Tesla Coil #2 « PocketMagic

Tesla Coil #2

By Radu Motisan Posted on January 23rd, 2009 , 1864 Views (Rate 1.18)

My first results in building a Tesla Coil were encouraging, but running the whole system on a battery pack with a 555 driven flyback transformer was not the best I could get.
Still those of you interested in seeing my first steps in the Tesla Coils realm can have a look here

My second attempt and the subject of this article, came with a change in the power source.
As advised by Teslina I tried to use a ZVS driven flyback with builtin rectifier to power the tesla coil.

So I've built a new ZVS driver soldering the components above a heatsink. I've used 2xIRFP460 mosfets, 2xBYV26E as fast diodes, 2 15V Zenners and a 50coil iron-core inductor.

For the flyback, first I've tried a twin setup, by using two monitor flybacks, both with built-in rectifiers.
The primary must be shared, and the two secondaries connected in series for summed voltage output:

Luckily I've found a better flyback that did the job of the two, so I dropped the design above. Still it's useful when you want to get a bit more voltage and you only have small monitor flybacks.

I've used the half wave rectified output to charge a bank of capacitors, summing 6nF 18KV. Here's the simple Tesla Coil schematics for rectified current:

And here are a few pics and vids showing the Tesla Coil in action:

Radu Motisan

vasil:
January 23rd, 2009 at 4:09 pm

In schema ta inverseaza pozitiile condensatorului primar si a spark gap-ului ca sa iti protejezi mai bine traful si condensatorul. Etanseaza partea de sus a secundarului, izoleaza spirele de la capatul de sus cu banda izolatoare ca sa reduci pierderea prin corona si construieste un mic toroid (cauciuc de la o roata de carut de ex, invelita cu folie de aluminiu, netezita cu dosul unei lingurite ca sa fie cat mai neteda). Toroidul iti va da mai multa capacitanta secundara, arcurile vor fi mai lungi si mai puternice, iar pierderile prin corona vor fi reduse.

PocketMagic » Tesla Coil #3:
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:08 pm

[...] my previous design I’ve added a second deck, to contain the power source (ZVS+flyback), the capacitor bank and [...]

michael r doyle:
December 13th, 2009 at 3:47 am

could u,build me a schematic[driver board] for a flyback,powered tesla coil? or send me a simple schematic,powered by a flyback,to power a small tesla coil? what size wire,is needed,and diamater,and length,of coil form,for tesla coil secondary? i have a couple large coils,driven by 15/60 neon sign trannys. be happy to pay,or trade for advice. mdoyleufo@gmail.com

Radu Motisan:
December 13th, 2009 at 11:28 am

Hi Mike, you can see the schematics here:
http://www.pocketmagic.net/?p=566

Let me know if you need anything else.

Adrian:
July 9th, 2011 at 3:52 pm

Salut,sunt incepator in domeniu dar am construit un driver zvs care are la iesire 2 transformatoare de linie,tensiunea de intrare este de 12v si intensitate de 16a. Acum vreau sa construiesc o bobina tesla. Am construit un condensator de inalta tensiune de vreo 5-6uF si bobinele sun asa:
primar 5spire fir izolat
secundar 350spire
din pacate nu functioneaza cum trebuie
Ce trebuie sa fac sa imbunatatesc randamentul?

Radu Motisan:
July 10th, 2011 at 2:49 pm

Salut Adrian,

350 spire in secundar pare cam putin. ce dimensiuni (lungime/diametru) are bobinajul?

primarul va trebui sa-l faci cu sarma desizolata ca sa-i poti face acordul (sa gasesti frecventa de rezonanata, cu o priza mobila pe el, sau incerci cu 4 spire, 5 spire, etc pana la scanteia maxima)

condensatorul d 5-6uF homemade suna putin straniu. cum l-ai facut de ai obtinut asa capacitate mare?

la toate astea ar ajuta de ai pune cateva poze.

Adrian:
July 10th, 2011 at 3:26 pm

condensatorul l-am facut pe metoda layden jar cu 6 sticle de dorna de 1.5l umplute cu apa cu sare si puse in paralel

Adrian:
July 10th, 2011 at 3:30 pm

deasemenea ai putea te rog sa imi spui de la ce sursa alimentezi zvs-ul

Radu:
July 10th, 2011 at 3:31 pm

Adrian, obisnuiam sa il alimentez de la sursa asta : http://www.pocketmagic.net/?p=1162

hulago:
August 7th, 2011 at 2:47 am

Hi Radu may I know what input voltage and current that u put into the driver that gives such a bright spark on the tesla coil top? Many thanks.

Radu Motisan:
August 7th, 2011 at 9:44 am

hulago, 12-15V in, 3-5Amps.

hulago:
August 10th, 2011 at 11:40 pm

what type of power source that u used? Is that lead acid battery or laptop power supply? Many thanks.

Radu:
August 11th, 2011 at 12:16 pm

Hulago, have a look here: http://www.pocketmagic.net/?p=1162

This is what I used.

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