(M^u^

- CIRCULATJOH

Cornell University Library

QC

645.H18

The Tesla high frequency coH,

3 1924

its

constr

012 334 706

Cornell University
Library

The
tine

original of

tliis

book

is in

Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright

restrictions in

the United States on the use of the

text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924012334706

THE TESLA HIGH FREQUENCY COIL

Plate

1.

Complete

12" Apparatus.

Frontispiece.

THE TESLA HIGH

FREQUENCY COIL
ITS

CONSTRUCTION AND USES

BY

GEORGE

F.

HALLER

AND

ELMER TILING CUNNINGHAM

S6

ILLUSTRATIONS

NEW YORK
D.
23

VAN NOSTRAND COMPANY

Murray and

1910

27

Warren

Sts.

Copyright, 1910, by

D. Van Nosteand Company

The

Plimpioii Press

Norwood Mass. U.S.A.

INTRODUCTION
In presenting

this

book on the Tesla

authors hope that they have

filled

No

practical library of science.

pubhc the

coil to the

a long

felt

vacancy in the

made

attempt has been

to

give a mathematical explanation of the oscillation transformer,

and other parts of the high-frequency apparatus,

simple reason that the theory

is

obtained of no practical use.

tried to lead the

and connect

bells
cell

up

amateur,

batteries,

and when

Neither have the authors

is

just learning

from the elements

how

to string

of the galvanic

the working of a high-potential, alternating cur-

to

but have merely

rent,

who

too complex,

for the

advanced amateurs

manual on

made an

effort to place in the

in electrical science

hands of

a practical working

now

the construction of high-frequency coils,

so

useful in scientific investigation.

The
coil

attention of the authors

when

was

first

called to the Tesla

they were fortunate enough to be given the use of

the 7" standard coil described in the last chapter of this

book.
it,

in

systematic line of experiments was carried on with

order to study the effects of a change in the constants

of the various circuits.

details of construction

and

All the mechanical

were carefully worked

out,

electrical

and

authors finally decided to design and construct a larger

The

coil,

as

first

constructed,

was a decided

failure,

the
coil.

due

to

VI

Introduction

too small a condenser capacity.

further

For about

five

experimented on the details of construction and

finally arrived at the 12" coil described in this

coil

months they

they feel assured

especially designed

great volume.

is

to

This

as efficient

give a

latter fact

book.

as can be made.

This
It

is

high-frequency discharge of

makes

it

useful for wireless

telegraphy.

In conclusion they have to thank Mr. G. O. Mitchell

many

suggestions

They

and

for

for the kindly interest he has taken in

this

work.

this

htde book would have been impossible.

feel that

without his help the writing

G. F. H.
E. T. C.

of.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.
VII,

VIII.

IX.

X.

PAGE

General Survey

The
The
The
The
The

Transformer

Condenser

20

Oscillation Transformer

Interrupter

24
.

32

Construction of the Boxes

Assembling

7"

Standard Coil

64
72

Uses of the Coil

Dimensions of

60
.

Theory of the Coil

Appendix

84

.......

97
iii

LIST OF PLATES
FACING

PAGE

PLArE
I.

II.

III.
I\'.
\'.

VI.
VII.

Complete 12" Apparatus

Frontispiece

Transformer for 12" Apparatus

Oscillation Transformer and Glass for Condenser of 12' Coil

20

....

52

Motor-driven Interrupter

The

Electrolytic Rectifier

Discharge from the 12' Coil

The

7' Standard Apparatus

52

96

20

....

...

96

LIST OF FIGURES
FIG.
1.

Method

2.

Secondary Bobbin of Transformer

3.

Hand Winder

4.

Wire-spool Holder

Primary Terminals

of Fastening

Completed

PAGE
Primary

8
ii

13

14

5.

Frame

6.

Section of Completed Transformer

for Secondary of

Transformer

18
18

22

8.

Condenser Frame and Brass Condenser Sheet

End Support for Secondary of Oscillation Transformer

9.

Fibre Strip

25

7.

10.
11.
12.

13.
14.

Rod
End Support

25

Centre

25
for

Primary

28

Primary of Oscillation Transformer .

Completed Secondary of Oscillation Transformer
Bushings for Support of Oscillator Standards

29

29
.

30

15.

Hard Rubber Block on

16.

Simple Primary Air-gap

34

17.

Magnetic Interrupter

37

18.

Motor Interrupter Fan

19.

Brass Angle Piece

20.
21.

Hard Rubber Block

Section of the Motor

22.

Patterns of Base

42

23.

Patterns of

Yoke

44

24.

Section of Completed

25.

Rotor Disc

26.

Rotor and Clamp Nut

48

27.

Stator Disc

49

Oscillation Transformer

38

39
40
Interrupter

41

Molor

45
-

28.

Frame

29.

Self-starting Device

30.

Rectifier Plates

31.

Transformer Box

for Stator Coils

and

30

\\'iring

46

51

Diagram

Box

32.

High-tension

33.

Connections for Primary of Transformer

52
58
61

63
65

List of Figures

xil

PAGE

FIG.

High-tension Bushing

35.

and Standards
Wiring Diagram
Waves on Wires
Primary and Core of Transformer
Secondary Bobbin of Transformer
Plate and Frame of Condenser

36.
37.

38.
3940.

Oscillators

92

of 7' Coil

98

of 7" Coil

99
loi

Oscillation

Transformer of 7' Apparatus

Box

Apparatus

43.

Wiring Diagram
Oscillators and Standards for 7' Apparatus

46.

47.
48.
49.

08

42.

44.

^7

41.

45.

.....

34.

for 7"

104

106
107

Transformer of Small Coil

Completed Transformer of Small Coil
Oscillation

Primary Spark-gap
Wiring Diagram
Wiring Diagram

115
.

109
113

117

118
118

THE TESLA COIL

CHAPTER

GENERAL SURVEY
By
is

and most

far the largest

electricity,

for

branch of science

interesting

Maxwell has proven mathematically, and

Hertz verified experimentally, that

light

is

an ejectromagnetic

disturbance in the ether, and thus added that subject to the

realm of

Amongst

electricity.

the various

phenomena

of

electricity,

those of the high-tension current are the most

interesting

and

With such a current

instructive.

all

the

wonders of the Geissler and Crookes tubes may be seen.

With

it

space,

waves

for wireless

and a great number

It is the

purpose of

this

messages

may be

of other experiments carried out.

book

to

show how a

apparatus for producing these currents

and

sent out into

may

satisfactory

be constructed,

also to describe a few of the uses for such a coil.

The

apparatus, as described in this book,

known

is

most commonly

as the Tesla High-Frequency Coil, and consists, in

general, of four parts

Interrupter;

former.

3.

Each

i.

The Step-Up Transformer;

The Condenser;

4.

The

2.

The

Oscillation Trans-

of these will be fully considered in subsequent

chapters.

Before entering upon the description of the Tesla high-

frequency apparatus, however,

it

would be well

to

make a

few general remarks which are of the greatest importance.

The Tesla Coil

Throughout the whole work

must be given

ing care

most

of construction the

matter of insulation.

to the

exact-

All the

wire used must be carefully tested, and each layer of wire

the transformer

must be thoroughly shellacked,

and then

in
in-

sulated from the next layer, by two turns of carefully oiled

In the condenser, which

paper.

really the vital part of

is

the apparatus, the glass should be of the best grade obtainable.

the

must

It

also be free

from

It is in

high-frequency apparatus, howe^'er, that the greatest

and

care as regards both construction

The

taken.

& S.

B.

air bubbles.

all

insulation

must

be

secondary consists of one layer only of No. 32

wound on

gauge, double cotton-covered wire,

an

octagonal frame, formed of strips of vulcanized fibre fastened

two end pieces of wood.

to

must be taken

that

would cause a short

wound,

When

winding the wire,

no two adjacent wires touch,

circuit.

When

the wire

is

care

for that

completely

given about five coats of shellac, not only to

it is

act

as an insulator, but also to prevent any slipping of the wires,

The primary
and a

half turns

secondary.
are

band

making

two

around a circular frame surrounding

the

consists of a thin

The frames on which

wound must be

\'ery

firm

of copper,

the primary

and

and secondarj

sulDstantial, so that ai

occasional jar will not displace any of the wires on

the

secondary.
All

connections must be soldered,

and the

connecting

wires run through glass tubes.

When

the apparatus

must be constructed.

is

finished,

two carefully made box6

These must be

oil

tight.

This

iii

General Survey

accomplished by mortising
boxes,

especially

shellac.

all joints,

the joints,

and then giving

about four or

Into one box the transformer

other the condenser

boxes are

filled

and

fits,

and

oscillation transformer.

with pure paraffine

oil,

coats

five

which

the
of

into

the

Then

the

the only

is

efficient insulator for these high-tension currents.

Some who

intend to build this coil will think that

precautions regarding insulation are extreme, but

found

that, in

currents, too
lation

is

all

it

these

will

be

dealing with high-frequency, high potential

much

care cannot be taken, for

"Good

the key to success in high tension work."

insu-

CHAPTER

II

THE TRANSFORMER
The

transformer

sometimes

merely an induction

called

converter

is

the

number

the

number

an

interrupter,

In a transformer

used to raise or lower the voltage.

of watts

is

connected directly to the

coil that is

alternating-current mains, without the use of

and

in the primary equals approximately

of watts in the secondary.

In the case of any step-up transformer, the ratio of the

number
ondary
in the

of volts in the primary to those set

is

nearly the

amperes decrease

The
of

the

no
The

upon

common

induction-coil

type,

volts or 55 volts,
efficient

and steps

it

is

up

to

from the mains

about 10,000

volts.

working of a transformer depends largely

The

always best to use;

for,

iron used

little

on the

must be

retentivity.
fall

of high
straight

of the current

maximum value to zero, the magnetic flux falls

maximum value, not to zero, but to a value which
its

but the

oil-immersed, step-up

It takes the alternating current

the design of the core.

is

of turns of wire

the secondary;

in

in the inverse ratio.

permeability and should have

core

number

the

in the sec-

transformer used in the coil described in this book

transformer.
at

same as

primary to the number

up

from

from

its

depends

The Transformer

The

on the residual magnetism.

open

much

circuit is

when

so that

magnetism

residual

than in a closed magnetic

less

in

an open

circuit

mag-

than in a closed one.

the electromotive force in the secondary

magnetic

to the fall in the

field, it is

an

circuit,

the current suddenly becomes zero, the

netic flux drops lower in

As

proportional

is

greater with a straight

core than with a closed circuit of iron.

The

coil

designer

the iron core

is

obliged to determine the length of

from the experience of

matics for calculating

it is

others, as the

too complex, although simple

useful in the case of closed circuit transformers.

is

made

have
is,

to

made

if

If the core

too short the secondary coils

be made of too large a diameter

therefore, a certain length

In the case of

and

the primary magnetizing current will be

too long

too large, while

mathe-

which

to

be

efficient.

would
There

will give the best results.

transformer the length of the core was

this

determined after having gained

all

information

possible

from certain eminent

men who had made

matters; in fact,

the dimensions of the transformer for

were determined

this special use

The

all

iron core

is

made up

gauge iron wire 18" long.

size

with a pair of

the bundle are

off

nary piece of iron pipe, a

an internal diameter
with these wires.

The

pliers, and,'

sawed

wire

study of these

life

way.

No. 20 or 22 B.
is

when assembled,

the ends of

square with a hack saw.

little less

An

ordi-

than 18" long, and having

putting the wires

surface,

& S.

cut nearly to

first

slightly less than 2",

When

on end on a smooth

in this

of pieces of

and

is

in,

tightly filled

stand the pipe

force in each wire until

The Tesla Coil

6
it

When

hits this surface.

end

is

The

sawed

off -ith

the bundle

fire

and

left

upper

finished, the

a hack saw to exactly i8."

tube containing the iron wires

or coal

is

is

now

placed in a coke

there until the fire burns itself out, thus

This heating and subsequent slow

insuring slow cooling.

cooling so softens the iron wires that their retentivity

duced

to

When

a minimum.

cool, the wires are

is re-

taken out

They

and sandpapered to ^emo^'e any superfluous oxide.

are

then, one

by one, dipped into boiling water, wiped dry, and

while

warm

still

the shellac

is

dry they are again packed, as tightly as possible,

in the pipe, to hold

still

packed

When

are coated with thin shellac varnish.

them

Then, while

in the desired shape.

out

closely together, they are forced slowly

the pipe; starting at the

end thus released, they are

of

tightly

bound with a narrow cotton bandage, which can be obtained

The bandage

from any surgical supply house.

should be

When

between one and two inches wide, but no more.

entire core

is

wrapped with

The ends

hea\ily shellacked.

and smooth;
oughly,

when

after this
it

will

this cloth, the cloth

it is

of the core are

put in a

warm

the

should be

now

filed flat

place to dry thor-

be ready for the primary winding.

use of the insulating varnish on the iron wires

is

The

to arrest

eddy currents as much as possible, thus preventing the

iron

wire from becoming heated and energy wasted, which would

lower the transformers

The primary

is

efficiently.

wound

in

two sections of two layers each,

one above the other.

No. 12 B.

covered

is

copper wire

used.

&l S.

gauge, double cotton-

About 2\ pounds

will

be

The Transformer

The primary may be wound by hand, by

required.

two wooden supports

bored in each,

it

is

and having a

apart,

But

fairly well.

satisfactory to

wind

To mount

to one.

in a lathe,

it

it,

and

slip

ring

fit

was formed,

Make

over the extreme end of the core.

it

as tightly as possible

by placing between

fitted

The

it

the

and the

Now clamp

core a few strips of tin or other thin sheet-metal.

firmly in the chuck.

the

if

cut a half-inch

piece from the end of the pipe in which the core

be

2" hole

rather difScult to wind the wire tightly in this way,

amateur has access

it

erecting

Then, by turning

to receive the iron core.

would be more

it

17"

hand the wire may be wound

the core by
as

other end of the core should also

with a half-inch piece of pipe and supported at this

The one

place in the steady rest.

piece of pipe

is

used to

prevent any of the wires from being forced in unequally at

the points

where the chuck clamps

and

it,

the other to afford

a smooth bearing surface for the steady

any tendency

stock, with the centre

About

I ft.

from

of turns of tape

removed,

around

At

it.

Proceed

it.

may

be pressed up against

this point

end,

its

now

to

is

several turns

wind the wire

tightly

and

Here the winding

of

stopped for a short time in order to give the

wire a good coat of shellac.

another coating

wound on

bind the wire to

by taking

closely to within i" of the other end.

the primary

it.

the end of the copper wire take a couple

around

the iron core, about i" from

of tape

If there is

rest.

for the core to slip out of the chuck, the tail

is

given

while the wire

it,

After the shellac has dried,

and then

is still

wet.

the second layer

When

is

the winding

'

The Tcsla Coil

point, a
has come to within about six turns of the starting

on

piece of tape doubled back

with

its

ends projecting beyond the

The looped end

second layer.

unwound

of the tape

See Fig.

outer side of the winding.

Method

The winding
The

of the second layer

loop

jecting ends.
off.

By

In

is

drawn

this

way

is

as,

Completed

finished over the piece

brought through the loop in

tight

by pulling on the other

the last turn

is

using this method or fastening

getting loose.

the

la^t "tuTYt.

the

pro-

kept from slipping

it is

use any bobbin heads for the primary;

advantage,

must be on

of Fastening Primary Terminals Primary.

of tape, the last turn being

tape.

portion of the

kf''')

Sji-ix^rams showing rnar^rter oC CasientTn^

I.

first layer,

i.

/I

Fig

on the

itself is laid

unnecessary

this is

to

a decided

with a removable primary, bobbins are always

The

wire

is

cut off about

2'

from

this

ending

in order

to allow

layer

this

of the primary

The second

and the

be described in a later chapter.

will

thoroughly shellacked, the

section

is

wound

directly

when wound

layer

fastened in the

is

is

on top of the
to

wind

diameter

total

wound

is

is

larger

as before.

trifle

in four sections.

The

thickness

-J".

tube will

fit

It will first

Now

The

the one fitting

inner diameter of the smaller

length of the tubes

turn out a

around

with the tube on

it,

it

wooden rod

Mount

tightly.

is

18"

and

the rod in the lathe

clamping one end of the wood in the

thin parting tool, cut off seven rings, three i" wide,
If

their

so that the larger

With a

chuck, and supporting the other end on a centre.

off in

be

greater than 2!", the external diameter of the

one being 35".

