Spark Gap Tesla Coil - part 1: introduction and construction of a simple SGTC

Disclaimer: working with high voltage is dangerous, if you follow any of this instructions and build something and get injured/die while playing with it, you have done it at your own risk.
Recently I decided to make a video series about Tesla coils because my channel name is high voltage but I do not put many high voltage video related on this channel, so I thought Tesla coil could be something interesting. Before this I have never built a Tesla coil for myself, so it was also a good experience for myself to learn new things. Although the circuitry is exceedingly simple, the nonlinear behavior of spark gap and the discharge makes it a bit difficult to analyze the circuit and match experimental results with simulation. But that is exactly what I plan to do. this first Tesla coil performed not very special, but it was my first Tesla coil so I am happy with the results. At the end of the video I used a power source which I have not shown it, because it is not fully developed and would make the video very complex. Several videos will follow this video in which we will cover different parts of the circuitry that impact the performance of the Tesla coil. If everything goes well I plan to write a paper about the topic, and the viewers can also help me making the paper.
Music: from KZbin Audio library
Name: Apex, Artist: Aakash Gandhi
Finance: N=29
subs=683
Available budget (N): 683-100-29*(29+1)=-287
Storage limit: 2^ln(683)=92,18

[@andyroo3022]

Good video. You explained all the principles very well.

[@RAVI171175]

Very nice video dude. Highly appreciate your way of explaining things. You took the required time needed to explain everything well. Even though you tested it with a very high voltage switching power supply for a short moment, the sparks were amazing. I really enjoyed your video. It was a great pleasure for me & motivated me to try build one myself. Keep it up dear.

[@boerkuhjah]

Ik ben zelf ook al een aantal jaar bezig met het hele tesla gebeuren. Mega interssant en een hele uitdaging als je eigenlijk niet het geld hebt voor de “juiste” onderdelen en het meeste uit gebruikte apparatuur haalt. Heb het meeste van KZbin geleerd, en kwam er gelijk achter dat er veel heel cool waren, maar vele een eigen theorie hebben die voor hun goed werkt. Jouw video is precies in mijn straatje, en heb net je kanaal even vlug bekeken. Zo leerzaam, top!

[@HVE]

Erg bedankt voor je reactie

[@TravisTellsTruths]

Very, very good video. Tbank you so much.

[@unvailingtheveilwormwood8185]

Good job

[@user-no7ki3gc1w]

good video it made me wanna make one i made one its pretty powerfull it makes about 5-8 cm sparks i used a flyback transforemer with homemade capacitor its really good

[@maciejc.617]

IMHO these red capacitors are rated for 2000 V but DC. You have to check the datasheet to find out how the allowable voltage change in function of frequency. I saw such characteristics in WIMA capacitors datasheets so maybe there is any for yours.

[@HVE]

Thanks for the good comment. Indeed these general purpose caps are mainly used in DC applications. But they are rather cheap and can be used for AC in some cases. Polypropylene has much lower dielectric loss so Polypropylene film capacitors are the best choice, but they are more expensive. Polyester has in comparison higher dielectric loss but even at 100 kHz the tan_delta is still low (

[@TravisTellsTruths]

Please, sir. What type of capacitor for 500 volts 3 mhz. And 1000 volts, 3 megahertz. Still polypropylene film caps? I like mica for its high frequency properties. Can I use mica above 800 volts or so?

[@jureklukasiewicz1846]

thanks 😃

[@okaraaze1087]

Hi. Fantastic video! I Really enjoyed it and learned a lot. What voltage input was the weak and strong power supply? Id Love to know.

[@For_the-love_of_physics]

Nice

[@ritzevespa]

Hey, you in Holland? I was wondering, could I use a music amplifier to make the pulses? Just feed different sounds and see what is does

[@shawncalderon4950]

Please provide link to the red capacitors. Thank you.

[@CarsonCreatesStuff]

Is your local fire department on speed dial! All jokes aside thanks for the video, I appreciate how simple this coil was. It makes me feel its not such a big task to build one.

[@HVE]

😂 the sparks do not have much energy, they normally can not start a fire, unless if they strike inside a flammable gas, so actually little risk of fire there. Indeed making a simple Tesla coil is a rather simple task to do.

[@MadPlasmatist]

I just created a 'water cooled spark gap' you might want to check out, you can lower your capacitance with it and really get that coil blazing! I'd like to see you make a coil using it =)

[@ElPsyCongroo.]

Sorry for my ignorance, but how does the wcsg affect the capacitance?

[@user-yx6se1db5j]

Hello, how do I calculate the capacitor capacity that will be needed?

[@bastighg1559]

How long discharges does your coil make?

