kit build: tesla(ish) coil

[@I.____.....__...__]

For anyone who can't get it to work, specifically, those that are seeing only LED2 turn on, try replacing the red primary coil with a wire with fewer turns. Newer versions of this kit say to use 2-3 turns, but try trimming it down from 3 to 2, and if that still doesn't work, from 2 to 1 turn. I had 3 turns, then cut it down to 1 turn and it worked with no other changes.

[@markusallport1276]

These kits are amazingly fun. If I can offer a suggestion, when you hold the neon or florescent bulbs, you do have to hold the contacts to create capacitive ground and the bulb lights much brighter. There is no actual contact so to speak, (direct current), so there is no chance of shock or direct voltage contact. The other suggestion would be to have the discharge wire, (top of coil), untangled and tucked into the coil tube with about an inch sticking out for best results. If you have stainless steel ball or a stainless steel rod, you can set the ball on top of the coil tube with the discharge wire under it touching with gravity pressing between the ball and the tube so it contacts the ball, no soldering necessary. You won't see the actual discharge beam so to speak, but then you have a greater surface to experiment with. If you want to go one better... now, if you have a large Pyrex mixing bowl, (many kitchen aide type mixers have glass bowls, or any large glass mix bowl... flip it over the top of the whole circuit. It should have a distance of about 2-3 inches from glass dome to the ball to get the best visual results. Now you can safely touch the bowl and bring the florescent or neon bulbs near it. Also using the audio input, if you go direct from an mp3 or any audio source, you will hear music come from the coil, however if you use the steel ball and glass dome effect, you will not hear anything. (The stainless rod can be dropped into the tube and the discharge wire wrapped around the rod, and that is fun to play with as well, it also saves the end of the discharge wire from burning up and having to cut it back again and again.) **I've done these risky experiments so you don't have too! ***As a side note, the 1uf 50v electrolytic cap supplied with the kit should actually be 10uf 50v, but! it can be changed to any thing between 1uf and 16uf 50v to offer variances in audio performance. The lower the value the better the bass response you hear, it is slight, but it is recognizable, just be sure to keep the voltage rating at 50v or above :p I hope this helps, and give ideas for new experimenting.

[@goku445]

Nice detailed answer. Do you have any idea about what happened to his cap that got blown?

[@JohnDuthie]

My kit's primary winding was only long enough for a single turn around the secondary. I had it wound up against the secondary and an arc broke the insulation. I ended up using duct tape to create an air gap and now it works fine.

[@sivoltage]

Nicely done. I built the same kit while following along. Very relaxing. I’ve not tried the audio side yet but I’m getting some nice blue plasma.

[@tomgeorge3726]

Hi, I tried a simple audio signal generator on my coil unit. You only need line level signal to get the corona discharge to sing. I'm thinking of making a simple LM555 oscillator to connect and play. The fluro tube lights due to the high electric field exciting the electrons. I did the same thing with the 105 cap.. and like you got to where you had an electro to place.. lol.

[@pileofstuff]

Off camera I tried a few different audio sources (including an oscillator and the cheap MP3 player without the amplifier) and wasn't able to get any noticeable sound. I probably should have shown some of that, but the video was already getting too long.

[@goku445]

I'm glad I watched your video before plugging the audio jack. I will double-check what comes out of it, I guess nothing should? It's supposed to be an input. Thanks.

[@fungusenthusiast8249]

I had one of these exact ones and i pluged it directly into my phone and it played music fine. Also, it doesn't shock because of the high frequency.

[@pileofstuff]

It's entirely possible that I made a mistake, but after what happened I wasn't too keen to sacrifice any more audio sources to the gods of experimentation.

[@johncoops6897]

9:20 - you can easily fix old and/or cheap shitty solder wick using FLUX. I always use pure Rosin paste for repairs and component recycling, so I have it on hand (literally all over my hands), so a quick wipe of flux along the Wick and it's instantly transformed. A good quality liquid flux also works great... leaves less mess than rosin too. Solder wick needs LOTS of flux in order to work - usually the flux is sparse and once it dries out even the best wick becomes useless. So add some flux, just try it.