3^" wide.

wound

be 2|".

necessary to procure two micanite tubes,

tightly within the other.

same

in the

same manner

will

first,

thoroughly shellacked,

has been put on carefully 164 turns can be

and the

The secondary

tube

section

first

complete.

turn

last

in the 16"

making the various

is

is

Each

If the wire

plenty of wire for

same end, and being sure

starting at the
direction.

which

connections,

When

The Transformer

and

four,

the amateur has no lathe the rings may be cut

a mitre box.

Out

of

some quarter-inch

sheet-fibre,

cut eight circular pieces, 6" in diameter

and having a 3" hole

Slip one of the 1" rings

on the smaller tube,

in the centre.

and with Le Page's glue fasten

tube.

Next

slip

on one

it

to the

extreme end of the

of the circular discs of fibre,

and

then one of the 3J" rings, fastening them with glue.

Two

more

After

discs are put on,

and then another 3^"

ring.

The

10
this

comes another

and a

Be

ring.

and a i"

disc

This

is

by a disc

ring, followed

Then put on two more

3,{" ring.

ing 3 1" ring.

Coil

I'rsld

discs

and the remain-

and

followed by the remaining disc

sure that each ring

carefully glued

is

Before putting on the discs, small holes should be drilled

them, through which to carry the wires.

The

bobbin for the secondary

The

bered

2,

drilled

on

about

\"

3,

6,

seen in Fig.

is

the holes

ha\'e

2.

romijlcted
discs

num-

have them

drilled

Obtain a wooden rod upon

their outer edge.

which the secondary bobbin

in

the connecting wires

fcjr

their inner edge, while the others

from

i''

place.

in

will

lit

tightly.

It

should be

i8i" long.

winding wire

If the coil builder is skilled in

the winding

may

be done there

hand; but for an amateur,

who has had but

with lathe windirig, or for one

the following

great care

the end

method

is

must be taken

of the layer

is

much more

who does

rapidly than by
little

that the wire

is

experience

not possess a

In winding

given.

in the lathe,

in

the lathe,

not snapped off when

reached, and while the jjaper

wrapped on before the next layer

is

lathe,

is

being

wound.

For the hand winder, the wooden rod, on which the secondary bobbin

fits

tightly, is drilled in at

4" with a litde less than a {" hole.

driven into these holes, to serve as an

fit

tightly, so as to turn

project at one end,

other end

The

standards are

axh,-.

with the cylinder.

which

is sufficient

both ends for about

Pieces of |" iron are then

is

They

should

About 6" should

bent into a handle.

!/'

at the

for a bearing.

made

of

'("

oak, fastened jg|" apart,

The Transformer

II

-^

1-^
r
-I*

-Id-

<5^

-I*

"1

4e-

:,f^i^,^^-J^.?/-^

long

is

oak f" square and 2"

piece of

fastened with two screws to the top of each standard,

to serve as a cap.

on the
its

2' long.

a baseboard

to

Tesla Coil

Tlie

12

I" hole

then bored with

is

This allows the cylinder

joint.

bearings

when

Two

necessary.

its

centre

be taken out of

to

iron washers are slipped

over the shaft at the short end to act as a thrust bearing,

and two washers, with an open,

steel-wire spring

them, are put on the other end.

This

between

will give the friction

required to enable the amateur to stop the winding at any

time,

and

still

be sure that the cylinder will not rotate and so

The dimensions

loosen the turns of wire.

seen in Fig.

As
it is

of the winder are

3.

the wire

must be wound under some

tension,

and

as

tiresome to give the required tension by letting the wire

run through the hand, the holder shown in Fig. 4 was

devised.
It consists of
is

an axle which

fits

4" longer than the spool.

There

end of this axle for about 2"

wooden standards fastened

are put between the spool
to

bear on.

up on

An

the spool tightly,

to a

is

and which

a thread cut on one

then mounted in two

It is

baseboard.

and the standards

Iron washers
for the spool

open spring made of piano wire

is

slipped

the threaded end of the shaft, outside of the standards.

washer and a nut are now put on

tension to the spring.

lock nut

is

to give the required

put on to keep

this

nut from turning.

Care must be taken

in the wire.

When

to detect

any breaks that may occur

winding the wire

it

quite frequently

The Transformer

13

c
o

"n

-a

F\

C5

The Tesla Coil

14

happens that a
it is

covered by

bobbin,

little

kink

cause a break; but because

will

the cotton insulation,

unknown

it

will

To

to the coil builder.

be

wound on

detect these breaks

immediately, the authors used the following method.

is

cut out of a piece of sheet brass or copper.

and

3" in diameter.

This

is

the

It is

ring

}" wide

fastened by several flat-headed

brass screws to one side of the spool on which the wire

is

8
Fig. 4.

bought.

If the

\\'ire-Spool

Holder.

wire has been bought from a reliable dealer,

the inner end will be found projecting outside of

This wire

is

strip of sheet

that

it will

is

copper or brass, which

bear on the ring,

the standard,

a wire

the

reel.

soldered to the ring on the outside of the spool.

is

is

of such a length

fastened to the upper end

on the side on which the ring

led to

one pole of a dry

cell.

is.

From

of

here

The Transformer

On

15

the winder a strip of sheet metal

the standards.

is

best to fasten

It

is

It

from the handle.

it

bent so that

is

fastened to one of

to the

make good

projecting axle, which has been polished to

trical contact.

wire

one farthest up

presses firmly on the

it

then led from the brush on the

is

standard to a binding post on the baseboard.

receiver

now connected

is

the other pole of the

head attachment,

is

the Bell receiver,

easily

elec-

in series

cell.

telephone

with the binding-post and

watch-case receiver, with a

the best to use.

an attachment

If the

to hold

amateur has only

to his

it

head can

be arranged.

If the

amateur

may

prefers he

use a sensitive

galva-

nometer.

Everything

To

is

now ready

begin, pass about

i'

bobbin heads numbered

head 2

is.

The

wrapped on

wooden
circuit

cylinder.

through

2, 3,

from the side on which bobbin

all

and then

this

It will

now be

the wire

seen that there

on the

used, the needle will be deflected.

will

its

is

and the

a complete

The diaphragm

spool.

drawn down or

break, the diaphragm will return to

a click

bare part should be

the axle between the washer

in the telephone receiver is

is

winding of the secondary.

insulation should be scraped off of the end

of the wire for about 2",

tightly

for the

of the wire through the hole in the

if

If

a galvanometer

the wire should

normal position and

be heard, or in the case of the galvanometer the

needle will return to the zero position.

the break should be located

and

When

the wire

should not be used in soldering, as a

this

happens

soldered.

little left

Acid

on the wire

The Tesla Coil

will corrode
is

and

it

the best thing to use as a flux.

The

layer in the section between the bobbin heads

first

wound from

I, 2, is

2 to

i,

and

a good coating of shellac.

a

Rosin

connection.

spoil the electrical

The edge

is

wax must not be used

when

sulation, as the transformer

paraffine

oil,

thus spoling
the

first

its

layer,

down with a

little

to increase the in-

finished

immersed

is

in

All the layers after

insulating properties.

should start about \" from the inner face of the discs

each layer after

The

given

it is

which acts as a partial solvent to paraffine wax,

and stop the same distance from them.

around

wound

taken around the pre\ious

of the paper can be held

Parafiine

shellac.

it is

Before winding the next

over a turn of paper

little

one.

after

it.

it

is

wound and then

Be sure

to shellac

take a turn of paper

Continue winding until 61 layers are

last layer

in place.

should be wrapped over with a narrow cotton

bandage which

is

thoroughly shellacked to keep

About two

feet of wire

section for

making the various connections.

then brought through

should be

it

in place

projecting from the

left

the hole in disc

i,

This wire

and

its

end

is

is

connected to the axle.

Unwind

the other wire from the axle and, after polishing

the uninsulated part with a piece of

emery

cloth, t^vist

around the end of the wire from the spool, which has
been polished, and then solder the connection.
bare part of the wire with some
insulate

The

it

also

\\'rap the

silk thread, so as to thorou'^hly

it.

section

between the bobbin heads

3, 4, is

now wound.

The Transformer

The

layer

first

is

wound from

17

towards

the winder being

4,

turned in such a direction that the direction of the current

in the wire of this section will

That means

wound.
the

opposite

be the same as in the one just

must be rotated

that the winder

direction.

For convenience, howe\er,

winding the secondary bobbin can be taken

rod and put back in a reversed position,
the winder

rotated the

is

same

the

wooden

off of the

^^hen

in

in

this

is

done

The same

as predously.

instructions hold for this section as for the pre\"iou5 one.

Each

layer

must be shellacked and wrapped with paper and

the winding

In

must stop before getting

this section

71 layers are

wound

bobbin heads.

to the

on.

About

2'

of wire

should be brought through the hole in disc 4 to allow for

;

connections.

The two remaining

-

now wound

sections are

in the

manner, there being 71 layers in the section between the

bobbin heads
the discs
the

5, 6,

Remember

7, 8.

same

and only 61
to

la\ers in the section

This method of winding

as in the previous coils.

static strains.

practical reason

that

is

wires are from the outer layers, thus

to bring

out a

The reason
middle
.

new

piece of wire

and

if

for ha^'ing a greater

coils w-ill readily

direction

between

keep the direction of the wire

has several advantages, one of them being that

same

relieves

the leading out

all

making

it

an}- are ever

number

it

ahvavs easy

broken

off.

of la}-ers in the

be seen from a consideration of the

intensity of the lines of

magnetic force around

a solenoid.

Leave the completed secondary

in

warm

place to thor-

The Tesla Coil

^'V

<t'V----7f"

Fig.

5.

Frame

7i

ff

for Secondary of Transformer.

oughly dry, and in the meantime construct the frame

secondary.

base

is

made

Working drawings are given

in Fig.

of a piece of i"x 9" pine 20^" long.

and edges are rounded

to give

it

5.

The

a better apgearance.

for the

The

comers
Three

supports of i"x7" pine, 4V' high, are erected at the points

m.
1!

Fig. 6.

,.r,r...nm-rrrr-g^

Section

!lbi'Anm(Trn-F-n-3T^"'T:::r;

of Completed Transformer.

The Transformer
shown

in the figure.

3j" in diameter
the secondary
is

is

is

At the top

of each a half-round hole

Into these

cut.

wound.

The

19

fits

the tube

on which

distance between the supports

7r.

The two
are
silk

now

terminals from the middle coils of the secondary

soldered together, and the connection wrapped with

thread to insulate

it.

The

other two terminals are

left

alone at present as their connections are described in a later

chapter.

The

reason for using a cotton cloth instead of tape in the

construction of the transformer

is

that

oil

almost immedi-

ately spoils all the adhesive qualities of the type.

CHAPTER

III

THE CONDENSER

CONDENSER

is

an apparatus

for accumulating a large

quantity of electricity on a small surface.

vary considerably, but in

all

cases

The form may

consists essentially of

it

two conductors separated by a non-conductor or

and

its

The

action depends entirely

upon

induction.

thinner

and

the

the

dielectric

inductive capacity, the greater

denser.
potential.

is

greater

dielectric,

its

specific

the capacity of the con-

thin dielectric, however, cannot withstand a high

Besides the thickness, the dielectric strength

de-

pends on the character of the material.

The condenser used

for

in this

apparatus

used

is

glass

and the

plates are

finished the condenser

For the
in size,

is

made

immersed

especially designed

in

yV thick and

When
oil.

io"xi2"

These sheets may be had

them each sheet should be examined

If

dielectric

pure parafi&ne

about nine or ten cents apiece.

are any air bulAles.

The

of sheet brass.

dielectric 95 sheets of glass,

should be obtained.

to size for

it

is

long continued use on high voltages.

carefully to see

any are found

in

cut

In purchasing
if

there

a sheet of

glass

should be rejected.

The

brass used

is

number 32

or 34.

Forty-six sheets

Plate

Plate

III.

II.

Transformer

for 12" Apparatus.

Oscillation Transformer

12" Coil.

and Glass

for

Condenser of

The Condenser
8"xio" are required.
side

In one of the corners of the shorter

a tongue 2" wide and

is

the top of this tongue.

wide, a

out of

little

soldering

As a

right

on the

is

this

the tongues cut

The

extra i"

is

Rosin, not acid, should be used

in the

width

is

used the tongues are cut

occupies the part that has been constructed

which the condenser

is

pine.

The

base

long.

The

sides are

is

The frame

transformer box.

built

made

up

is

made

in

out of well dried

of a piece of ]" x 11" pine, iif"

cutout of y'xi2" material lof"

are also cut from j"xi2"

wood and

long.

are 11" long.

and ends should be planed up smooth on both

sides, so as to

make them

completed frame

is

little less

seen in Fig.

The

than i" thick.

7.

Place the condenser frame on a table or some other

surface, with

one of the ends down.

clean so as to

remove any dust or moisture.

by putting two glass sheets

bottom of the frame.

glass plates so that there

sheet, except

in the

flat

Before putting any of

the glass sheets in the frame, they should be carefully

the

for

sheets.

in the oscillation

sides

rolls 8"

the only width that can be obtained in

When

The condenser

The

bent across

in the figure.

rule 12"

The ends

is

can be had in

cut 3"xi|".

to the plates.

shown

places.

it

If the brass

hp

These tongues should always be soldered

most

for

A j"

j" long.

more should be obtained and

them

as a flux.
position

They should be

it.

21

wiped

Commence

frame so that they reach

Place a brass sheet on top of these

is

a i" margin of glass

were the tongue comes out.

If

all

around the

the lip

on the

The Tesla Coil

22

tongue has been bent carefully

will just

fit

up against

Without displacing the brass lay two

sheets of glass.

on top of

of glass

it

it.

A brass

sheet

next put

is

i"

margin around the brass as in the previous

the brass

come two more

but in

this

There should

case the tongue comes out on the reverse side.

be a

in,

the

sheets

case.

After

This process

sheets of glass.

is

A.

n." "Frame for

B."Sha|3=
Dotted
tort4ue

Fig,

7.

Condenser

Condenser

brass jheet
show size op

o^

lines

w^dn so\<ierG6 on.

Frame and Brass Coxdexser Sheet.

kept up until the 46 sheets of brass have been put in

Three sheets
If the glass

book
last

of glass are placed

the last sheet will just go

few sheets

two, to take

on top of the

and the brass used are the

it is

last brass plate.

size called for in this

In forcing in

the

a good idea to lay a cloth between the

last

up any excess

crack the glass.

place.

tightly.

pressure,

which would otherwise

The Condenser
Set the condenser upright,

when

23
finished,

No. 16 bare copper wire about

piece of

down

the lips in turn,

the one side,

and

3'

the

and

solder a

long to each of

same

is

done on

the other side.

Two
frame

leather straps should be fastened to the sides of the

to

lift

former box.

it

by when lowering

The

into the oscillation trans-

object for building the condenser in a

separate frame, instead of in the division in the oscillation

transformer box,
ever require
shet

is

to facilitate

rebuilding,

due

moving should the condenser

to

the rupturing of the glass

AA'hen the condenser

is

placed in the box, the end which

has the three glass sheets should be placed against the partition, that

is,

nearest the oscillation transformer.

pre\-ent the spark

from the

This

oscillation transformer

through into the condenser, instead of following

its

is

to

breaking
air path.

CHAPTER

I\'

THE OSCILLATION TRANSFORMER

It
in

is

this part of the

apparatus, so simple in construction,

which the most care as regards insulation must be taken.

The

success of the whole apparatus depends on the care

with which this part

is

The

constructed.

as two wires touching, or

many

may

cause a short circuit and require

It

not wise to hurry the work, as

is

reconstruct

it if

The end
wood.

The two

eter,

and from f "

are

marked

the fibre strips,

reconstruction.

be necessary

to

any suitable piece

of

will

it

made out

of

supports for the secondary are 8" in diamto i" in thickness.

Eight equidistant points

on the periphery and

wide cut at these points.

These

its

careless.

supports are

off

least fault, such

other small similar mistakes,

See Fig.

slots J"

These

8.

on which the secondary

strips are 17" long

and

\" square

is

deep and

\"

slots are for

wound,

to

fit into.

and are cut from

the

best vulcanized fibre obtainable, eight being required.

