In this instructable I will show you how to make a simple solid state tesla coil.

Here is a link to my video https://youtu.be/iOT7xw6Urrg

WHAT IS A TESLA COIL

A tesla coil basically is just a transformer,but unlike conventional transformers a TC has no solid core and the coils are losely coupled. It is able to create millions of volts and produce spectacular lightning bolts.It can even be made to play music via the sparks.

HOW A TESLA COIL WORKS

A tesla coil has a large secondary coil where each adjacent turns of the secondary along with the insulation resembles a capacitor.Hence the secondary can be considered as a large number of capacitors connected in series.This along with the Inductance of the coil forms an LC circuit.

RESONANCE IN AN LC CIRCUIT

Refer pic 3. Here initially capacitor C is charged.It then starts discharging to L this creates a rising magnetic field around L which keeps increasing till C gets fully discharged. When the C is fully discharged the magnetic field around L starts collapsing.This collapse of magnetic field induces a current in L.This current charges C but the polarity is reversed.C again starts discharging and the process continues till all of the energy gets dissapated as radiowaves and heat.

The frequency at which the coil oscillates is called its resonance frequency which can be calculated as

f=1/(2*3.14*((L*C)^(1/2)))

In a tesla coil the primary induces a current in the secondary which is in phase to the current in the secondary.

Here is a link to my video https://youtu.be/iOT7xw6Urrg

Step 1: Winding the Secondary

Winding the secondary is the most tedious job in a tesla coil build just make sure you are in a good mood while winding it else you will probably destroy what you have made.

To start winding use some tape to hold the magnet wire then start winding.I used 40 guage copper wire around a 50mm PVC pipe. I wound upto a height of 10cm then I ran out of magnet wire(can be obtained from stepdown transformers)

I was finally left with 1247 turns and a resonance frequency of about 550kHz.

Finally I covered the secondary with cellotape to prevent any damage to the coil.

Here is a link to my video https://youtu.be/iOT7xw6Urrg

Step 2: Winding the Primary

I used magnet wire of about 0.3mm diameter.

I wound 6 turns around the base of the secondary. I noted that the coil doesnt work if there is too little turns in the primary. So if your coil doesn't work try adding more turns to the primary.

I also bolted down the 2 ends of the secondary so its easier to connect as 40 guage wire is very thin.

Here is a link to my video https://youtu.be/iOT7xw6Urrg

Step 3: Making the Circuit

I made steve wards micro sstc.

I used 2 power supplies instead of the voltage regulators;12v for mosfet driver and 32v for the primary. It is necessary to connect negative of both power supplies togather.

I omitted the 555 timer oscillator.

Here is a link to my video https://youtu.be/iOT7xw6Urrg