[@pileofstuff]

That's a good tip.I usually set this cheap wick into a pot of flux and heat it with my iron to saturate the wick.

[@sleeptyper]

I just built mine and it produces a tiny weeny spark (~2mm) on 12 volts, lol. How tight that primary coil has to be? 2 turns worked better than 3 (higher voltage).

[@natalialanda0]

I just made mine with your tutorial and it works, thaaanks man

[@goku445]

Does the audio work man? What is your power supply? 24V ?

[@larryb.lindsay2366]

Nice one. Big Clive would have touched it.

[@noggin73]

I built one of these with my nephew (he soldered it). We only had a 12v car battery to work with. Kinda worked. My bench supply was better but similar results to yours. I have a decent bench power supply though :-)

[@anthonyvolkman2338]

If you actually come in contact with the neon or florescent bulb (have the leafs in your hand) it will light up much better! It is safe to touch. The frequency is high enough (in the MHz range) you won't feel it due to the skin effect taking effect and also your nervous can't detect or react to it. The most you'll get is a slight burn (very slight) from the plasma and that's all. Love the video by the way!

[@pileofstuff]

I've had high frequency burns before, and it's an experience that I would very much like to avoid in the future.

[@anthonyvolkman2338]

@@pileofstuff Same here!!

[@abandonedchannel2002]

Wow, I actually came from Reddit - your videos are really great quality, subscribed!

[@pileofstuff]

Thanks for stopping by. Always glad to see some new faces here!

[@HazeAnderson]

This was the first kit I ever put together. It did not work. Then again at the time I didn't know how to get the proper voltage to it. Later I learned how to get the proper voltage to it. Then I decided to have some whiskey one night and fix it. Reverse polaried it. NOW it really does not work. 😂

[@DrexProjects]

Ha ha ha, Been there! Couple nights ago I did a video while doing whiskey. Like an idiot I uploaded it. It's a reminder to me to limit myself before doing Jack Daniels.

[@mikeoliver3254]

I built a similar kit but it used a one turn primary. I may have touched it to one night, just stings a bit, of course I had it isolated and was ungrounded myself so I think I was not getting the full effect.

[@DrexProjects]

Tip: Use 1/2 a Rossman when desoldering. ( I quote you ). I voted for LED cube.... This one won? Dang it. Awesome vid as usual. Thanks for commenting on mine.

[@pileofstuff]

I've still got the LED cube kit (that I ordered based on your suggestion) sitting on a shelf being intimidating. I'll get to it one day. Honest.

[@DrexProjects]

@@pileofstuff Yer the Best. I'm scared to do mine.

[@DrexProjects]

@@pileofstuff Nice. Hope you do it soon. Those things are so cool.

[@GeorgeJFW]

That thing actually looks like it could be a fun project I might need to pick one up! Keep it up brotha!

[@jameshauser1507]

What would we do without "Super Glue" or "Hot Glue"?

[@thedamnyankee1]

Duct Tape.

[@jimhough6233]

I love the way RD tends to go wrong!

[@kostandinosperioris2696]

Thanks for your helpful information.

[@ghodd100]

I got the same results.. It didn't work with the audio. But it shut down my computer lol..My pc still works.. Had to restart it..

[@pileofstuff]

That's braver than I am. I tested with a cheap MP3 player for a reason.

[@Steve_Coates]

A circuit diagram and silk screened board, luxury! I bought one which was just a bag of components and a board with outlines but no values marked. Google image search and a really bright torch to try and trace tracks saved the day. I managed to assemble it and get it working and as usual 5 minutes playing with it and it's sat on the shelf ever since. I sometimes wonder why we do it to ourselves, has anyone ever built a kit that actually gets used for anything?