In

each end of the strips a hole

to

recei^'e

end

is

drilled

a small brass screw, which

pieces.

wooden rod about

is

and countersunk

to fasten

i"

in

diameter

obtained and a shoulder turned on each end.

of the shoulder

is

\"

and

its

them

The

to the
is

now

diameter

length just equals the width of

24

The
the supports,

Oscillation Transformer

|"

i.e.,

if

The

used for the ends.

wood

f"

is

used, or i"

25
if

length of the rod over

i"
all

wood

is

must be

End Support for

S.
Secondary of Oscillation
Transformer.

Fig.

only 17".

See Fig. 10.

of each of the

end

A h" hole

is

now

drilled in the centre

These pieces are now slipped on,

pieces.

ITFig. 9.

Fibre

one on each end of the rod.

supports, after fitting

them

Strip.

Screw the

in the slots

are parallel to the rod in the centre.

If

that they

any of the

strips are

77"
10.

Centre

on the

and seeing

"TT

Fig.

fibre strips

Rod.

The Tcsia Coll

20

bent or warped they should be straightened before being

fastened in place.

good way

them

to straighten

is

to lay

them between two boards, placing some heavy weight on

the top board,

and lea\c them thus over

or 5 ounces of Xo. 28 B. &: S. gauge double cotton

About 4

covered copper wire

Two

first

method

18" long

in

\\'a\-s

of these

methods

be described,

as

satisfactory.

cylinder of

wood

turned out, and on

is first

will

intended for those that have a lathe

is

which the wire can be wound

them both

the authors have found

at their disposal.

There

required for the secondary.

is

are several equally good

on the frame.

The

night.

it

4" in diameter and

are screwed the eight

ends are in

strips of fibre, so that their

line,

and

that they

the amateur has a couple of clamps

strike

one another.

made

of strips of sheet iron with a bolt through the ends,

matters by clamping them around the

will greatly help

about 6" apart,

first
file

taken

order to

It

light cut

is

No. 18 thread

is

now

strips to within

cut, starting

an inch of

clean cut the tool

there

is

mounted on

the

the

In

must be \cry sharp and

several light cuts should be taken instead of one.

strips are

strips,

should be cut just as deep as possible.

make a

it

and then they are polished with

from the end of the

i"

other end.

and moving them as needed.

off the strips,

and sandpaper.

about

If

frame again

it

will

When

the

be seen that

a continuous groove in which the wires will

lie

with-

out touching one another.

The secondary frame

in

the

lathe so that

it

is

now supported between

just turns easily.

centres

Around one end

Oscillalion Transformer

Till'

wrap about

of one of the strips

be used for connections.

to

wire tightly on the

groove cut for

making

for

of shellac

this

is

dry

keeping the wire in the

When

all

finished, a

where they

gi\'en to the wires

is

is

wind the

extra should be left at

the connections.

When

strips.

i'

This

of Xo. 2S wire.

i'

Starting at this point

frame, always

About

it.

~i

the wire

is

rest

the end

hea\y coat

on the

fibre

heavily shellacked.

brush should be used so as not to displace any of

soft

The secondary should now be

the wires.

placed in a

warm

place to dry.

The

following method can be used in case a lathe

available.

around the secondary frame.

smoothl}'.

and shellacked

The

wire

is

make two

wrapped on

in place.

It

wood

wound

then

to

silk

It is

here that shellac dissoh'ed in

be used.

turns

tightl}',

thread

turns, to
is

is

wound on

keep them apart,

heavily shellacked

at the

^^'hen

should

not

on, starting about i"

same time between

it

and

might be mentioned
alcohol

from the end up to within an inch of the other end.

silk

not

spool of silk thread and some silk are re-

There must be enough

quired.

is

is all

and the frame put

wound

in a

warm

A
the

the wire

place to

thoroughly dry.

Get

t\vo pieces of

of each

J"xi2" pine 12" long and find the centre

by the intersection of

their diagonals.

points as centres describe two circles, with radii

on each board.

With
4I''

these

and 5^'

Di\"ide the circles ha\-ing the radius 5}"

into 36 equal parts.

These points can be located with a

protractor or mariner's compass, there being one e\ery 10.

28

Tlie Tesla Coil

At each of these points

drill

boards cut out a piece i"x

At a planing

may
in

a \" hole.

See Fig. ii.

i".

buy eighteen

mill

dowels, 36" long.

-]"

gwe you

These

Each one should be

be had for one cent apiece.

two, which will

In each corner of these

\" rods,

thirty-six

cut

18" long.

Fasten one of the 12" end pieces to each of the ends of the

Sb- ^ holes

\
o
\

o
\
o

Ai

-5i-

\/,

,0^

^-o'

/^'
Fig, II.

End

Support for Primary.

completed secondary frame, by four flat-headed brass screws.

See that the circular end pieces of the secondary just
the smaller circles

now

drawn on

the boards.

The

fit

on

^" rods are

driven into place, thus forming a circular cage on which

the primary

is

wound.

For the primary get an

i" wide.

8' piece of

No. 36 copper ribbon

AAYap the end of the ribbon once around the end

The
the dowel

of

Oscillation Transformer

shown

Fig.

in

29

and solder

12

in

it

piece of copper wire should also be soldered

Starting

from

here

on

place.
here.

two and a half turns around

take

Primary of Oscillation TRANSrORMER.

Fig. 12.

This

the secondary frame.

the

you

dowel

diametrically

Wrap

started.

and solder

it

the

in place.

will

bring you to the end of

opposite

the

dowel from which

ribbon once around

this

dowel

piece of wire should also be

Completed Sec13.
ondary or Oscillation

Fig.

Transformer.

soldered on.

spaced.
fasten

The

turns of the ribbon

Get four pieces of

them

the other,

as braces

should be equally

i"xi" pine

183"

long and

from the one end of the frame

to

the pieces fitting in the corners that were cut

out for them.

The Tcsla Coil

I
I

- Bushings
for
Support of Oscillator
Standards.

~^

""

-e

"^

4-

Fig. 15.

Hard

Rubber Block on Oscillation Transformer.

The

Oscillation

Turn two bushings out

They

are

shown

the shoulder
centre,
at

and

is

The

I" thick.

two opposite points

Two pieces of

31

of a piece of f" brass or copper rod.

in Fig. 14.

the shoulder

Transformer

is

length over

" hole

drilled

to recei\"e

and

is

slightly

V'

and

down

the

all is

drilled

countersunk

two small brass screws.

vulcanized fibre or ebonite J"xi'', 2" long, with

a 5" hole drilled h" from the end, are fastened to the middle
of the top side of the

made

The bushings

primary frame.

are fitted into the holes

and screwed

in place.

just

The

wires from the secondary are soldered onto these bushings.

^^'hen this
all

is

done the

that needs to be

oscillation transformer

done

is

to connect

completed oscillation transformer

is

it

up

is

finished

properly.

seen in plate III.

and

The

CHAPTER V
THE INTERRUPTER
Let

us

now

consider that important part of the apparatus,

The

the primary spark-gap.

stated, is to provide a

denser

charged to

is

function of

this,

as previously

path of high resistance until the con-

Then

capacity.

full

its

it

suddenly

breaks down, and allows the current to surge back and

across

it,

until the current

other factors

in

the

damped

is

After

circuit.

forth

out by resistance and

the

oscillations

ceased, the ideal spark-gap should return to

have

maximum

its

disruptive strength before the condenser can be charged by

the next cycle from the secondary of the transformer.

In practice

this

is

far

from being the

case.

The

air

between the discharging balls becomes heated, and

offers

a comparatively low-resistance path for the current.

This

results in

an arc being formed, which prevents the condenser

from performing

its

which confronts the designer

of

this

The
tially

is

to find

some way

to get rid

heated air and thus prevent the arc being formed.

object of this chapter

accomplishing

The

The mechanical problem

function.

is

to

this result,

show

several

ways

of par-

but in no case perfectly.

simplest form of spark-gap for the primary of the

oscillation

transformer,

one which has given

32

fair

results

Tlte Interrupter

^li

with the writers, consists of merely two adjustable brass

No

balls.

provision

made

is

for

blowing out the arc that

forms, so that considerable of the energy of the transformer

Nevertheless sufficient oscillations are set up

is

wasted.

to

bring the coil to within i" or 2" of

maximum

its

length of

spark discharge.

Most amateur
struction,
their

a designer
coil
is

be very anxious

work

apparatus

coil builders will, at this point in the con-

are.

may

what

to see

be obtained with the simple air-gap.

more acquainted with

is

the possibilities of

good idea of the working value of the

When

the workings of a Tesla

he can construct that one of the spark wipe-outs which

best suited to the current that he has at his disposal.

THE SIMPLE AIR-GAP

Two

standards of brass J" in diameter and 4" long are

mounted on a piece
5" apart.

each rod and

of

-^^" hole
is

hard rubber.

They should be about

drilled J"

from the upper end of

is

taped with a standard \" machine screw tap.

These two holes must be

Next two pieces

for the

whole of

standards.

Two

in line.

of \" brass rod 3!" in length are threaded

their length to

balls

in

fit

the holes tapped in the

diameter are turned out of

brass or are procured

from a dealer

These

and threaded

Two

balls are drilled

to

in physical
fit

supplies.

in the brass rods.

vulcanized fiber rods are turned out of f" rod, 3" in

length,

and a

\" shield 2" in diameter

end of each handle.

The handle

is

is

drilled

screwed on one

and tapped

for

The Tcsla Coil

34
i" to
is

fit

on which

it

is

safeguard the operator's hand

to

fibre

the brass rod

screwed.

The

from sliding

shield

off

the

handle and coming into contact with the transformer

which would probably be

current,

fatal.

Connection can

be made to the brass standard near the bottom by

drilling

-6

-*Afcl*'

an

!_

IEHIImQ)
-^

'

0/-/'A/-)'/'/-,

<-

e
.f

c
Fig. i6.

Simple

Primary Air-cap.

a small hole through them, and then drilling and tapping

another hole at right angles to the
to

first,

for a

thumb

screw

bind the wire.

set

screw at the top of the standards to clamp the rods

in place after they

to the operator.

have been adjusted

See Fig. i6.

will

be a convenience

The Interrupter

35

THE AIR-BLAST INTERRUPTER

In order to
of

much

make

more

the air-gap

getting rid

efficient,

between the spark terminals, a

of the heated gases

mechanical means can be used of forcing in cold

driving out

much

To

higher.

efficiently

hard glass tubing

is

is

accomplish

drawn out

opening ^\" in diameter.

ard and

This

is

this

a nozzle having an

into

mounted on a brass standto a foot

used in the laboratory to operate a blast

is

lamp or any other suitable supply of compressed

good blast of air
to form,

thus

a piece of f"

connected by means of a rubber tube

bellows such as

air,

heated gases and keeping the resistance

the

will effectually

air.

wipe out any arc that tends

thereby increasing the disruptive length of the bright

oscillation

transformer discharge.

however, that

occupying so

it

is

The

a tedious task to

much

operator will find,

pump

a foot bellows,

of his time as to handicap

him

in per-

forming experiments with the high-frequency discharge, and

he will soon decide that the best policy

is

to construct either

a magnetic wipe-out or a motor-driven interrupter.

THE MAGNETIC INTERRUPTER

The magnetic blow-out

is

well suited for those

who have a

source of direct current at their disposal; either the

lighting circuit or

a suitable battery current.

have only the alternating current and

no- volt

For those who

who wish

to use the

magnetic wipe-out the writers have added to this chapter

a simple

home-made

electrolytic rectifier of their

own

design

The Tesla

36

which

will give

Coil

a current suitable for magnetizing the magnet

of this interrupter.

Two standards of the same

interrupter, but 6" in length

form as those used

and having spark

in the simple

balls I" instead

of J" in diameter, are mounted on a hard rubber base 10" x

The

fibre

terrupter.

handles and shields are also necessary for

Two

this in-

electromagnet bobbins 5^" long and having

an iron core |" in diameter with

An

are procured.

7".

iron

has 2 holes drilled in

it

heads 3" in diameter

fibre

yoke made from i"xj" iron

in the

the bobbins are fastened to

7" long

middle i^" from both ends, and

it

by a screw

in the core.

Two

polar pieces of f " square iron, filed into an egg-shaped point

The

are screwed to the upper ends of the core.

are wound
wire,

if

full

of

No. 14 B.

&

S.

gauge cotton-covered magnet

they are to be operated on a battery current of from

eight to ten volts such as a plunge battery.

rent of
rectifier

bobbins

10 volts

is

If

a direct cur-

available No. 24 should be used.

described at the end of this chapter

is

If the

used No.

22

wire should be used as the voltage of the rectified current on

no

volts alternating

is

about 90

volts.

be thoroughly saturated in order to

The magnets

must

give the best results.

After the magnets are finished they should be fastened

to

the hard rubber base, at right angles to the rods carrying

the spark balls,

balls of the

by two screws through the iron yoke.

The

spark-gap should be between the projections

of the magnet.

sheet of mica

is

bent around the polar

projections of the magnets in order to prevent the spark

from jumping

to the cores of the

magnets.

Fig. 17.

The Interrupter

of the coils are so connected that the current

The ends

them

will traverse

outer ter-

suitable binding-posts

and the

finished.

is

Fig.

The

The

in opposite directions.

minals are brought out to

interrupter

37

17.

^Maonitic

Inieehupter.

principle of this piece of apparatus

based on Da\'y's

is

experiment in which he found that the electric arc

is

extin-

guished upon the approach of a magnet.

THE MOTOR-DRIVEN INTERRUPTER

This interrupter

is

the one the writers used in their earlier

experiments with the 7" standard

part of this book.

It

consists

coil

described in the latter

run on the alternating current at

no

volts, driving

disc

having a number of projections bolted

face,

and a brass

separating
at will.

builder

it

oscillator so

may

direct current

mounted

from the projections on the

The motor may be

possess.

of

motor

essentially of a fan

a brass

around

its

that the distance

disc

can be varied

any suitable design that the

small battery motor rimning on

can be pressed into service

if

the amateur does

The Tesla Coil

38

not care to go to the expense of purchasing a fan motor or

The

has not the facihties for building one.

directions for

building a suitable induction motor are given at the end of

this chapter.

/bbei"

Fig. i8.

To make

Motor

Interrupter Fan.

the disc for this interrupter turn out of \" sheet

brass a circular piece lo" in diameter.

may be

able

it

Lay

off

eter

on

its

no lathe

If

is

avail-

procured at a model maker's quite reasonably.

face

respectively.

two concentric
Di\ide

the

circles, 8"

inner

of

and 9}"
these

in diam-

into

thirty

equal divisions and draw radial lines from the centre of the
disc through each of the points

marked

oF,

thus dividing

The

same number

the outer circle into the

through each of

Drill a hole
circles

and tap them

number

Interrupter

to

39
of equal divisions.

the points laid off

on both

a standard 4-36 machine screw.

jQt

made by bending

of brass angle pieces

I,

j'g"

brass

Two

holes

coontersunk

->i^

Brass Angle Piece.

into the

form shown

are drilled
flat'-headed

in the figure are procured.

and tapped

in

fit

a standard 4-36

pieces

are screwed to

each one to

machine screw.

These

the brass disc with j" screws.

\" hole

is

drilled in the centre of the disc

holes are drilled

on a

circle

and

having a radius of

three ig"
|".

Next

The Tesla Coil

40

turn out a circular block of hard rubber 2" in diameter and

the

same shape as

in

Fig. 20.

The

brass disc

is

screwed

with three brass wood screws {" long and the whole

to

it

is

fastened

the

to

insulated from

&

To

it.

shaft

of

the

motor so as

20,

plate a brush to bear

Hard

Rubber Block.

on the back near the centre

of a piece of y^" sheet spring brass.

and

be well

Fig.

10" long

to

mal<:e electrical contact with the brass

wide.

It is

is

cut out

This piece should be

mounted on a

piece of hard

rubber with a suitable binding-post, so as to press against

the back of the disc.

For the other side of the spark-gap a standard mounted

on hard rubber similar

spark-gap

is

to the

one described

used, but instead of being 4" long

for the simple

it is

6" in length

The Interrupter
and the brass
diameter.

