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A solid state Tesla coil is one of the kinds of Tesla coils available. It has several advantages over the more common spark gap tesla coil. They are less louder than conventional Tesla coils, yet they can still achieve a respectable output. They can also be made to play music through its spark, which is a cool effect. Examples of this trick can be seen by searching for musical tesla coil or singing tesla coil. They are also more friendly to nearby electronic apparatus, although caution should still be applied.
In the following instructable, I will show you how to make a solid state Tesla coil, as well as several helpful tips and hints that will come handy during its construction. I take no credit for the original design, which is Steve Ward's, with some small modifications "here and there."
While fiddling with the antenna, I accidentally burnt both of the Mosfets, so bear in mind this design is far from perfect. I'm still posting the instructable, as some of the techniques I used may be interesting to some. Try at your own risks. Results may vary.
If you like this instructable, please rate it and vote my instructable for the contest.
In the following instructable, I will show you how to make a solid state Tesla coil, as well as several helpful tips and hints that will come handy during its construction. I take no credit for the original design, which is Steve Ward's, with some small modifications "here and there."
While fiddling with the antenna, I accidentally burnt both of the Mosfets, so bear in mind this design is far from perfect. I'm still posting the instructable, as some of the techniques I used may be interesting to some. Try at your own risks. Results may vary.
If you like this instructable, please rate it and vote my instructable for the contest.
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Signing UpStep 1Tesla Coil Parts
A Solid State Tesla coil is made by four main parts: the primary coil, the secondary coil, the topload, and the control circuitry.
The Secondary : The secondary is the long, orange cylinder. It is actually a white PVC pipe covered by a lot of enameled wire. One side is connected to ground, high voltage comes through the other side.
The Primary : The primary is powered by the control circuitry and it generates the magnetic field that the secondary uses to create the high voltage. It is the few turns of thick wire at the base of the secondary coil.
The Topload : The topload is the metallic object at the top of the secondary coil. It provides a capacitance to the Tesla coil.
The Control Circuitry : The circuits that make the tesla coil work at the correct frequency and duty cycle; based on Steve Ward's design.
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Solid State ones, such as this one, can be made but they are harder to make and may be more expensive. One and a half pvc pipe is a bit thin for a coil and it will not give you optimum results.
Two torus: it would be mostly decorative, but bear in mind that it would probably be two smaller torus instead of a big one; not two big ones.
Depends on your age and budget; if you want to go the easy way make a normal spark gap tesla coil; you just need to find an NST. If you cant find it go for the Solid State Tesla Coil. Making a solid state tesla coil takes time; if your deadline for the project is remotely nearby I wouldn't advise it.You might try asking for more details in http://4hv.org ; its a forum dedicated to high voltage and tesla coils.
Whatever you do; make sure to understand the difference between the two types of Tesla Coils. If you have never dealt with high voltage before, I'd recommend you another easier and less dangerous high voltage project; just reply or pm me.
I do have a couple of suggestions for your burnt out mosfet problem. The IRFP260 is rated for 50A and 200V. You're not getting anywhere near 50A on the primary if you're running off a rectified 120VAC outlet. You probably are spiking above 200V, though (V= L*dI/dt).
What you need to do is put a larger capacitor on the 120V output (C10), and then a flyback diode in parallel with the primary coil, so that if the voltage on the drain pin of the MOSFET exceeds 120V (and it will when you switch the MOSFET off), diode will forward bias and direct that energy into the large capacitor.
If you have an oscilloscope, you should check to see what voltages you're getting up to on the MOSFET pins.
The failure happened as I was fiddling with the primary position and spacing, but the arrangement shown in the video works well.
If I wanted to add more protection, I would add tvs, which act like Zener diodes but bidirectional and for higher voltages. And nop, I don't have any oscilloscope yet.
I've always wanted to build a Tesla coil, but cost has been the big hurdle - and I'm sure that's true for a lot of people - so a parts/cost list would be really helpful.
Maybe it's in here somewhere and I missed it, but if so, it would be awesome if it were all in one place and included in step 1.
Thanks!
As for where I purchased the electronics, its not going to be particularly helpful as all was purchased locally; although Newark, Digikey, and other e-stores surely have all the electronics I used.
Please make all the pictures availlable.
What is the "interrupter"? Is it some kind of signal you need to apply? What's the frequency, amplitude, etc?
Is your schematic a "singing" coil? If so, where does the audio signal go?
The main IC (the one that feeds the MOSFETs) is not labeled. What is it? What does it do?
Various capacitors don't have the max voltage indicated. While this is not important for the low voltage parts of the circuit, I'd imagine it's kind of a big deal when it comes to the output stage. :) Same goes for resistors, if more than, say, 0.25 W is required. Please indicate the wattage where it's important.
It would help to add a few words about the main parts of the circuit. I.e., this is the start-up stage, it performs such-and-such function; this is the output stage, its function is to feed the primary; yadda-yadda.
I can't figure out what the antenna does, but perhaps I need to re-read the rest of the article.
Thanks!