[@pileofstuff]

I've got a few that do get used occasionally - mostly test type circuits, though. Oh, and the blinky x-mas tree kit. That one gets used for a few weeks at a time. But, yeah, I have a heap of them that have become mostly souvenirs and dust collectors.

[@acevehe]

I got a lot on Amazon and it came with no instructions. It's fairly self explanatory so I put it together. Only the blue LED lights up. No power comes off the coil. I'm using a 24v 2A power supply. I have no testing equipment like seen on this video. Any ideas how I can troubleshoot it?

[@pileofstuff]

Without being able to make some measurements it's going to be hard to know what's wrong. A multi-meter is one of the most useful pieces of test equipment a person can have. That multi-meter that I used was the cheapest one I could buy - $5.00 (this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZube6SKnZ2FpbM)

[@acevehe]

@@pileofstuff thank you! I own a multimeter and tried to use it after I saw you text the resistors to make sure I had the 2k and 10k in the right place. The multimeter either and I had them in the right places. Unfortunately, it still only lights up the blue LED. I appreciate the response in your attempt to be helpful. Thank you very much!

[@jv-iq9uz]

Neat kit, looks like fun. Anybody know how to convert a momentary button to a switch with two functions (on/off)?

[@pileofstuff]

It is probably easier to simply replace the button with a different switch.

[@jv-iq9uz]

@@pileofstuff Realy? I got as far as using a voltage regulator with drain direct to vcc, gate to a primary button (on), gate to a secondary button (off), source out to led to ground. It works really well... just want to get it working using one button. Any ideas? It may be a good one for a video.:)

[@pileofstuff]

@@jv-iq9uz Ahh. I didn't understand how deep you wanted to go. I thought you wanted to mechanically modify the switch.

[@jv-iq9uz]

@@pileofstuff Oh, sorry about that... I was basically trying to figure out how to make use of the pack of 100 momentary switches I have in my inventory. I don't really have much use for the momentary funcitonality. So I'm trying to figure out a good simple circuit to use repeatedly for the on/off funciton. I figured it's probably not worth the trouble. It probably requires a really specific BJT configuration. What do you think?

[@pileofstuff]

@@jv-iq9uz Probably a flip-flop circuit would be the easiest way to go. That would need a pair of transistors and a smattering of passive components. Something like this: i.stack.imgur.com/oDkoV.jpg

[@GadgetReboot]

Too bad that audio capacitor incident wasn’t captured on film. Lighting up neon and fluorescent lights wirelessly is probably more fun than hearing the tinny audio anyway.

[@pileofstuff]

I shad the camera running for a while as I tried to get some noise out of the thing, but I noticed my memory card was filling up so I paused for a while and missed the "money shot". Too bad, it was pretty loud when it went off.

[@fquimico]

Hello how are you, what was the voltage and current that you used in this Tesla coil? Could you tell me this information? Thanks in advance

[@pileofstuff]

Voltage worked between 3 and 5 volts. I did not measure the current, but it was able to operate from 2 AA batteries or an 18650 with no trouble.

[@fquimico]

​@@pileofstuff Would the current be 18650 mah by any chance? If not, how much would be enough to light a fluorescent lamp?

[@chelldaamo4481]

What charger are you using. What unit. OMG

[@stmounts]

Jaycar in Australia used to sell the automatic wire strippers and called them 'Tyrannosaurus Rex'.

[@iceberg789]

how many people died making this kit ? any statistics available ?/

[@jhml2011ut]

Nice vid, very helpful

[@ion_q]

Mine had only 1 mosfet!? I'm concerned, must be a packaging mistake

[@goku445]

yes it's an error.

[@iqbalibnibrahim2355]

Y transistor very hot? Mine didnot work.

[@pileofstuff]

My transistor gets hot after running for some time, because of the amount of current it is controlling. If yours gets hot instantly and the circuit does not work, possibly there is a short circuit, or the transistor is not installed in the correct orientation?

[@iqbalibnibrahim2355]

@@pileofstuff thanks. i found the problem. my primary coil turns wrong direction.