The

ball

is

fibre

best

if

it

is

slightly less

41

than \" in

handle and shield are necessary in

order to adjust the length of spark-gap while the coil

operation.

is

in

The Interrupter

43

A SiLVLL SELF-ST.\RTIXG SDsGLE-PHASE IXDUCTIOX

MOTOR

To

build a motor, to run on the single-phase alternating

current of

perhaps

is

tools

no

running a fan interrupter,

volts, suitable for

ver}'

The

difficult.

builder will require

and a much greater knowledge

of

machine shop prac-

construct an efficient motor than to build

tice to

parts of Tesla apparatus combined.

had but

litde experience in

For those who have

an alternating-current fan

direct -current

batter}-

book may be complete

the coil builder will

have

all

The

motor.

following description of the building of this motor

in order that this

of the

all

motor construction, the writers

suggest that the amateur purchase

motor or a suitable

more

in itself

is

and

given

so that

the necessary data to build the

complete apparatus without reference to other works.

The

first

step in the construction

patterns for the base

to

make

the necessary

There are two castings

The

base supporting the punchinss for the stator

cast directly

on the standard which supports the motor.

required.
is

and yokes.

is

The
It

that
the

drawint;. Fig. 23. will give the required dimensions.

is

assumed that the amateur pattern-maker

an iron casting

mould was made,

is

therefore shrinkage

in the pattern in order to

enough.

One

is

aware

smaller than the pattern from which

must be allowed

be sure that the casting

eighth of an inch to the foot

is

will

for

be large

about the proper

amount.

Turn out a

circular piece

"

in diameter

and

i" in thick-

77/r

44
ncss.

Then a rod

i" in

'Icslii

('nil

diameter, and 6" long, swelling into

a graceful enlargement at the lower

enrl,

is

turned out and

fastened with glue and nails to the centre of the

<

in iilar disc.

-^
1-

-,'^

D-^

for jiUUifr heads

I'lO,

piece of

wood

the figure.

The

is

23,

PAn;.i':.'s oi'

YoKE.

cut out of ;" stock to the form

radius of curvature of the arr

so that the stator will

and nailed

fit it

accurately.

to the top of the upright.

This

shown

in

must be 2\"

jjiere is

The whole

glued

pattern

is

The Inlcmipter
iliilllllllilMI'Hliii

A
Fig.

;:4.

Section

of Completed Motor.

45

Tlic

46
gi\cn two coals of

lampblack

to

make

of the rotor shaft

jet black.

'I'his

we must make

tompktt's

llic

pattern

castings are

of the stator.

and

of the

made from

They

a pattern lor a yoke.

turn out of \\" sloik a circular

we

this pattern

disc 5I" in diameter

Two

it

shellac \'arnisii, containing suOicicnt

In order to pro\i(le a su|)porl for (he bearing

for the base.

To make

l)csl

Tcsla Coil

same form

this palleni,

as in the drawing.

one

to

lit

each end

not only ser\e to furnish bearings

the rotor, but also to enclose the entire

for

motor and thus keep

out moisture and dust.

Vie.

25,

Rotor

Disc,

After the patterns arc shellacked they should be sent to a

foundry where the castings can be obtained quite reasonably.

It requires

journal.

one casting of the base and two of the yoke

When

chipped and

The

all

the castings

arc obtained they should be

the roughness filed

rotor consists of a

or

number

off.

of iron discs 2\" in diameter

The

Interrupter

and having twelve f " holes

j^g"

thickness; about forty of

These

high.

discs can be

help of a lathe

and

around the edge and a

They should be made

hole in the centre.

j^|Q-" in

drilled

47

made by

drill press,

sufficient

number

turned

down from a

shown

in the figure, to

motor

will not

is

or they can be obtained already

in electrical sup-

them are mounted on a

of

make

shaft,

As

a pile 2v" in height.

have a very heavy load thrown on

sufficient to

i"

f" rod of cold rolled steel to the size

not be necessary to key

fit

pile

the coil builder wfith the

stamped out from any of the large dealers

plies.

of iron about

them making a

them

to the shaft.

the
will

it

it,

good driving

They can be

keep them from turning.

in the figure.

The

conductors consist of twelve s" copper rods 2f" long.

One

clamped

in position

by the nut shown

of these rods should be driven in each of the holes

the edge of the discs

both sides.

To

and should

project J"

short-circuit them,

beyond them on

two heavy rings made

by bending two pieces of \" copper rod into a

an outside diameter of if" are soldered
rods.
in

Use

sufficient

solder

in

around

making

circle

having

to the

ends of the

these

connections

order to prevent heating at the connections by the induced

current in the rotor.

The

This completes the

next thing to consider

this case

is

rotor.

the stator punchings.

In

they will not be punched out, but will be cut out

on either a shaper or milling machine, or cut out by hand

after as
drilling.

much metal

has been removed as

The diameter

ing on Fig. 27.

of these discs

To make

is

is

possible

by

given in the draw-

them, cut roughly out of tHtt"

48

The Tesla Coil

hi

%k -%%.

"T
)i
I

The Interrupter

49

The Tesla Coil

JO

iron about loo pieces 6" in diameter, with a pair of snips.

A I" hole is drilled in the centre of them and the whole number
and turned

are clamped on a mandrel between two nuts

down

in

Next four

a lathe to si".

the figure,

and a

tube i" in external diameter and J"

fibre

internal diameter

Y' holes are drilled as in

driven in each hole.

is

length, with hexagonal nuts

and

J" stud 3I" in

f" iron washers, binds the

After tightening up the nuts the bolts can

discs together.

be slightly riveted to guard against possible loosening.

whole

is

clamped

either

a chuck and the centre

in

Next the

2f" in diameter.

slots are

is

bored out

file.

to

cut as in the figure,

on a milling machine or shaper or by the use

saw and

The

of a hack

large bulk of the metal can be

removed by

mounted on

the pedestal

drilling.

When

the stator

is

complete

it is

with four cap screws which screw into the bottom edge.

The two ends

are fastened to the stator with four l"

screws i" long.

way between

The

the nuts binding the stator discs together.

order that the heads

be drilled

The

fit

up against the

is

stator four holes should

next wrapped with paper until

and the heads are bolted on

are to be permanently.

It is well to

can always be put back

in the

same

between the shaft and the journal

of

In

to allow the nuts to project into the heads.

rotor

into the stator

grade

fillister

holes for these screws are drilled mid-

Babbit

metal

in the

mark them
place.
is

obtainable.

it

way

fits

they

so that they

Then

filled

just

the space

with the best

Cardboard washers

slipped over the shaft prevent the babbit from running out.

The

The
used

next thing to do

is

the size
are

No.

The

22.

shown

in

wrapped with

28.

'

is

wind

51

the stator coils.

wound

in a

The

wire

wooden frame

After the coils are

tape, shellacked,

wound

and allowed

to

of

they

dry by

Before the coils can be put into place,

means must be provided

This

to

coils are

Fig.

thoroughly baking.

is

Interruptef

for

making

the

motor

self-starting.

accomplished by means of a short-circuited copper

The Tesla Coil

52

The

pieces.

brought out
pieces

six coils are in series, the

to suitable

end terminals being

binding-posts fastened

and suitably insulated from

it.

end

to the

coating of black

paint completes the motor.

Although the induction motor

at varying loads,

we can

secure

is

a constant-speed motor

some

slight

speed regulation,

4Short circuited
of Wo,

14-

Bare

cortduc/br

Wi>,

Cof>(>er

showing haf]e of wire

bff[ore alijj^in^ into slots

Fig.

which

is

29

Self-starting

Device.

a great advantage in operating the

by

coil,

inter-

posing a liquid resistance in series with the motor.

resistance consists essentially of

as

is

plates

suspended

in

an

cell,

ha\'ing

jar,

such

two metal

electrolyte, so that the distance be-

tween them can be varied at

erally

any suitable glass

used in a Daniell or Gra\'ity

This

used as the electrolyte.

will.

Copper sulphate

is

gen-

Plate

Plate

I\'.

\'.

Motor-driven

The

Interrupter.

Electrohnic Rectifier.

The Interrupter

53

AN ELECTROLYTIC CURRENT RECTIFIER

It

to

was only

make

that the authors decided

which has proven highly

rectifier,

advantages are that

Its

moment

public the results of their experiments on an electro-

current

lytic

at the last

it

easily

is

quires only slight attention,

its

efficiency

the current which a small set will rectify

To

a great

many

this description

it

may seem
The

the Tesla apparatus.

reasons

appeared, to the authors at

the

is

built,

very large.

is

is

entirely foreign to

circuits

will

if

need

about 80 or go volts pressure,

can hardly be obtained from the lighting

which are generally alternating or from

to substitute

however

for so doing,

least, sufficiently great, for

a source of direct current at

Then having

re-

very high, and

amateur constructs the magnetic wipe-out he

since this current

it

out of place in putting in

which

of a rectifier,

satisfactory.

and cheaply

he

this source of direct current

a D. C. motor

batteries.

will

for the induction

be able

motor de-

scribed in this chapter.

The
the

method

current
is

greater

due.

number

of rectifiers

now on

the

market use

of choking out the one half of the alternating-

wave and

The

it

is

to this fact that their

low efficiency

high efficiency of the apparatus devised by the

authors depends on what might be called the alternate path

connection or method; that

current to traverse, one of

is,

there are two paths for the

enormous

resistance

and one

of

very low resistance.

The

idea of this form of rectifier

came

to the authors in

The Tesla Coil

54
the

following

They were experimenting on some

way.

cathode tubes of peculiar construction, using a 12" induction

The

coil.

current from the secondary of this coil

latory in character, of course.

It

charge through the tube was

^-ery

was observed that the

unsteady, especially

the interruptions were not very rapid.

ments was carried out

effect,

to

oscil-

is

line

dis-

when

of experi-

determine the cause of this unusual'

with the result that the resistance was found to be

enormously greater for currents

in the

one direction through

the tube than in the opposite direction, due entirely to the

difference in the forms of the

two

electrodes.

After discovering this fact they wondered

lytic cell

if

some

electro-

might not be made which would possess the same

properties

and could be used

nating currents.

From

to rectify the

ordinary

a previous study of the

alter-

effects of

various electrodes on the electrolysis of certain solutions

we

arrived at se\'eral cells which exhibited these properties to

a marked extent.
It
tial

was found that an aluminium electrode was the

thing in every

of forming

cell,

together with

some acid

an oxide with aluminium.

The

salt

essen-

capable

other electrode

might be any conductor unaffected by the solution.

Some

of the conductors suitable for the other electrode

are iron, carbon,

gave more or
bonate,

acid

and

less

lead,

and the following

satisfactory results.

solutions

Acid sodium

sodium phosphate, acid potassium

car-

tartrate,

potassium alum, and in fact most of the ionizable,

acid sulphates, carbonates, tartrates,

all

and phosphates.

slightly

The Interrupter

By merely

putting one of these

method

this

gives

an

cells in

the circuit, the one

wave may be choked

half of the alternating current

But

55

Thus

than 50%.

efficiency of less

out.

the authors were led to devise the alternate-path method.

Before describing this method, however,

in detail the properties of a single cell.

we

After a current

passed for a few minutes through one of the

of oxide
tically

is

will take

cells,

While

this

does

is

prac-

not prevent the

difference of potential from being maintained across the

it

is

a coating

formed on the aluminium electrode which

a non-conductor.

up

cell,

does prevent the ions from giving up their charge and in

way

this

vanic

it

acts like a polarized copper plate in a single gal-

cell.

when

This

condition of

the aluminium

of the current the

is

enormous resistance

When on

the anode.

aluminium becomes the cathode there

merely the resistance of the electrolyte encountered.

possessing this property

cell

As stated
circuit

exists

the reversal

is

Any

called asymmetric.

before, a single cell

would choke out the one

by being merely put

in the

half of the alternating wave,

but as this gives an intermittent current, the following

the

method devised by the authors.

in all.

and one

The

Two

is

Three

is

cells

are needed

of these consist of one electrode of

aluminium

of iron, with a solution of

third has

between them.

sodium acid carbonate.

two aluminium plates and one iron plate

The same

On looking at Fig.
the current can flow

30

it

from

trolyte to plates I or 4.

solution

will

is

used.

be seen that when

E is positive

either plate 2 or 3 across the elec-

The path from

3 to 4

is

of

enormous

resistance, as the
I

to 2

6 to

aluminium

AA'hen

this

H becomes positive the current can flow from

or from s to 4.

the anode, but the path from

is

low resistance and hence the current takes

of

is

path.

is

Tcsla Coil

Tlic

56

It

takes the path from 6 to 7 as this

In this way both waves of the alternat-

of low resistance.

ing current are used

and the only

loss

is

due

to the resistance

of the electrolyte.

Thus
in

made

from

the direct current

which

has a sine wave form,

this set

the negative values in the alternating have been

all

positive.

The

following are plans for a rectifier suitable for use

on

directly

the

no- volt-alternating-current

light

The

rectifying cells have glass containing jars.

7"

X 6" X 4" inside

are cut out of

They

-J"

5" x 7"

are

sheet

and are

all

jars are all

The aluminium

measurements.

same

the

The

mains.

size

plates

and shape.

The aluminium

and four are required.

should be comparatively pure to prevent deterioration of

the plates due to local

action.

extent impure

may

rectify

it

will

the cells

are cut from I" sheet.

the

fail

be at a very low

Two

is

making
plates

it

larger

is

that

to.

The

third

is

plates are

is

8" x

iron plates
size as

This larger

5".

The

cell.

required to

necessity for

fasten the bind-

held three eighths of an inch

apart in the following manner:

canite or hard rubber (fibre

they do

if

goes between two aluminium

it

and the extra length

ing-post

The

them are the same

be used in the middle

to

work, and

to

efficiency.

of

aluminium plate and the

plate

the plates are to any

If

Out

of

some f" sheet

must not be used as

it

vul-

swells in

TJic Interrupter

water) cut four strips

x 61".

.1"

V'

These

latter pieces are drilled

Some

Also cut out four washers

diameter and a number of pieces h" square.

about

in

and tapped

The washers have a

\" thread.

\" vulcanite

threaded to

57

rod

up

cut

is

With

a \" nut.

fit

to

hole drilled in them.

into

about 2" lengths and

and washers

these strips

and

plates are held the required distance apart

firmly fasten

them

The

together.

across the tops of the plates

one of the

of each

electrodes are put

by the

solution

binding-post

As the

plates.

are longer

the plates

rubber are used

the washers at the bottom.

far superior to using iron ones

is

an insulating bushing.

The

strips of

the

the bolts

This method of using hard rubber bolts and

See Fig. 30.

nuts

and

a standard

fit

-}"

than

if

is

fitting

strips across the

the jars

top of

when

are wide;

on the edges of the

sodium acid carbonate

be a saturated solution.

them with

fastened at the top

the

they will be suspended in the

in place

strips resting

electrolyte,

and

jars.

used, should

is

Other solutions than

this

can be

used, although the authors obtained the best results with

this one.

Besides

it is

about the cheapest of

all

the possible

electrolytes.

In selecting an electrolyte the following factors must be

taken into consideration.

It

must have low

resistance,

must be a stable compound, and when no current

it

it

is

flowing

must not attack the aluminium plate and only

slightly

attack

it

when

To make
mounted

current

is

passing.

the set con\'enient to

in a

handle the jars should be

wooden frame, with

the cell containing the

The Tcsla Coil

58

-->fi'bai*

wojW

D.C,
A.c.

:;

r lauRE.

Fig

30.

ehowr'tig

Rectifier

faos'ition

1fia

ce)/5

and eledrtdcs

Plates and Wiring Diagram.

The

Interrupter

two aluminium electrodes

are

shown

With

59

in the middle.

The

in the figure.

this electrolyte the

few minutes,

it

aluminium

plates will

take a

The

form

in a

being merely necessary to short circuit the

D. C. taps with a resistance and allowing the

full

connections

rectifier

to

load current.

efficiency of the

apparatus will be somewhat increased

by using a cooling worm, as the electrolyte when cool has

the greatest current density.
It will

be necessary

to

depending on the use the

renew the
set

is

given

electrolyte at intervals,

CHAPTER

\T

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BOXES

The
is

next thing to consider in the building of a Tcsla

the boxes which contain the transformer

One box

coil.

for transformer, condenser,

might be used, but for a

coil

Two

be objectionable.

They
and

ha\'e the

up

inside

is

where they are

is

so

to the

placed on top of the box.

most substantial box, but

it

harder

is

filling

up

the pores

in

the

wood does

to

which

not sink

does in a softer wood.

it

the best material to use as the joints will require

which

pine

which lead

to the fact that the shellac \'arnish

considerable
oil,

is

the

safe, except those

oak with the same readiness as

Pine

if

advantage of taking

owing

tight,

used for

into

to handle,

of having all the high-potential connections

interrupter which

make

weight would

form can be used separately,

single box, however, has the

Oak makes

and high-tension

coil of this size the

advantage of not being too bulky

room and

less

and high-tension

separate boxes give the ideal result.

the transformer in this

desired.

coil

may

filling

will

up

to

make them

imper\-ious to paraffine

soak through almost anything in time.