[@kennyfucker1]

Ik beun altijd een aansluiting voor de boormachine gaat mucho fastah

[@mernokallat645]

The outer bulb of sodium lamps is evacuated and will produce X-rays when exposed to high voltage.

[@harchandsingh3206]

Friends, see how the original spark gap Tesla coil is running on my channel

[@kiwiminer]

Could you change the capacitor for a 220nf one and instead of a falyback use a microwave transformer?

[@HVE]

The capacitance must match with the inductance of the coil. Microwave transformer does not have very high isolation level, so most likely the secondary will burn even if you manage to make it work. with the oscillatory circuit shown, probably it does not work, since that operate at high frequency which is not suitable for microwave transformer. but anyway give it a try and you will learn something new. Put a few turns as the primary, or use the excising filament wire on the MT, ans use the high voltage winding as the output and see if the oscillatory circuit works or not.

[@rudraexoticbullz7869]

Where did you connect the power supply can we connect it to a usb charger actually I am doing a science project of Tesla coil of yours can give me some advice please.

[@HVE]

I used those batteries which i showed in the video, also the name of them is given in the schematics. USB charger probably will not work. You need a source that can deliver many amps. Those green batteries are a good choice.

[@rudraexoticbullz7869]

Thanksyou

[@kalashnikov_47z]

Hello i made same setup, but i used Gas Discharge tube spark gap 10 of them 600V Each , 😢 But arks are very low 😢 whats the problem? Should i remove gas discharge tube ? And try with spark gap?

[@okaraaze1087]

Yes use a regular spark gap, you can use really anything as the spark gap. Try adjusting the power supply or increasing capacitor voltage rating or capacitor charge rating, It may affect the output.

[@NFxVIPER]

The video is very informative but it doesn't tell us how to calculate resonance frequency for the coils

[@rudraexoticbullz7869]

i got max 400v cpacitors can i use them

[@HVE]

No, they will burn, unless you have many of them and they have large capacitance, in that case you can make them in series. Also watch out, if you have electrolytic capacitor, do not use them at all.

[@generbantugan9925]

Can i use a 220v transformer thats is the range of my budget money i cant buy a flyback transformer because its to expensive but i want to know if i can use a 220v transformer?

[@HVE]

Hi, you need a high voltage transformer. A 220 volt transformer is not sufficient to create discharge in the spark gap. If you can find an old TV (those big TVs), inside there is a flyback transformer which you can extract.

[@generbantugan9925]

@@HVE thank you

[@generbantugan9925]

@@HVE can i use a IRFZ44 mosfet transistor?

[@generbantugan9925]

And can i use a 12v power supply and i have 5 pieces of 630v capacitor?can i use them?.thank you

[@HVE]

@@generbantugan9925 If your power supply can give you current (several amps for example, the more the better) you can use it.630 volt capacitor if you make 10 of them in series they might work, but you are also likely to destroy them. also when you make them in series the total capacitance reduces

[@orbitalx7414]

Whats the Capacitance of these capacitor???

[@HVE]

100 nF

[@dailygaming2614]

Zou je miss een link naar die condensators kunnen geven want ik kan ze niet vinden thx alv

[@HVE]

Alsjeblieft nl.aliexpress.com/item/32887395623.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.450e79d2jodDqH&gatewayAdapt=glo2nld

[@dailygaming2614]

@@HVE thxxx man

[@chamanigunathilaka739]

How to use 12v instead of 6.6v

[@bastighg1559]

12v adapter or connect more batterues

[@bastighg1559]

I used a 15v 1A adapter but my transistor is too weak it is advatised for 100v and 4a but on 15v and 1a it overheats in 5 secounds

[@tytusoniks9883]

Everything okay, but dont put sodium lamp or anything with vacuum next to the tesla coil. It may produce x-rays!

[@HVE]

Thanks for the comment. I keep it in mind.

[@NFxVIPER]

Who the hell would put sodium in a vacuum tube near a Tesla coil, One should just use tungsten

[@HVE]

​@@NFxVIPER Low pressure sodium lamps don't have that strong vacuum, that is why the red glow can be seen.

[@kennyfucker1]

Hahaha een nederlander eindelijk🤣

[@HVE]

Nederlandse vlag is altijd omhoog 🦁

[@arjyabirhazra1135]

Where can I learn more? I need to build a tesla coil within a month or the teacher will bitch at me. Also I will fail my school finals.

[@HVE]

Follow what i have shown in the video, it has a simple construction. and if you have short questions you can post them here

[@arjyabirhazra1135]

@@HVE What do I have to do if I want to use a battery with a higher voltage, around 24 V?

[@NFxVIPER]

You can use 24v but keep the current near to about 2 or 3 ampere or the sparks wouldn't look beautiful