[@mrooke234]

I can’t get mine to work at all! Just the LED 2 lit and nothing on LED 1

[@quadmcjellydrone7909]

Mine did the same you have to wrap the 2/3 coil anti clock ways if looking from above with the power jack on the left then it works

[@goku445]

@@quadmcjellydrone7909 I think voltage matters a lot. I don't have the second LED lit either on a 16V input with 3 turns primary CCW but the unit works. It's lighting the small lamp provided if held very close as well as a regular light bulb. But, no arc visible! So I suppose no audio either? I guess it only works at high voltages 22+V.

[@quadmcjellydrone7909]

@@goku445 I found sometimes the ark stops but if I snip 1mm off the end of the coil it starts to ark again

[@goku445]

@@quadmcjellydrone7909 thanks for the tip, which input voltage do you use btw?

[@jhml2011ut]

​@@quadmcjellydrone7909Cheers for the tip, I'll try that

[@KARLLARK100]

I love the way you do your vids just striaght froward lov it never change ,.//.,

[@SimpleElectronics]

doesn't it seem so tempting? nom nom nom give it a lick!

[@pileofstuff]

Ummm.... I don't think I have the eyebrows to survive that.

[@SimpleElectronics]

@@pileofstuff I have hella eyebrows, it's overrated lol

[@pileofstuff]

But can you make them dance like ElectroBoom?

[@andymouse]

Had to subscribe when I see you like Stout !...How about Guinness?

[@pileofstuff]

Guinness? Don't mind if I do! But there's so many new local breweries to try out first.

[@John_Smith__]

Great video and it's funny to see we all watch the same channels :) ... the electronics community always runs over the same places :) ... I myself use some old pliers but I also liked Andreas video about the pliers since they're not all the same.

[@John_Smith__]

Another hint ... you should have made and shown the video about the electrolitic capacitor on the amplifier board blowing :) ..it increases yt views :) .. just sayin' ...

[@pileofstuff]

I wish I had recorded it too. I was taking far too long tinkering and I paused it so I wouldn't fill my memory card.... Lesson learned - record *everything*.

[@GeorgeJFW]

Maybe next time!

[@markfergerson2145]

@@pileofstuff Electroboom would have put a new cap in and redone it and recorded it, then edited it in. Just sayin.

[@jimhough6233]

Colpitts and transformer = tesla cool = maybe?

[@rasmussenfam7]

I built one

[@alansmith4734]

Funny Fact: I went to the site on your instructions - 56dz.com and it shows a picture of the assembled tesla coil with a red wire wrapped around the coil. The top of the red wire has 2 black marks on it that appear to be burn marks! =O

[@jimhough6233]

RD Frequency!

[@n.sturjo6970]

Nice.🇧🇩🇧🇩

[@xraytonyb]

Thanks for sharing! I actually built this kit about a year or so ago. The circuit is called a slayer exciter coil. One difference from a true tesla coil is that it is self resonant, whereas a tesla coil has to be tuned. I got the audio to work on mine by just connecting my MP3 player directly into the input jack. I did a video on it a while back. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmm3qH6iqJKYZtE Keep up the good work, and thanks again!

[@pileofstuff]

Off camera (before I blew up the amp board) I tried the MP3 player direct and it didn't seem to make any sound, which is why it occurred to me to try and hit the audio input a bit harder.

[@jimhough6233]

Coil

[@SharkyMoto]

the automatic wire stripper you got is complete garbage, this type doesnt work at all. i got the "cheap german" from the video andreas did for 2-3 years now and its working flawless.

[@pileofstuff]

Yup, it's only even a little bit functional with a couple of sizes of wire. Too small and it sherds them, too big and it just scratches the insulation.

[@HatNungTV]

3601 ok ok 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@jimhough6233]

RF

[@jimhough6233]

Dang this auto correct

[@pileofstuff]

There;s an edit button hidden under the 3 dots to the right of your comments. But this is funnier!