Intelligence Mission:
Turn off your televisions...Stop playing your video games
Do a little research and build something!
I embarked on the Tesla Coil project for three reaseson:
1. I was inspired by the great scientist and inventor, Nikola Tesla.
2. I wanted to see if I could actually build one.
3. I really wanted to show my students in my 5th grade class that with a little hard work, you can do anything...especially something cool like this...;-)
With this website, I intend to show the slow and tedious processes of building a Tesla Coil. If you don't know what a Tesla Coil is, then click here. Scroll down for pictures and explanations. Check back often for updates. If you want to build one for yourself, click here.
Take care,
Mr. G
After weeks of research and planning, I finally began my Tesla Coil on December 15, 2008. The first part I chose to build was the secondary coil. Below are a few pictures of the first day of widing the coil(a 4" diameter PVC pipe) with 28 AWG magnet wire. This was very tedious work. After a few starts and disasterous stops...the wire broke on me twice...I ended up covering 8.5"...only 7.5" to go.
In the pictures you see my crude winding rig, my spool of wire, and a can of sealant...to protect the wire. Yes, that is my favorite blanket...you've got to be comfortable in order to do this.
Day two started at 4:30 a.m. I wound the coil for an hour, then got ready for work. After what seemed like a year, I finished my sixteen inches of winding while watching the X Files with my wife. Needless to say, I was tired of winding, but very excited about the next component on my build list: the capacitor bank.
In these two pictures, you see the completed secondary coil. Hooray! I don't know which is cooler, though...the coil or my sweet house slippers...or the package of toilet paper sitting next to the far wall. I'll let you decide.
Day three, December 20, 2008. Today, the base of the Tesla Coil was completed. I used 1/2 plywood for the base, and 1/4" plywood for the top. The primary coil support brackets are already in place. Just need to head to Home Depot to get the copper tubing.
The primary coil support brackets have 1/4" holes with a 1/4" inch spaces in between. The large nuts at each corner will be covered by half inch PVC end caps to prevent any arcs.
Day 4...December 21, 2008. Here is a shot of the secondary coil with toroid attached to the base of the coil. Next, I'll install the primary coil and the electrical equipment underneath. The toroid was made with dryer duct tubing and aluminum tape.
Day 5...December 22, 2008. I got an advance on my monthly allowance...;-) So, I decided to go to the Home Depot to buy a few things. The copper tubing is for the pirmary coil. The short copper tube pieces are the beginnings of my spark gap. I probably won't be able to work on the coil any more until after Christmas.
After a few minutes, the tubing was wound around the primary coil support brackets. The inner diameter is not quite exactly 6.250 inches...which is what my plan called for. I am hoping that this issue is not really...an issue. I do have to say that, so far, this has been an extremely rewarding and satisfying project. I look forward to doing more. If any of my students are reading this...I hope that you have a good Christmas break...we're going to work our 'you know whats' off when we get back...;-)