Sugar

be readily stained and looks very neat when

\-ar-

nished.

For the

sides

and ends

of the transformer
60

box

it

requires


The Conslniclion of

the

Boxes

6i

a piece of straight-grained pine free from knots, ij" x lo",

6" long.

The bottom

26" long,

and

pieces to the size

The end

made
i"x

pieces

shown

in Fig. 31,

must be mortised

of a piece of

11", 2' long.

and plane

J" x 14",

Cut the

the edges true.

into the sides i"

from the

These tongues and grooves may be cut with a saw

end.

and

should be

the top of a piece of

chisel

TOP

a rabbeting plane

if

is

not at hand.

l/IEW-Tiivy rm^vtj

After the sides

COVER

-i'i'

Zoi"

iA
zsi-

-iSif'

0000

I!

'l
l@|

I
i|
I

I'

i@|

i@|

SIDE VIEW

END VIEW

'

Fig. 31.

Teansfokmer Box.

and ends are

finished the tongues

heavy coat of

shellac,

hol,

and while

still

and grooves are given a

which has been dissolved

wet are put together.

in grain alco-

Six long brass

screws with round heads are to be used in each board to hold

the sides.

on the screw

brass washer

to prevent the

l^i

diameter should be placed

head from sinking into the wood.

Next the edges should be gone over with a plane

sary so that the

bottom board

will

fit

if

neces-

flush in all places.

The

62

Tcsla Coil

TJic

bottom board
that

it

is

be i" wider than the width of the box, so

to

laps over V'

is

cut to size,

finish,

on each

\\'\\tn the

side.

bottom board

the edges are rounded off with a plane to

and then

is

it

fastened to the box with long

headed brass screws, placed every four inches along the

and ends.
box

The

coating of shellac

is

ilat-

sides

given to the edges of the

bottom on,

just before putting the

gi\-e

to help

make

it

tight.

screws must be forced in until they are flush with the

wood.

Next

the inside should be given five or six coats of shellac,

paying especial care

each coat

to

to get

into the joints,

and allowing

dry before applying the next.

small brass cock in the end near the bottom

box

ience in emptying the

it

it

in so that the

box

of

will not leak

is

The box

for the high-frequency coil

of the transformer box.

working drawings
the condenser

it

oil.

oil.

and condenser must

partition

oscillation transformer,

should be bored in
circulation of the

is

construction as in the case

The dimensions

in Fig. 32.

and

its

a conven-

such that a siphon

quick enough for an occasional emptying of the

have the same care taken in

is

but the labor of putting

its oil,

are given in the

is

put in between

but several holes

near the bottom to allow of the

free

This box must also have several

coats of shellac, as the insulating oil used will leak through

in spite of all the precaution taken.

After the boxes are finished they should be stained or

varnished to suit the taste of the builder.

looks well, and as

it is

dark

it

covers

Walnut

up a multitude

stain

of faults

Boxes

63

boxes are well

made a good

The Construction of
in the

wood working.

ciling followed

by

If the

the

several coats of shellac

makes a very good

finish.

TOV VIEW

COVER REMOVED

COVER

.1
"?+=

/?
ii

:=F^
-36?-

J6i

:^i

CHAPTER

VII

ASSEMBLING
It
for

not wise to hurry

is

the

if

when assembling

high-tension wires

brush-discharge effects will

are

the apparatus,

not properly insulated,

be noticed on operating.

In

nine cases out of ten poor insulation will result in puncturing his condenser

and probably burning out

Care should be taken

former.

mount

First

to

the transformer in

the transformer into

its

box bring

his trans-

follow these directions.

its
its

After lowering

box.

four primary leads to

The two

four heavy binding-posts on the end of the box.

terminals

inner

of

two sections are brought

the

to

two

adjacent binding-posts, and the two outer ones to the other

two, in such a

manner

that connecting electrically the two

middle binding-posts puts the sections in

circuiting the

See

the

two outer pairs throws the sections

diagram.

This

is

across two binding-posts, or

fits

and

short-

in parallel.

accomplished by means of a

piece of fiat brass with slots filed in

which

series

it

so that

it

just

fits

by a short piece of brass rod

in the holes of the binding-posts.

The secondary

terminals are soldered directly to two brass

rods f" in diameter and 3" long, which extend through the
opposite end of the box for ij".
64

These rods are insulated

Assembling

by two heavy hard rubber or

lows:
is

turned

full

2" piece of

down

diameter of the rod.

Fig. 33.

in the

The

" hole

bushings

fibre
i^"

is

flange

them

and

as fol-

drilled

on one end the

down

the centre

bushinsrs should be a driving

Connections
8"

made

rod 2" in diameter

fit

both

for Primary of Transformer.

end of the box and over the brass

are 6" apart

brings

fibre

hard rubber or

to iV', except for a

of the bushing.

65

up from

rod.

The

the bottom of the box.

well above the level of the

oil,

rods

This

thus assuring no

leakage at this point.

The

leads from the sections should be led to the brass

rods through glass tubing bent in the desired shape.

is

drilled

and tapped

in the

end of each rod

to

fit

hole

a standard

The Tesla Coil

66

Another hole

brass set screw.

the

first

drilled at right angles to

about \" from the end of the rod to meet the

This makes an

hole.

is

efficient

first

binding-post to hold the con-

ductor.

This

finishes the connections

can now be placed

box

is filled

former.
free

in the position

on the transformer, which

which

with enough pure paraffine

This

cover the trans-

oil to

should be of the best quality obtainable,

oil

from moisture and impurities, such as

lating purposes.

The

to occupy.

it is

It

is

used for insu-

should be allowed to soak into

The primary

sections for 24 hours before using.

all

the

terminals

are connected to a source of alternating current by means

of a suitable switch

The

next step

is

and

fuse capable of carrying 30 amperes.

putting in the connections

and terminals

in the high-tension box.

FiG. 34

- - h-

High-tension Bushing,

Three brass rods similar

box, with the
in the

end

same form

to those

used in the transformer

of bushings, are driven through holes

of the high-tension

oscillation transformer.

--

box next

to

one end of the

These holes should be about

from the bottom and 3" apart.

The

brass

6"

rods project

Assembling

The bushings and

I" williin the box.

tight

rods can be

made

oil

by giving them a good coating of Le Page's glue before

driving

67

them

into place.

2" strip of

wood

is

box below these rods,

glued on in the lower inside end of the

to

prevent the end of the oscillation

transformer from coming in contact with them.

i!.;.c:

Fig. .35,

The condenser
wire
to
'

*^

is

Oscillators

is first

it

is

soldered.

glass tube suitably bent

the box.

wire

is

and Standards.

lowered into place in the box and a

run from one terminal

which

<J}

The

to the nearest outer brass rod,

wire should be enclosed in a

and should

follow the lower edge of

run from the other terminal of the con-

The Tesla Coil

68

denser in a similar manner to the other outer brass rod.

follows the other lower edge of the box.

from

this

of the

conductor at a point opposite

wire

is

also soldered to the

is

from the condenser lead

band and

led

oscilla-

Tlie tap wire

into place.

soldered to one end of the primary

the wire from the middle brass rod to the other end

of the band.

These leads should be run

They should

as directly as possible.

The

is

It

to be.

is

The

middle brass rod.

now lowered

is

where one terminal

primary band of the oscillation transformer

tion transformer

oil.

to

tap wire

in glass tubes

also be kept

and

under the

connections are shown in Fig. 36.

o
o

Fig. 36.

is

Wiring

Diagram.

connections have been securely soldered the box

After

all

filled

with

oil,

so that the entire apparatus

is

completely

immersed.

The

Two

oscillators

fibre or

in length,

and standards can now be

hard rubber bushings 2]"

and having a

flange ]" thick

in

constructed.

diameter and

and

3" in diameter

turned on one end, are set in two holes cut in the

directly

above the holes

lation transformer.

in the brass

J" hole

is

bushings on the

drilled

i.\"

co\'er
oscil-

through the centre

Assemhling

Two

of each bushing.

tubes should

fit

J" brass rods 10" long are enclosed

The

The ends

the rods tightly.

rods project from the fibre

the bushings

diameter and gY'

in outside

in fibre tubes f"

on the

69

and can be

The

lo^ig-

of the brass

slightly tapered to

fit

oscillation transformer.

oscillators consist of

screwed on the end of two

two brass

balls i" in diameter

^f/' brass rods 12" long, which

are to slide easily in two holes drilled \" from the top of the

standards through both the fibre and the rod.

at the top of

each standard

will

set

screw

be of convenience in clamping

the rods in any desired position.

may be

In order that the discharge gap

the coil

in operation

is

are screwed
for

about

on the ends of the

in

diameter

rods, carrying the oscillators,

li".

the standards through the bushings in the cover

Slide

until the rods

make good

second box.

It

contact with the bushings on the

This completes the connections

oscillation transformer.

the

adjusted while

two vulcanite handles f"

now be

should

position at the high-tension

ing a space of about i^'

end

for

the

of

placed

the

in

its

in

final

transformer, leav-

interrupter between

the

two boxes.

The
built

particular form of interrupter which has already been

is

connected to the binding-posts of the high-tension

coil as in the

wiring diagram.

These leads and those from

the transformer to the high-tension

12 B.

& S.

est glass

box should be of No.

gauge hard copper wire and enclosed

tubing obtainable.

They should be

in the heavi-

as straight

and

The Tesla Coil

yo
as short as

is

safety in operating the

consistent with

pri-

mary spark-gap.

suitable

panel switchboard, with the necessary fuses,

transformer and

interrupter

acquisition to the apparatus, but

matter

makes a

sv/itches,
it

is

desirable

This

not essential.

left to the taste of the individual worker.

is

When

the connections have

has dri\en out

all

the air that

all
it

been made and the

can,

oil

open the interrupter

gap about i" and cautiously close the transformer switch.

If

no

excessi\'e load is

by the 30 ampere
in series,

closed

if

until

one

is

taken by the transformer as manifested

fuses or

an alternating-current ammeter

obtainable, the spark-gap can be slowly

the condenser discharges across

it.

Then,

if

the directions have been carefully followed in building the

apparatus, a heavy, bluish white, snapping discharge of over

12" in length will pass between the oscillators,

upon

the

further adjustment of the interrupter gap.

When

the transformer

is

used on 55 volts the primary

sections should be connected in parallel

in series.

parallel

If the sections

on

no

volts,

If

fault

may

it

ought

to,

no

volts
in

and hence the

con-

puncture.

by any chance a discharge should

may be due

be due

for

the voltage output of the secondary

would be about double what

denser

and

on the primary were connected

to several things.

to the fact that the sections

fail to

take place, the

In most cases

will

on the primary or secondary

of the transformer are connected in opposition.

mine whether the transformer

it

is

working

To

deter-

satisfactorily or

Assembling
not, disconnect

from the

it

-ji

apparatus and see

rest of the

if

an arc discharge of at least 6 or 8 inches can be drawn out

bet\\"een

and

color

This arc

two electrodes.

is

generally of a yellow

extinguished by any draught of

easily

you do not obtain a 6 or 8 inch arc

test the sections to see

they are connected in the right manner,

no arc

error has

is

it lies

does not

lie

in the transformer,

in the condenser;

charge, determined by

its

if

they are and

some

To

test this

is

most

If there

most

likely

connect the trans-

if

is

a condenser dis-

none obtained, your

likely short-circuited or

which can only be remedied by

its

even punctured,

reconstruction.

next place to look for trouble

is

in the oscillation

Ring out by means of a magneto the primary

transformer.

no open

circuits,

circuit bet'een the

primary

and secondary

circuits to see that there are

and then

there

see

it is

bluish white color, can be obtained

primary spark-gap.

condenser

The

if

highly improbable, then

former up with the condenser and s;e

in the

and

If

been made in the construction.

If the fault

that

which

results,

still

air.

if

and

secondar}-.

due

to

is

any short

If these parts are all right the fault

may be

poor insulation, in having the turns of the secondary

touching.

The remedy

Finally look

and

is

ob^ious.

see that

aU the

electrical connections are

as they should be, then the apparatus cannot fail to discharge

over a 15" air-gap.

CHAPTER

VIII

THE THEORY OF THE TESLA COIL

Although,

the authors stated that

in the introduction,

they would not attempt to give a mathematical explanation

of the coil,

they feel that a few facts regarding the theory

still

would not be out

improvements
the

to the reader.

amateur wishes

The
as

of place here, in that

is

first

well

to

sets

It will also

suggest certain

be of assistance

own

the transformer.

is

The

Its action,

electro-

alternating current flowing in the

up an alternating magnetic

field,

which being

linked with the secondary induces an electromotive

in

it.

When

the secondary

is

open there

is

except

induction,
is

that

thrown on

necessary

its

magnetize

high
the

self-

core.

to the secondary, the current through

the primary automatically adjusts

is

to

force

theoretically no

current passing through the primary, due to

As a load

if

design.

almost everybody, depends on

magnetic induction.

primary

may

to construct a coil of his

thing to consider

known

it

itself

as the self-induction

decreased by the opposing ampere turns of the second-

ary, that

is,

if

the transformer

is

self-regulating for vary-

ing loads.

The normal
used

current through the primary of the transformer

in the 12" coil is

from 22
72

to 25

amperes, the secondary

Theory of

the Coil

voltage being about seventy-five hundred,

age in the secondary

To

-3

and thus

fifty-five volts

the amper-

oT-

get the required voltage of seventy-five

secondary on
to

about

is

73

in the

primary

hundred
it

in the

necessary

is

connect the two sections of the primary in parallel, as

this

On

has the effect of cutting the .primary turns in two.

one hundred and ten volts the sections are connected in

The

series.

use of the transformer in the Tesla apparatus

merely to charge a condenser, and thus

nary induction

coil or

even a

static

it is

is

seen that an ordi-

machine of the proper

dimensions could be used, but they are not nearly as handy.

Another important matter

tion of a transformer to be
tions
ary.

is

to secure

The

in connection with the construc-

used

for creating electric oscilla-

sufficiently small resistance in the second-

reason for this

is

that the transformer

is

used to

charge a condenser.

When an

electromotive force

a condenser, the

full

is

applied to the terminals of

difference of potential

is

not created

between the terminals of the condenser immediately, but

The time

rises gradually.

depends on

capacity (C)

its

charging circuit.
of the condenser,
in a

required to charge the condenser

and

The product
and

the resistance {R) of the

CR is called

the time constant

practically the condenser

time equal to ten times the time constant.

constant

is

to

is

charged

The

time

be reckoned as the product of the capacity

(Q

in

microfarads and the resistance {R) of the charging circuit

in

megohms.-

The

The

time

is

gi\en in fractions of a second.

condenser, more than anything

else, constitutes

the

The Tesla Coil

74

essential part of the Tesla coil.

It

plays the

same part

the mechanical interrupter in the ordinary induction

Its action,
lies in

however,

purely electrical and

up the currents

setting

When any

is

condenser

is

of

its

great advantage

enormous frequency.

may

discharged, the discharge

one of several forms, depending only on the three

constants of the discharging circuit

and

The

resistance.

discharge

as

coil.

take

electrical

inductance, capacity,

may be

either oscillatory or

entirely unidirectional, consisting only of a gradual equali-

zation of the potentials on the two plates.

This
tration.

may

be

made

clear

by the following mechanical

Suppose a glass U-tube

to

illus-

be partly fdled with

mercury, and the mercury to be displaced so that the

one side of the tube

in
is

is

higher than in the other.

then a force due to the difference of

the liquid to return to

the mercury
that

so

it

is

is

now

level,

an equal height

in

allowed to return, but

released slowly,

position without oscillations.

it

If,

level

There

tending to cause

both limbs.
is

goes back to

If

constrained,
its

original

however, the constraint

is

suddenly removed, then owing to the inertia of the mercury

it

overshoots the position of equilibrium and oscilla-

tions are created.

If the

the liquid viscous,

being

damped out by

What we

these

is

rough in the

call inertia in material

resistance experienced
electrical

interior, or

oscillations will quickly subside,

friction.

with the inductance of an

the

tube

substances corresponds

electric circuit

and the

by a liquid moving

resistance of a circuit.

