Tesla Forums

PLEASE READ AND ANSWER! I EVEN SPELLED PLEASE OUT! COME ON!

So, i put together a really nice coil (based off information on http://www.deepfriedneon.com and http://www.teslacoildesign) for my 8th grade science fair on tuesday 2/15/11, and it doesn't work. When i unclip the wire to the outside of the primary (the clip's for tuning) and the transformer is just hooked up to the spark gap, the spark gap works fine. If i clip the aligator on the primary which places the primary coil/capacitor bank and spark gap in parallel the spark gap no longer sparks. Needles to say I get no sparks off the top load and can't light a fluorescent light bulb held in close proximity to the primary coils. I find that if i unclip the aligator clip on the primary, but keep it close, i  get an electrical streamer from the primary coil to the aligator clip. So i know there is a current running through the capacitor bank, but i dont think the capacitors are charging.

The transformer is : http://www.brightneonsigns.com/neonex-9v-neon-power-supply.html
with an output of 6500 volts, 30 mA, and 195 watts.

I have two strings of capacitors wired in parallel, seven in each. The caps are these: http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&itemSeq=96041157&uq=634323415681161929
or .047 uF and 1600 VDC per cap.
the total bank is .0134 uF and 11200 v (according to deepfriedneon's website).

the primary is 10 wraps of .25 copper tubing with .25 spacing and a 5.5 inch inner diameter.

So, basically, is it a problem with my cap bank, and if so, what should i do? i would appreciate any help, guidance, or advice.

***EDIT***
I also soldered the caps together, could i have accidentaly burnt them out? i dont think i did to all of them, so there shud b at least some charge, but when i connect the ends of the cap bank, to discharge them, nothing happens. thank u in advance.

***EDIT***
I had the caps checked by a electrical guy, and he tested them. they're pretty close to how they were expected to test, but they still wont charge. im gonna try and charge them with a 300v transformer i have (made from a camera flash) and see how that works.

PLZ ANSWER AND HELP!!!

Over the years I get emails saying “Help my coil is not working and have a week to fix” this to me is a turn off. After 30 years of building coils, it takes me months (or years) to collect the parts, months to build and paint a secondary. Then a lot of time of tuning and retuning to get a coil to run well and be dependable.  Building a tesla coil is not easy task, and each Tesla coil has its own personality, what works on one will not work with another. Do not think you will get much help on throwing a coil togeather and expecting results in a weekend, then expecting someone to jump in a create a miracle to fix your coil. Just my two cents here indeed.

Rgs,
Dr. Spark

great idea, thanx ill try that and c if it fixes the tesla coil (not).

and ive spent about a month putting this together, working from 8 to 10 on every weekend. and then i found out that the nst i got doesnt work. i spent a day testing and researching to find out that my nst wont charge the capacitors i have (its the nst, not the caps) and i have to get a whole new one. and guess what? if u had just clicked that link to the nst, typed "u need a new nst" and posted, instead of acting like a condescending know it all, i wud have been able to order a new nst, recieve it, and fix it during my upcoming break. so thanks for nothing. u have fun spending years on ur tesla coils, walking up hills both ways to get parts, through 3 feet of snow (cuz its the journey, not the destination-or some other cliche).

and here i was, thinking if i joined a website about tesla coils, i cud probaly get some good, useful, advice.

for anyone who wud like helpful advice, dont get the newer smaller neon sign transformers. im not sure if this will happen to everyone, but just buy an older one, on ebay or something.
for directions visit: http://www.teslacoildesign.com (download teslamap, its a good program)
for calculations visit : http://www.deepfriedneon.com (AND READ THE GUIDE!)

You mean recently made Transformer-type NT's?

 Or, solid state "electronic ballast" type?.

EDIT: just read the website re:new NT's. I guess you mean the new Ground Fault Interrupt type?

Layduhs.