Introduction: Make Your Own Tesla Coil

About: Awesome Electronics Tutorials, Projects and How To´s

In this project I will firstly show you how a common slayer exciter tesla coil kit works and how you can create your own improved version of a tesla coil that is commonly referred to as a SSTC. Along the way I will talk about the driver circuit, how a tesla coil can play music and how we can upgrade the SSTC to a crude DRSSTC to create even longer arcs at the same input voltage. Let's get started!

Step 1: Watch the Videos!

The 3 videos give you a decent overview on what is necessary to do to create your own tesla coil. During the next steps though I will present you some additional and helpful information.

Step 2: Create the Tesla Coil Itself!

If you watched part 1 & 2 of the video series then you should know how I created my tesla coil. Feel free to print the attached motor adapter file and recreate my demonstrated procedure. The only thing I would do different the next time I create such a tesla coil is that I would not use any paint and use a PVC pipe with a bigger diameter for the primary coil so that short circuits between the primary and secondary are not possible.

Visit your next home improvement store for those parts: PVC pipe, wood screws, spar, plywood

And you can use these sellers to get the mandatory wire (affiliate links):

Ebay: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Aliexpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d6nz4Vh

Amazon.de: http://amzn.to/2rEYQgf

Step 3: Create the Driver Circuit!

Here you can find the schematic for the circuit as well as a list with the most important components along with example seller (affiliate links):

Ebay:
4x IGBT: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Arduino Nano:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x 555 Timer IC: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Schmitt trigger: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

2x IR2184 IGBT driver: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

12x UF4007 Diode: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x 7805 Voltage Regulator: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x 7812 Voltage Regulator: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x SD Card Module: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Aliexpress:
4x IGBT: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dZskGjH

1x Arduino Nano: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dULoNXh

1x 555 Timer IC: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dTrUY9D

1x Schmitt trigger: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d7b5sGR

2x IR2184 IGBT driver: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dUWHxdd

12x UF4007 Diode: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dYR45Bh

1x 7805 Voltage Regulator: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dXSrfiP

1x 7812 Voltage Regulator: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d8OcXHl

1x SD Card Module: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dUy68bd

Amazon.de

4x IGBT: http://amzn.to/2q93RMe

1x Arduino Nano: http://amzn.to/2qHLnX5

1x 555 Timer IC: http://amzn.to/2r5R7uI

1x Schmitt trigger:http://amzn.to/2q9fxhX

2x IR2184 IGBT driver: http://amzn.to/2q98XrV

12x UF4007 Diode: http://amzn.to/2qI6XKW

1x 7805 Voltage Regulator: http://amzn.to/2qI4Xmj

1x 7812 Voltage Regulator: http://amzn.to/2qE8Urn

1x SD Card Module: http://amzn.to/2qEnjEa

Step 4: Upload the Code!

Here you can find the interrupter code for the Arduino. Before uploading it, make sure to download and include these 2 libraries:

https://github.com/greiman/SdFat

https://github.com/TMRh20/TMRpcm

Attachments

Step 5: Success!

You did it! You just created your own Tesla Coil!
Feel free to check out my YouTube channel for more awesome projects:

http://www.youtube.com/user/greatscottlab

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for news about upcoming projects and behind the scenes information:

https://twitter.com/GreatScottLab

https://www.facebook.com/greatscottlab