is the capacitance of the toroi# in pico.fara#s3 ?* is the total outer #ia%eter of the toroi# in inches an# ?@ is the #ia%eter of the cross section of the toroi# in inches3 i2e2 the #ia%eter of the tu(ing use# for the toroi#2 &he total capacitance of the secon#ary coil an# toroi# is not 4uite the su% of the two (ut a(out +AL to /AL of their su%3 so an efficiency factor is intro#uce# to their su%2 &his is #ue to their close pro5i%ity which causes the toroi# to shiel# so%e of the secon#ary coil surface area fro% groun# re#ucing their self capacitance2 &his is not too i%portant as this #iscrepancy can (e overco%e (y tuning the pri%ary coil with the secon#ary later2

'C

Ra#io Fre4uency %ains filter

)eon $ign &ransfor%er

Power factor correction RF %ains capacitor )eon $ign &ransfor%er filter

$i%plifie# &erry filter

&an! Capacitor

&oroi#al &op loa#

DC'?

DI)E

'C

$tatic $par! "ap

RF "roun#

Capacitance (etween top loa# an# RF groun#

Pri%ary Coil

$econ#ary Coil

Mains "roun#

RF "roun#

RF "roun#