If

frictional

in the tube, with

we suppose

the

Theory of the Coil

U-tube
at

its

above

to include air

75

mercury and

tiie

would

circuit.

necessary conditions for the creation of mechanical

oscillations in

a material system or substance are that there

must be a self-recovering
the matter displaced

displaceability of

must possess

inertia;

some
in

kind,

and

other words,

moved must tend

to

go back to

the restraining force

is

removed, and must overshoot

the thing

when

be closed up

ends, the compressibility of the enclosed air

correspond to the electrical capacity in a

The

to

original position

its

the position of equilibrium in so doing.

Frictional resist-

ance causes decay in the amplitude of the oscillations by

dissipating their energy as heat.

In the same way the conditions for establishing

oscillations in a circuit

is

that

it

electrical

must connect two bodies

having electrical capacity with respect to each other, such

and the

as the plates of a condenser,

possess inductance
tions, the

and low

sudden release

circuit

Under

resistance.

itself

must

these condi-

of the electric strain results in the

production of an oscillatory electric current in the circuit,

provided the resistance of the circuit

critical value.

We

is

less

than a certain

have these conditions present when the

two coatings of a Leyden jar are connected by a heavy

copper wire.
Professor William
in

titled

Lord Kelvin, published

1853 a paper on "Transient Electric Currents" in which

the discharge of the

in

Thomson,

Leyden

jar

was mathematically treated

a manner that elucidated important

If

we consider

the case of a

facts.

Leyden jar or condenser charged

The Tesla Coil

76

through a circuit having inductance and resistance, then

in

up

in

the act of discharge the electrostatic energy stored

the condenser

is

con\'erted into electric current energy

dissipated as heat in the connecting

and

At any moment

circuit.

the rate of decrease of the energy in the jar

is

equal to the

rate of dissipation of the energy in the discharging circuit

plus the rate of change of the kinetic or magnetic energy

associated with the circuit.

From

Lord Kelvin

these facts

up an equation

sets

of

energy, vi^hich leads to a certain class of differential equation

The

solutions in this case

depend on

between the constants inductance,

resistance,

ha\ing two solutions.

relation

the

and capacity.
If

Z=

inductance,

C=

solutions are determined

If

is

4U

greater than

if

by the

LC

J^C

or

capacity,

that

R=

resistance, then the

relative values of

is, if

is

greater thanl/lr:,
V (J

is

greater than

the charge in the jar dies

gradually as the time increases, in such a

discharge current

The
charge

ratio

circuit,

stant {T')
is

is

is

is

called the

that the

time constant (Z) of the

CR

of the condenser circuit.

less

manner

away

always in one direction.

and the product

unidirectional

circuit

and LC.

when

is

dis-

called the time con-

Hence

the discharge

the time constant of the inductive

than half the geometric

stants of the inductive circuit

mean

and condenser

of the time concircuit:

Theory of the Coil

however,

If,

77

(^ J?

is

than

less

the discharge current will

be oscillatory, the current decaying in accordance with the

damped

law of a

When
rent

oscillation train.

the discharge

is

so highly oscillatory that the cur-

not uniformly distributed through the cross-section

is

of the conductor, then the ordinary resistance (R)

and

ductance (L) must be replaced by the high-frequency

ance and inductance of the

circuit.

AA'hen the discharge takes the oscillatory

quency

is

is

son with

form the

fre-

given by the expression,

2-

If

in-

resist-

>

LC

can be neglected in compari-

very small, then

4L-

and then the frequenc}-

is

given by the expres-

sion,

In

this

equation both the quantities

in electromagnetic

C and L must be measured

units or both in practical units, viz., in

henrys and farads.

In the majority of cases

are practically used,
cuit

is

easily

negligible,

measured

which

in

the resistance

of

and the inductance

electric

the
is

small and hence

in centimeters or absolute C.

one milli-henry being equal

to

oscillations

oscillatory cir-

G.

S. units,

a million centimeters

(10).

The Tesla Coil

78

Also

capacity

the

microfarad being

measured

best

is

microfarads; one

in

one millionth part of a farad or

the

IO-" of an absolute C. G.

S.,

unit

(electromagnetic)

of

capacity.

Hence when L

is

expressed in centimeters and

in micro-

farads, the expression for the natural frequency of the circuit

becomes

n=

X
1=
VCL

5.033

10"

storing capacity of a condenser

The energy

CV,

the expression -

where

is

given by

the capacity of the con-

is

denser and

The main

the charging voltage.

thing in constructing condensers to be used on

high charging voltages

all

is

the solid dielectric.

this

number

is

reduced when cost and internal energy

in

ebonite, mica,

tions,

are suitable,

constant

is

and

also great.

and micanite are

of these flint glass

high, being

Glass

from
is

is

5 to 10,

brittle,

loss

Glass of certain composi-

in the dielectric are considered.

is

There are

only a few dielectrics suitable for high-tension work, and

practically

the best, as

and

its

its

all

that

dielectric

dielectric strength

however, and liable to have

flaws which sooner or later give way.

The

capacity of a condenser depends on the area of the

plates, their distance apart

used,

and

farads,

is

where

and the constant

of the dielectric

expressed by the following formula in micro-

is

the dielectric constant,

the plates expressed in square centimeters,

apart in centimeters,

the total area of

and

the distance

Tlieory of the Coil

KS

^_
The

constant 9 x

lo'^

79

comes from the

one micro-

fact that

farad equals 900,000 electrostatic units of capacity.

The

oscillation transformer

construction are that

its

it

is

nothing but a modified trans-

The

former with an air core.

only important facts about

should be built to withstand great

between the turns, and that the primary

voltage differences

should have as small an inductance as

to
is

make

is

practicable, in order

No

the frequency as great as possible.

gained by having

many

close turns in the primary, because

the increase of inductive effect

increase in the

number

advantage

on the secondary, due

of primary turns,

is

to

an

about exactly

annulled by the decreased current through the primary due

to its

own

The

greater inductance.

function of the interrupter

may be formed
gap, for

if

The

to destroy

any arc that

across the terminals of the primary spark-

this arc is

not wiped out there will be no true

oscillatory discharge in the

one.

is

reason for this

is

condenser circuit or only a feeble

that as long as the arc discharge

continues, the secondary terminals of the transformer are

reduced to nearly the same potential, or at most

by a few hundred

The

volts.

function of the primary spark-gap

voltage to which to charge the condenser.

tial

difference

differ only

between the spark

balls

is

is

to regulate the

Since the poten-

almost equal

to the

potential difference across the condenser, the condenser will

discharge at a voltage determined by the length of the air-

The Tcsla Coil

8o

Now

gap.

there

is

suited for each coil

As a

rule

it

is

a certain length of spark-gap which

and

it

can easily be determined by

out until a point

it

trial.

ahnost reached,

is

out any further would cause

to cease pass-

it

This spark length almost always gives the best

ing.

best

best to start with a rather short spark-gap,

gradually lengthening

when opening

it

is

this chapter

In the earlier part of

it

was stated

results.

that the high-

frequency resistance and inductance should be substituted

and inductance, when dealing

for the ordinary resistance

with circuits which are subject to the action of electric

The processes and means used

lations.

ment

high-frequency measurements.
difference between the

two cases

The main
is

to

measure-

for the

and

potentials

when

applied to

of low-frequency alternating currents

are not always applicable or correct either

reason for the

be found in the

that a high-frequency current does not penetrate

merely a surface or skin

When

tra^'ersed

1.

The

is,

effect.

resistance of the conductor,

direct currents

five

be considered.

for high-frequency currents

that

into the

by an alternating current, there are

qualities of a circuit to

fact

conductor of good conductivity, but

interior of a thick solid

is

oscil-

which

is

always greater

than for the ordinary currents;

and alternating currents up

to

about a

frequency of loo per second.

2.

The

inductance of the conductor depends on

metrical form, material,

insulator.

The

tance becomes.

and the nature

its

geo-

of the surrounding

greater the frequency, the smaller the induc-

Theory of
3.

The

the Coil

capacity of the conductor, depending on

tion with regard to the return circuit

on the
4.

dielectric constant of the

The

8i

dielectric

and other

posi-

its

circuits

and

surrounding insulator.

conductance of the insulator surrounding

the conductor.
5.

The

energy dissipating power, due to other causes than

conductance, such as dielectric hysteresis, which exist in

Under

the dielectric.

this

heading comes the

from the brush discharges through the

air

loss of

energy

between the con-

ductors.
If

the constants of a circuit for low-frequency currents are

known, the values of the constants

be calculated

fairly correct.

can, however, be
delicate

measured

and inconvenient

isfactory.

The

directly,

for use

for high frequencies

can

high-frequency constants

but the apparatus

is

rather

and besides not always

If the coil builder cares to

sat-

measure the constants

of a circuit for himself, he will find the description of the

necessary instruments in other books as

it

is

beyond the

scope of this work.

Ha\-ing

now

briefly treated

theoretically

the principal parts, the authors will try to

parts

work

on

all

four of

show how

these

together to form the Tesla high-frequency appara-

tus.

The condenser

is

of the transformer

connected in series with the secondary

and thus

is

being continually charged.

\Vhen the potential difference betweeen the plates of the condenser reaches a certain critical value determined by the
length of the primary spark-gap, the diameter of the spark

The Tcsla Coil

82
balls, etc.,

a discharge takes place which oscillates through

and back and

the primary of the oscillation transformer

The frequency

forth across the primary spark-gap.

current depends entirely, as

of the circuit.

On

first

shown

thought, one

of the

on the constants

before,

would think

that the

condenser would discharge through the closed circuit in the

transformer secondary rather than
little

jump

the air-gap, but a

show

consideration of the matter will

that the induc-

tance of this circuit to electric oscillations of this nature

Another matter

so great that no discharge can take place.

that might be touched

gap.

on here

is

the resistance of the spark-

Before any discharge has passed and under normal

conditions the resistance of the spark-gap

voltage required to break

about 10,000.
air

After the

down one

initial

is

very great: the

centimeter of air being

discharge has passed and the

becomes heated and ionized the resistance may drop

low as two or three ohms.

part in the

The

is

damping

This

fact plays

as

an important

of the oscillation trains.

discharge from the condenser which oscillates through

the primary of the oscillation transformer sets

alternating magnetic

field,

is

rapidly

which being linked with the

ondary induces an electromotive force

induction in this case

up a

in

it.

The law

sec-

for the

not nearly as simple as in the case of

the ordinary transformer, the capacities of the circuits playing

an important

part.

If the capacity of the circuits is

certain critical value, the induction

capacities of the circuits, while

if

is

in the

below a

ratio of

the

greater the induction de-

pends on the relation between the number of turns in the

Theory of
primary and secondary.
voltage

The

the Coil

83

formulae for calculating the

difference across the secondary in either case are

extremely complex, involving the damping factor, the capacities

of the circuits,

and other

Drude and Bjerknes

constants.

have treated the subject of the oscillation transformer analytically in

an admirable maimer.

The frequency

of the spark in the large spark-gap

is

not a

simple one but consists of se\eral, one being the natural

period of vibration of the secondary and one a forced vibration of the secondary,

due

to the fact that the

secondary are never exactly in tune.

There

is

primary and
also a certain

small current of a high frequency, due entirely to the constants of the spark balls

and connectors, which act as a

condenser.

The Tesla
much

to

coil in its

present form

is still

be improved upon and wished

very crude leaving

for.

The problem

that presents itself in the construction of Tesla coils

tically the

same one

is

prac-

that presents itself in selective wireless

telegraphy, so that the solution of the one will solve the other.

CHAPTER

IX

USES OF THE COIL

The

Tesla

coil readily

lends

itself to

a great

number

of

experiments, some interesting in their effect, others useful

in

scientific

Waves

research.

X-Ray

be sent out into space,

illuminated,

number

The

brush

beautiful

of other things done.

high potential current obtained from this coil pos-

due

that are not possessed by either

static

in

which

to its high frequency

Ruhmkorff induction

the

machine.

These properties are best seen

effects,

may

shown, and a great

effects

sesses certain interesting properties

coil or

wireless messages

for

tubes excited, Geissler tubes

may

the Appendix.

in

the beautiful brush

be obtained even with the

coil described

All of these experiments

on the brush

discharge should be performed in the dark, as they then

show

to the best

These

effects,

advantage.
besides affording a

great scientific \alue.

non

is

and

it is

due

It is

known

pleasing sight, are of

fact that the

phenome-

molecules near the terminal,

to the agitation of the

thought, since the brush

is

hot, that

some heat must

be developed by the impact of the molecules against the

minal or each other.

little

84

ter-

consideration of the matter

Uses of the Coil

leads us to the conclusion that

which would give intense

much from

reason for putting

amateur new

The

suffi-

been

light

and

But

heat.

this is stray-

the practical nature of this book; the only

it

in being, that

it

might suggest

to the

lines for experiment.

following

have

we could but reach

if

enough frequencies, we could produce a brush

ciently high

ing too

85

on

experiments

from

taken

Nikola

brush

the

Tesla's

discharge

"Experiments

with Alternate Currents of High Potential and High Fre-

quency."

There

is

practically nothing except

some wire and a few

on the brush

supports

required for

discharge,

and thus they can be performed by every one.

the

first

all

these experiments

In

experiment two insulated wires about 10 feet long

are stretched across the room.

tances of a foot

and a

half

They

are supported at dis-

by insulating cords.

attached to each terminal of the

wires

is

coil is

put

in action the wires are seen to

coil.

One

of the

When

the

be strongly illumi-

nated by the streams issuing abundantly from their whole

surface.

(This experiment must be shown in the dark, of

course.)

The

cotton covering on the wire, although

it

may

be very thick, does not affect the result.

To

produce the best

of the wires

must be

effect the

carefully adjusted.

the wires at the start very long

cutting off

lengths

first

until

primary gap and the length

It is best to

take

and then adjust them by

long pieces and then shorter and shorter

the

correct

length

is

reached.

When

this

adjustment has been obtained and the wires are fed by either

The Tesla Coil

86

from them

the 12" or 7" coil, the hght

will

be

sufficient to

distinguish objects in the troom.

Another way of

brush

easily exhibiting the

by

effect is

attaching the end of 10 or 20 feet of No. 36 insulated copper

'

wire to the one terminal of the coil and the opposite end to

an insulating support,

lea\-ing the wire

hanging

clear.

Upon

touching the remaining terminal with a bit of metal held in

the hand, the wire will break forth into numberless streams

or threads of light palpitating in unison with the discharge

of the condenser.

The luminous

intensity of the streams

increased by focusing
illustrated

them upon a small

coil a

is

sphere.

The

is

ter-

wire bent into a circle about one foot in

centre of the sphere should be in a line at right

angles to the plane of the circle at

is

set up,

To

centre.

its

a luminous hollow cone

dark one half of the brass sphere

minated.

one of the

attached and to the other terminal a small brass

diameter

discharge

This

surface.

To

by the following experiment.

minals of the

in the

can be considerably

is

is

When

the

formed, and

seen strongly

illu-

get the best results possible with this experi-

ment, the area of the sphere should be equal to the area of

the wire.

Another way

may

be shown

in
is

which the luminous

effect of the discharge

as follows: two circles of rather stout wire,

one being about 32" in diameter and the other

and

to

each of the terminals of the

attached.

same

The two

plane.

When

circles

coil

12", are formed,

one of the

circles

must be concentric and

the coil

is

is

in the

turned on the whole space

Uses of the Coil

between the wires

uniformly

is

intensity of the streams

that objects in the

87

tilled

forming

this

room can be

The

with streams.

luminous disc

is

such

plainly distinguished even

though at a considerable distance.

By

this

time the experimenter will realize that to pass

ordinary luminous discharges through gases, no particular

degree of exhaustion
is

essential,

and

necessary, but a very high frequency

is

of course a

shows us that the attempts

of the molecules or

vacuum

atoms

the use of
sure.

is

when

to

need not be limited

be looked forward

light will

light

is

to the

to,

and

be produced without

any vessel whatever and with

When

This

high potential.

produce hght by the agitation

of a gas

tube, but the time

that in the near future,

to

fairly

air at

ordinary pres-

obtained this way, there will be no

chemical process nor consumption of material, but merely

a transfer of energy, and the probability

would have an

is

that such a light

efficiency far exceeding that of

of the present incandescent lights,

even the best

which waste so much of

the energy in heat.

The

Geissler effect can be readily

bui^nt-out incandescent globe, in

been destroyed.

To show

it

shown by using only a

which the vacuum has not

the bulb should be suspended

from an insulating knob, so that the discharge

through the centre of the bulb.
in order to see the

will pass

The room should be dark

changes that take place in the globe.

putting the coil in action the bulb lights

pulsating, delicate purple hue.

This color

generally turns to a lovely pale green,

up with a
in a

On

gently

few minutes

and then sometimes,

TJie

88
but rarely,

this

changes

tensity of the light

of the colors

is

something

minutes the filament

is

in-

discharge
it

is

peculiar thing always happens

is

found

used, namely, that in a few

to

be completely shattered.

it is

only necessary to hold the globe in the

hand, without any connections to the

By moving

The

be admired.

to

a bulb with a good filament

With

The

light.

too long through the tube as

liable to pierce the glass.

the 12" coil

white

to a delicate

not very great, but the delicateness

is

must not be continued

if

Tesla Coil

the bulb

around

coil, for it to light

up.

in the vicinity of the spark,

various changes in the intensity of the light will be seen.

If the

amateur

may

tubes, these

is

fortunate enough to possess

be

lit

up by connecting them,

an adjustable spark-gap,
coil

tubes will

to the coil.

some

Geissler

in series with

In the case of the large

light up when merely brought into the vicinity

of the discharge.

The
is

best X-ray tube to use with this Tesla coil

known

as a double-focus tube, although

may be used
of the

ing light,

coil

the terminals

X-ray tube are alternately cathode and anode, when

an alternating current

able,

what

any other tube

As

with not quite as good results.

is

if

X-rays

is

used the pulsating or rather

may be

called light,

va:ry-

would be objection-

but due to the high frequency of the current from

the pulsations are not noticeable.

focus tube
flector

is

used the rays are reflected

and then from the other

double the space

is

filled

tube had been used.

When
first

the double-

from one

in rapid succession,

with the rays than

if

this

re-

and thus

a single-focus

Uses of the Coil

If the

tube

12" coils,

it

is

a small one and

used on either the 7" or

is

should be connected in series with an adjustable

spark-gap, to prevent any injury to

this

On

it.

starting the coil

spark-gap should be open as far as possible and then

gradually closed until the best result

should be
it

89

felt

now and

then to see

becomes too hot the

is

if it

The

obtained.

tube

has become hot, and

if

should be stopped and the spark-

coil

gap lengthened.

may

For those amateurs who

desire to use this coil for

wireless telegraphy, the authors merely state that

able,

is

it

suit-

with a few minor changes, in most of the systems using

For

a step-up transformer.
referred to a large

number

detail

information they are

of admirable books, especially

devoted to this subject, written by very eminent

men

in this

field.

But
opens

after all the great field of experimental investigation

itself to

enter the realm

the possessors of one of these coils

first

the field in

is,

field

of electric waves.

The

subject

results are expected

itself is still in its

when

netic disturbances are verified in

It is

infancy

the laws of electromag-

a convincing manner.

not the easiest subject to experiment in by any means,

on the other hand

it is

the

most

difficult.

In order to carry out any of the experiments at

satisfactory results a large

and

they

which Hertz made himself famous, the

that

and great

when

mathematically investigated by Maxwell;

electric

wiring

is

room

required.

of a large barn, provided

free

from

all

all

and

get

metallic objects

good place

is

in the loft

no better place can be had.

It

The Tesla Coil

QO

was

in a large

barn that the authors verified some of Hertz's

experiments on electric

In dealing with

waves.

waves there are two disturbances

to

be taken into account,

the electromagnetic and the electrostatic.

two

on

ing both

which

is

the
all

wires.

method

electromagnetic and

also
sta-

be given for obtain-

will

stationary

the

that can consistently be

There are

waves and the

classes of waves, the electromagnetic

tionary waves

electric

waves,

brought within

the

scope of this work.

D. E. Jones has made a translation from the German

of the original papers of Heinrich Hertz, dealing with the

experiments and results which have

The

knobs a short distance apart.

to the

his

name famous.

radiator or oscillator used by Hertz consists of two

metallic plates, having attached to

in

made

secondary of the

coil.

them short rods ending

These knobs are connected

Hence, as the secondary

motive force accumulates, the plates are brought

ence of potential and lines of
stretch out

We

sponding points on the negative.

differ-

displacement

electrostatic

from the positive side of the

to

electro-

oscillator to corre-

have thus a strong

electrostatic displacement created along the lines of force.

When

the potential dilTerence reaches a certain point de-

pending on the length of the spark-gap, the

breaks

down and a

air

current flows from the one

other across the spark-gap.

It is

insulation

plate to the

merely the discharge of

a condenser, for the two plates on the oscillator form a condenser, with air as a dielectric.

around a magnetic

This creates in the space

flux, the direction of

which

is

everywhere

Uses of the Coil

normal

91

The

to the direction of the electric displacement.

energy

electrostatic

is

thus transformed into electrokinetic

energy.
the

If

some

of the energy

As the

intermittent

this

is

way

sufficiently

therefore

we have groups

the electromagnetic waves are set

In order to

of

trains

which spread out through the

off

have the breaking

sudden

a displacement wa\e.

off as

in operation

and

oscillations

started

is

thrown

coil is continually

waves thrown
In

oscillation

electric

down

up

of

electric

dielectric.

in the air.

of the air sufficiently

sharp to obtain the oscillations, at least three things are

necessary: the spark-ball surfaces

no

ultra-violet light

must

fall

must be bright and

on the

balls,

and the

clean,

balls

must

be a certain distance apart, best determined by experience.

The form

of resonator de\ised

by Hertz consists merely

of a nearly closed ring or rectangle of wire the ends of which

end in metallic

balls placed very close together.

ball is adjustable

have been

many

The one

by the use of a micrometer screw.

modifications of this resonator,

the authors found

most

satisfactory

There

but the one

was where a neon or

carbon dioxide Geissler tube of the spectrum variety was

connected directly across the spark-gap.

Instead of getting

a spark then the tube becomes illuminated.

By
tor,

using this resonator and the before-meintioned oscilla-

the magnitude of the electric displacements in the space

surrounding the oscillator can be

Hertz's great
air.

This

is

work was

mapped

in setting

out.

up stationary waves

in

accomplished by having a large metal plate

The Tcsla Coil

92
set

up

in the

radiator

is

set

room
up

to act as

in front of

a
it,

reflector.

at

By

reflector the

The
this

with

is

it,

its

so

parallel to the

holding the resonator parallel to the metallic

nodes and antinodes can be easily traced out.

size of the plates

on the radiator used by Hertz

The

experiment was i6" square.

of about

coil

some distance from

that the plane of the plates on the oscillator

reflector.

The

No. 6 copper wire, 14"

in

resonator was a ring

in diameter.

a^

Fig. 37.

To
used.

set

Waves

on Wires.

up stationary waves on wires

Two similar

plates to those

the

on the

same radiator

is

oscillator are gotten

Uses of

tlie

Coil

93

and mounted a short distance from the plates of the radiator.

The

plates are all parallel

and have two

from them across the room as shown

Thus

the wires

are

parallel wires led

in the figure.

electrostatically

connected

to

the

Hertz radiator and the plates rapidly alternate in potential,

and

this

applies to the ends of

This

electromotive force.
potential

which

If the

light.

tionary

the

EMF

wires

creates

an alternating

electric

waves of

travel along the wires with the velocity of

length of the wire

waves of

electric current

is

suitably adjusted, sta-

and potential are

set

up

by the interference of the direct and reflected waves.

To
tion

try the

and

interference of electric waves,

two brass rods ending

consisting of
in a zinc

box

must be very
tained.

experiments on reflection, refraction polariza-

of parabolic

form

is

in balls

required.

sensitive, for otherwise

The prisms and

a small oscillator

no

lenses used are

and mounted

The

resonator

results will

be ob-

moulded from

either

paraffine or pitch.

As before stated the authors

said that they

would merely

outline the experiments possible with the Tesla coil,

and

for

the detailed information the translations of Hertz's original

works must be consulted, unless the amateur has

knowledge of German
course be far

more

to

sufficient

read the originals, which will of

satisfactory.

There are several experiments which can be readily performed with

this

apparatus and which would appeal to those

having no knowledge of electric phenomena.

ments have but

little

practical value,

These experi-

the only reason for

The Tesla Coil

94

them being

citing

some

that they

may

who should chance

friend

furnish entertainment to

The

into his shop.

writers

saw them performed on the vaudeville stage with an

first

Oudin resonator which

To

is

far inferior to the Tesla coil.

begin the performance the operator should

make a

few general statements as to the voltage required to leap

such as 30,000 for

different air-gaps,

Then show

2", etc.

and

After he has

about 55,000

for

the discharge across the 6" or 12" gap

the spectator imagine

let

i",

what voltage that

represents.

become somewhat impressed with the

intensity

of the discharge, the operator can approach one of the oscil-

and allow

lators

this

his

hand

when

motion

in constant

There

point.

this current

effects result so
is

To

his bare hand.

without severe burning of the hand, he should keep

do

on one

on

the spark to play

is

is

prevent the spark from playing

only a very slight sensation

traversing your

body and no

shown

The

next experiment

felt

injurious

The

the authors are aware.

far as

best

hand when

to

effect

in the dark.

the coil

is

is

one

to grasp

in operation

and

oscillator with the

to

have an assistant

touch the operator's bare elbow with a cotton cloth dipped

in alcohol.

To

The handkerchief immediately

get the result without

rather

tightly

bursts in flame.

any uncertainty the cloth

around the

assistant's

modification of the same experiment

is

hand.

any of the audience are inclined

as to lighting cigars

to

An

wrapped
amusing

to touch the cloth to

the hair of the operator, showing that the hair

If

is

is

not ignited.

smoke, a suggestion

on a windy night without the annoyance

Uses of the Coil

of

matches blowing out

95

The

will be greatly appreciated.

operator has merely to bring a piece of metal, such as a nail,

held in the

and

hand

to within h" of

light the cigar

one of the spark terminals

from the spark.

gas flame can be

lit

with the bare fingers by grasping

one oscillator with the bare hand and approaching the burner
with the finger of the other hand so that a spark will

The

the metal tip of the burner.

more spectacular by

letting the

jump

have made

A^riters

spark jump from the

to

this

tip of

the tongue.

In these experiments an assistant should adjust the spark-

gap so that no more current passes than

is

to

To

is

necessary.

This

prevent the spark from burning the operator.

convince

the

audience of

the

tremendous voltage

passing through the operator's body he has merely to bring

one hand up to a lighted incandescent globe, while he grasps

one terminal of the

coil

On

with the other hand.

approach of the hand the filament

the near

will violently vibrate

and

then shatter, blackening the bulb and of course extinguishing

the lamp.

Lighting Geissler tubes held in the hand or even in the

mouth by approaching them

ment

to the oscillators

is

an experi-

that never fails to bring forth the applause of those

present.

Perhaps the most spectacular experiment, one which

unaccountable for by the every-day electrician
house wiring and has never been brought
high-frequency- currents

is

the lighting of

in

is

who does
touch with

an ordinary incan-

The Tesla Coil

96
descent lamp with

traversing

current

the

the

operator's

body.

Before performing this

experiment some few remarks

on the quantity of current necessary

to full brightness

on the no- volt

to bring the filament

circuits

should be made,

They can

those present are ignorant of electrical matters.

if

thus see that the energy

C. P. lamp
therefore

is

\olts this

equivalent to 55 watts,

is

and

that this

means approximately

The

^^

reason

taken with impunity

is

of an

why

no

ampere, while according

ampere

this

amount
At

taken through the operator's body.

to the best authorities

age human.

an ordinary 16

required to light

is fatal

amount

to the aver-

of energy can be

not definitely known, but

it is

thought

be due to the fact that the high-frequency current does

to

not penetrate into the interior of a solid conductor, but

follows the surface.

The

This

is

known

as the skin effect.

operator, to get the best results, should stand on an

insulated stool

and grasp one terminal

of the coil with one

hand, and approach with a piece of metal held tightly in the

hand or mouth one lead

of a lamp, the other lead of

has been previously grounded.

to bright red

gap

up

to

its

and

if

an

The lamp

assistant adjusts the

best working distance, the

to full brightness.

will

which

come up

primary spark-

lamp may be brought

Plate VI.

Discharge from

Plate VII.

The

the 12" Coil.

7" Standard Apparatus.

CHAPTER X
DIMENSIONS OF
For

think

chapters,

spark

amateurs

those

is

7"

who,

STANDARD COIL
ha\'ing

read

previous

the

an apparatus giving a twelve-inch

that

too large for

their

limited uses, this chapter has

been added.

This

coil

is

by no means

to

be thought of as a toy, for the

authors themselves used the very apparatus described in

this

chapter in carrying out their

X-ray and Geissler tubes.

first

experiments with the

Wireless messages were also

sent successfully over a distance of three miles in

wet weather.

This was the greatest available distance over which the

authors could try the

coil,

so that three miles should not be

maximum

considered the

In clear

transmitting distance.

weather messages could easily be sent a distance of about

fifty

miles, provided

your antennae

is

well insulated

from

grounds.

Because
does

not

apparatus

this

mean

regards insulation
entirely

on

this

that

is

any

not as powerful as the other,

less

care should be

and mechanical construction,

whether the

coil builder is to get

mittent spark or a fat crackling one.

between

this

for

The

taken
it

as

depends

a thin, inter-

only difference

apparatus and the larger one, besides that of

97

The Tesla Coil

98
size, is in the

construction of the transformer

and then they are only

The
built

trivial.

core of the transformer

up

of pieces of

long after the

is

&

No. 32 B.

manner described

in

care should be taken in annealing

wires as

was done

The primary

is

38.

2f" in diameter
S.

and

is

gauge iron wire 13"

Chapter

II.

The same

and insulating the

iron

before.

wound

other, as seen in Fig. 38.

Fig

and condenser

Primary

in

two sections adjacent

Each

section

is

to each

wound towards

and Core of Transpoemer of

7" Coil.

the centre, starting i" from the ends of the core, for a distance
of 5".

There are

six layers of

No. 16 B.

& S.

cotton covered copper wire in each section.

thoroughly shellacked
are held

At

least

when put on and

left for

layer

is

the terminal wires

by the same method as described

two feet should be

gauge double

Each

in

Chapter

II.

bringing out the terminals

to the binding-posts.

The secondary

is

wound

in

two sections.

gauge double cotton covered copper wire

is

No. 32 B.

& S.

The

tube

used.

Dimensions of
on which

wound

it is

thickness of the wall

Standard Coil

99

has an internal diameter of 4" and the

It is 11"

^^".

is

They

are 6" in diameter

4g" in diameter cut out of the centre.

made from

long and

The bobbin heads

the best vulcanized fibre.

of j" sheet fibre.

7"

are cut out

and have a hole

Four of these are

w^ II

^^--^^^4^11 -4^
!

Fig. 39,

They

shown

the

in the

->'i^
7" Coil,

are slipped on the tube to the positions

The

figure.

heads of each section

two sections

-^i-

Secondary Bobbin of Transformer of

required.
in

2}/'.

is

3 J",

distance between

and

The bobbin heads can be

same manner

bobbin

the

the distance between the

held in place

by cutting

as described in Chapter II

the rings out of a very thin fibre tube, or in this case

it

will

be sufficient to wrap some heavy brown paper several times

around the tube between the bobbin heads.

a layer on the secondary, shellac
turn of paper.
\" of the

In

this

way

bobbin heads.

it

After winding

and wrap

it

with one

build up the secondary to within

When

the last layer

is

put on

it

The Tesla Coil

loo

wrapped with

is

several turns of paper

which

is

shellacked

This completes the construction of the transformer.

in place.

\A'hen finished

it

should be

left for

some time

in a

warm

dry

place as behind the stove, to thoroughly dry the shellac.

The

reason for this

is

that green shellac

is

fairly

good con-

ductor.

For the condenser, twenty-eight sheets of brass 6" x lo"

are required.

No. 32 or 34

sheet has a lug i^' long

on

it

soft sheet brass

and i]" wide

is

Each

used.

either cut direcdy

Whether they

or soldered on in the upper corner.

are cut directly on the sheet or are soldered on will depend

on the width
are cut
lip is

\Mth

of the brass sheet used.

on the sheet or soldered on with 8"

and

7"

is

liable sooner or later to give

reconstruction of the condenser.

clean before putting

The frame

is

made

Any

should be rejected

way, thus causing the

Wipe each

sheet of glass

in to the condenser.

The

constructed from well seasoned pine.

two sides are made

is

it

it

i"

Thirty

x 12" are required.

sheet of glass that has an air bubble in

it

brass.

See Fig. 40.

bent across the top of each lug.

sheets of glass -^q" thick

as

12" brass they

from J" x 12" pine 4" long.

of a piece of I" x 4" pine 8" long.

The

The base

tened to the sides by some flat-headed brass screws.

is

base
fas-

The

heads of the screws should be sunk flush with the wood.

On

the one side of the frame two strips J" x i" are fastened;

one at the top and the other at the bottom of the frame.
See figure.
the side

The frame

on which the

is

now

strips

laid

on a

flat

surface with

have just been fastened down.

Dimensions of

7"

S/andard Coil

t::
f^l" Sirijit

^it'^l'strik
I

>

i^Cstrl^

--3"
.

Fig, 40.

Plate

and Frame of Condensek.

lOI

The Tesla Coil

102

glass plate

is

placed in the frame after having been wiped

dry and clean so that

Then a

brass sheet

glass at the

should just

is

touches the bottom of the frame.

it

laid in so that there

i"

is

bottom and a V' margin on the

margin of

The

sides.

fit

lip

Without

against the upper edge of the glass.

displacing the brass sheet place a sheet of glass on top of

This

it.

the lug

is

followed with a sheet of brass, but in this case

on the brass

the previous one.

to

brought out on the opposite side

is

Continue

this

process until the 28

Two

sheets of glass have been put in place.

are placed on top of the last brass sheet.

glass sheets

Also remember

to bring the lugs from the brass sheets out on alternate sides.

Mortices should be cut in the top and bottom of the upper

ends of the sides a

last

little

deeper than the point to which the

These are

glass sheet reaches.

of pine l" X i" similar to those

should be screwed
the glass.
strip

and the

down

in turn

down

These

piece of paper or cloth placed between the

and solder a piece

of copper

already been tinned, to each of the

the one side

and another wire

About No. 16 bare wire

side.

extra wire should be left to

The

receive two strips

other side.

glass will prevent the breaking of the latter.

which has

on the other

to

tjie

so that they press firmly against

Set the condenser upright

wire,

on

oscillation

make

transformer

is

all

lips

to all the lips

will do.

Enough

necessary connections.

constructed in the same

manner

as the one for the 12"

for the

secondary are 6" in diameter and are turned out

of i" material.

coil.

Eight equidistant

The

circular supports

slots are cut in

the per-

Dimensions of
iphery

square.

long.

rod 11" long

the

figure 41.

The

f'

Standard Coil

square and 11"

fibre strips are A"

is

turned out

103

to the

size

shown

in

diameter and has a A" shoulder

It is i" in

turned on each end.

This rod holds the two supports for

the secondary apart.

If the

grooves

of winding the wire in

should be cut on the fibre

to be used, the thread

is

strips before

mounting them on the supports.

In the original

coil the

wire was merely

wound on

three

supports 3" wide mounted on a hexagonal end piece.

fibre

The wire was wound

contact
this

method

it

adjacent turns were

and the whole was thoroughly shellacked.

method

new,

that no

so

of

winding gave good

in

Although

results while the coil

was

was found after some usage that the wires became

loosened, thereby reducing the effecti\-e sparking distance.

better

way

howe\-er,

is

to use

The

scribed in Chapter 1\.

one of the methods de-

wire used

is

Xo. 28 B.

gauge double cotton covered copper wire and was

&

S.

wound

18 turns to the inch.

The end

pieces for the primary are cut out of h" material

The

and are 9" square.

dowels

fit

used in

all.

is 8".

diameter of the

After the secondary

The

which the

There are twenty -four \" maple dowels

is

are screwed to the secondary frame,

in place.

circle in

wound
and

these end pieces

the dowels slipped

length of the frame o^'e^

all

is

The

12"

primary winding consists of one and a half turns of a copper

ribbon

-i"

wide.

The

the ^^'inding stretch

other,

turns should be equally spaced

from the one end of the frame

copper wire

is

and

to the

soldered on to each end of

the

The Tesla Coil

104

UJ
-*IT'-|

T.OC

T-

I
1

o
,

f0

1^

I-

t3

DC
(I

'
I

to

'^

"-
I

U=-i

'

"^

IP

il-jt
I

-^

i^;

(Jj

CO

-^J'

o
i4

Ti

is!

H
z
o

ii
--./

g^

Dimensions of
primary band for making

i"x|", 12" long,

strip

tiie
is

Standard Coil

105

hard rubber

connections.

screwed across the top of the

Two

completed oscillation transformer.

in

it

8-y apart.

holes are drilled

Into these two bushings, similar to those

used in the 12" coil and described in Chapter IV, are

When

the secondary terminals are soldered to

oscillation transformer

is

mounted

in

seasoned oak.

Chapter VI apply

cover

is

The box

is

All the directions given

The

divided into two halves, one carrying the interrupter

oscillators.

connections from the interrupter to the condenser are

made through

the hinges so that the cover

without disturbing the connections.

may

of holes drilled in

it

of the box.

It

is

It

is

put in be-

has a

number

to allow of the free circulation of the

Suitable handles are put at each end of the

transformer

be swung back

partition

tween the transformer and the condenser.

The

The

to the construction of this box.

and the other the discharge

The

the

one box.

dimensions of this box are given in Fig. 42.

in

them

complete.

All the parts of the 7" coil are

built out of f" well

fitted.

is

now

set

on end

box

oil.

for carrying

it.

in the smaller division

held in place by two yoke-shaped,

supports fastened to the inside of the box

and

core between the two sections of the secondary.

wooden

encircling the

The primary

terminals are brought to four heavy binding-posts at the upper

end of the box.

They should be

soldered on in the

order as for the transformer on the large

shorting, the

coil,

two middle posts puts the sections

that

is,

same

so that

in series

shorting the two outer pairs gives a parallel connection.

and

Tlie Tesla Coil

roo

>

Dimensions of

The condenser and

in place,

Standard Coil

7"

oscillation transformer are

is

sec-

in glass tubes,

From one

suitably bent, directly to the condenser.

condenser a wire

now put
The

between the two.

the condenser being

ondary terminals from the transformer are led

the

107

side of

an end of the primary band

led to

on the oscillation transformer.

The remaining end

of the

copper band and the other side of the condenser are directly

connected to the two hinges of the cover carrying the interrupter.

All connections should be carefully soldered.

should be of about No. 20 B.

in glass tubes

& S.

They

gauge copper wire, enclosed

and kept under the

oil

as

much

as possible.

o
o

Fig. 43.

Wiring

Any one of the forms of

V can be used with the coil;

Diagram.

interrupters described in Chapter

the coil in question being equipped

with the motor interrupter.

The

connections between the

primary spark-gap and hinges can be run in glass tubes lying

in grooves cut in the

I"

under side of the cover.

piece of

hard rubber sheet should be screwed over the grooves

wherever there
transformer

shown

or

is

any danger

of shorting to the core of the

primary terminals.

in the wiring

diagram.

The

connections

are

io8

Tcsla Coll

TJic

The

two brass

oscillators consist of

screwed on the end of two

rods 7" long, which are

-^^" brass

from the top of the

drilled \"

two holes

to slide easily in

standards, through both the

fibre

diameter

balls J" in

and

the rod.

set

screw

at the top of each standard will be of convenience in clamping

the rods in any desired position.

The standards

Two

are constructed as follows.

hard rubber bushings 2" in diameter and iV'

having a flange \" thick and 2^"

end are

set in

is

and

diameter turned on one

in

two holes cut in the cover directly abo^e the

on the

holes in the brass bushings

A I" hole

fibre or

in length

oscillation transformer.

Two

through the centre of each bushing.

drilled

f " brass rods 8" long are enclosed in fibre tubes f " in outside
diameter

and

7 V'

The ends

tightly.

and should be

The

long.

should

tubes

of the brass rods project

tapered to

slightly

fit

fit

the

from the

the bushings

rods
fibre

on the

oscillation transformer.

may

In order that the discharge gap

the coil

is

in operation,

are screwed
for

about

The

two

on the ends of the

be adjusted while

handles I" in diameter

rods, carrying the oscillators,

i\".

standards are

cover until they

now

slid

make good

the oscillation transformer.

up

^'ulcanite

through the bushings in the

contact with the bushings on

When

to the alternating current

the coil

mains,

it

is

will

now connected
break forth

in

may

be

a beautiful 7" discharge.

If

everything

found

in the

is

not as

it

ought

manner described

in

to be, the trouble

Chapter VII.

Dimensions of 7" Standard Coil

7

i
f

m$$^^^
5

\-

Oscillator **

%5tandar.i>

7 Coil

s"

BUSHINQ
FiG, 44,

Oscillators

hrasfi

rod

Foil

7 COIL

and Standards for

7"

Apparatus.

log

APPENDIX
For

those of our readers

disposal,

and who

who have

desire to carry

limited

Besides

many

this

who

possess an ordinary induction

three inch spark,

which they

may

This

coil

is
it

not
is

coil,

is

available,

giving a two or

article.

immersed, hence no boxes

oil

cities,

substitute for the trans-

former to be described in the present

required, as

Appendix

are not situated in

where an alternating-current lighting supply

but

at their

on some of the many experi-

ments possible with high-tension currents,

has been added.

means

will

be

simply mounted on a base in a place free

from dust and moisture.

regarding insulation

A large

amount

of the precautions

and other things can be dispensed with,

thereby reducing the cost of the materials to within the reach

of

almost every one.

While speaking of

cost, let

us state

that to purchase a coil giving a 12" spark from the regular

dealers
coil in

tion

would mean an outlay

a single box

is

of about

The

worth S165.

by the amateur, not considering

exceed S50 for the 12" coil

and $25

$300, while the 7"

cost of construc-

his time,

should not

for the 7" coil.

This piece of apparatus giving about a

not exceed Sio to build at home.

It

is

3''

spark should

large

enough

for

most of the experiments on Roentgen and Geisler tubes and

for wireless

work

o\-er short distances.

The Tesla Coil

112

The above sums

include

simple

the

The

interrupter.

others will bring the price up in proportion.

The

high-frequency

coil is

made

Cut out two

as follows:

end pieces of i" wood lo" square and describe on each one
two concentric

having diameters of 9 and

circles,

On

respectively.

these circles bore a

come 36"

Y dowels.

mill

These are made of hard wood and

Cut each dowel

long.

inches

Next procure from a planing

apart as in the figure.

about twenty

number

of \" holes i"

into 12" lengths

and

fit

one

in each of the holes on the smaller circle of one of the boards.

When

they are

place the other board

all in

other end of the dowels.

The

empty

is

The
B.

& S.

until the

secondary

is

put on the

outer circle of holes

is

left

wound.

secondary winding consists of one layer of No. 32

gauge double cotton covered copper wire.

winding about

from the ends.

Begin the

Shellac the wire with

several coats of the best orange shellac

when

the winding

is

finished.

The dowels
ing

for the

primary are next put in place by push-

them through the holes from one end.

tightly the holes

may be reamed

18 bare wire are

wound on

out.

coil is

six turns of

then mounted on a base.

Two

No.

oscillators

The ends

of

mounted on a

with standards are

provided for the terminals of the secondary.

pletes the high-tension coil.

too

it.

the primary are connected to two binding-posts

piece of hard rubber.

fit

the outer dowels, each turn being

over an inch from the one next to

The whole

Next

If they

This com-

A ppendix

^-

^--

"3

Tesla Coil

'^^'^

114

The condenser

lo" X 12", with a piece of tin

The method

of glass.

Lay a

follows:

While

top of

it,

8" x 10" between each sheet

foil

on a smooth

leaving an inch margin of glass

On

table

and

wet place a sheet of

still

corner lay a strip of tin

glass.

glass

of arranging this condenser

glass plate

coat of shellac.

window

consists of fifteen sheets of

it

On

on

tin foil

around.

all

as

is

gi\e

one

projecting an inch beyond the

foil

top of this lay a second sheet of glass and another

sheet of tin

only the strip in this case

foil,

on the opposite

Continue

side.

This

of glass are used up.

is

brought out

this until the fifteen sheets

will give seven sheets of tin

foil,

with the strips coming out on the one side and seven projecting

on the other

The

side.

strips

may

be fused together

with a hot iron and a copper wire soldered on.

condenser
best

is

mounted

The

bound together with

in

a box.

transformer for use with the

It

formers already described.

of

No. 20-22 iron

lY and when
II
in

is

wrapped with

The

after the

& S.

trans-

core consists of a bundle

The

method described

two sections one above the other.

Each

or 50-55 volt

same as the two

diameter
in

The primary

insulating tape.

of fastening the layers.

No. 16 B.

1 00-110

wires, well annealed.

formed

is

the next piece of apparatus

is

essentially the

is

and

This completes the condenser.

alternating-current circuits
to construjt.

The whole

insulating tape

See Fig.

is

Chapter

is

for the

wound
method

section consists of one layer of

gauge double cotton covered copper wire.

After the primary

is

wound wrap on

well shellacked until the diameter

is

several layers of paper

built

up

to 2}".

Appendix

"5

The Tesla Coil

ii6

The secondary winding

two

sections of

copper wire.

First

of

&

No. 32 B.

saw out

of wood, 4" in diameter

this

transformer consists of

gauge double cotton covered

S.

of \" stock four circular pieces

and having a

2 J" hole in the centre.

shown

Slip these on the primary to the positions

The two end

in the figure.

ones are |" from the ends of the core and the

middle ones are \" apart.

Wind
formed
layer

the wire of the secondary

until the

diameter

and wrap a piece

The whole

is

3J".

just

shellac each

on before beginning the

of paper

mounted on a

coil is

on the two spools

Thoroughly

next.

suitable base, the primary

terminals being connected to binding-posts.

If the

transformer

current, the
series.

If,

be operated on the loo-iio

to

is

volt

two sections of the primary are connected

on the other hand,

it

is

to

in

be u^ed on the 50-55

volt current the sections are joined in parallel.

It

is

well,

however, in either case to bring the primary terminals out

to

four separate binding-posts.

tions

may

Always be

be readily
certain,

the windings in the

In order

to set

made

Then

for

the desired connec-

either

series

or parallel.

though, that the current will traverse

same

direction.

up the high

oscillations

we must

introduce

a spark-gap in series with the secondary of the transformer

The method

and the high-tension

coil.

primary spark-gap

given as follows: Procure two pieces

is

of

making

this

of vulcanized fibre rod |" in diameter 4 inches long.

Drill'

a j" hole in each V' from one end.

holes

Next bore two

6" apart in the base of the transformer as

shown

-|"

in Fig. 47.


Appendix

117

Drive the fibre supports into these holes with the holes in the
fibre in line.

The spark-gap
fibre

tube

is

made

of

two }" brass rods 6" long with

long slipped over the end to act as an insu-

2''

One

lating handle.

lead of the secondary of the transformer

goes directiy to one rod, the other goes to the primary of the

high-tension

The

coil.

high-tension coil

is

return wire from the primary of the

soldered to the other side of the spark-gap.

The diagram shows how

the condenser

is

connected and also

the connections just described.

^H

^--

1-

--^

i
Fig. 47.

There
care

is

Prim-^ry Spakk-g.\p.

no interrupter used with

must be taken that the spark

is

apparatus so that

this

long enough to prevent

arcing.

Those possessing a suitable induction

to substitute this for

may do

so

the transformer

coil

and who wish

and primarj' spark-gap

by changing one connection.

Disconnect one

terminal of the secondary from the discharger

the

and connect

secondary terminal to a binding-post suitably insulated

by hard rubber.

One

terminal of the primary of the high-

The Tesla Coil

ii8
tension coil

is

connected to the spark-gap instead of the sec-

ondary of the induction

tension coils primary

The

coil.

is

other terminal of the high-

connected to the new binding-post.

A glance at the figure will make this plain and also the method

Fig. 48.*-^

Fig. 49.

of connecting

WriUNG Diagram.

Wiring

up the condenser.

Diagram.

When making

between the various parts of the apparatus

the wires in glass tubes

The

and

to

it is

connections

well to enclose

keep them back out of the way.

operator will soon find that ordinary insulation

is

of

Appendix
no value whatever

in dealing

so that all terminals

with these high-tension currents,

must be kept apart a distance greater

than that of the high-tenson discharge gap.

caution

is

119

If

this

pre-

not observed you will have some very beautiful

brush discharges
close proximity.

all

along the conductors that are in too

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