CHAPTER I

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

By the late 1800s, electricity had long been discovered and was no longer

considered a novelty. The science of how to store, enhance, or transmit electrical current was

just beginning to evolve, and eccentric scientist Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) was on the cutting

edge of that research.

In 1891, Tesla unveiled one of his most important inventions, the "Tesla coil," a high-

frequency transformer capable of creating very high voltage at low current. He built several

variations of his invention. The most popular of his designs is made up of a transformer,

capacitor, spark gap, main coil, minor coil and discharge sphere. Here is how it works: The

transformer receives a charge of about 100 volts from an outside source and increases it to as

many as 50,000 volts or more. The capacitor stores the voltage until it reaches its limit, at which

point the spark gap emits all of the pent-up energy in one massive outburst, surging to the main

coil, which is often built out of wide copper wire, generating a powerful magnetic field. The

current continues to the minor coil that serves as a transformer, utilizing the effects of the

magnetic field to build enormous quantities of voltage. At this point, the electricity flows to a

discharge sphere that emits the current as a stream or arc of sparks. In 1891, Tesla unveiled one

of his most important inventions, the "Tesla coil," a high-frequency transformer capable of

creating very high voltage at low current. He built several variations of his invention. ...

Circuitry using the Tesla coil was part of the first generation of transmitters to carry wireless

telegraphy. A Tesla coil is essentially a radio-frequency transmitter driving a high-turns-ratio

resonant transformer. They provide a “convenient” way to generate high-to very high voltages.

By far the most common application for them was to generate the “ultor” voltage (usually

between 15 and 30 kilovolts) for the cathode-ray tubes used in older television sets. Some

contemporary microwave ovens use a similar method to generate the high voltage for the

magnetron (the tube which generates the microwaves). [ref]

Tesla used these circuits to conduct innovative experiments in electrical lighting,

phosphorescence, X-ray generation, high frequency alternating current phenomena,

electrotherapy, and the transmission of electrical energy without wires. Due to the high

frequencies involved, Tesla coils can cause severe burns without the sensation of pain. Long

Distance Arcing: Tesla coils, by their nature, produce electrical arcing which can travel

unpredictably in any direction and can strike at considerable distances. [ref]

These arcs can be very dangerous. The first disadvantage of Tesla Coil it the circuit construction

takes a long time as it needs to be perfect to resonate, and the second is buying a larger DC

smoothing capacitor involves more costs, lastly the high voltage radio frequency emissions in

the Tesla coil pose many health risks. These include damage to the nervous system, skin burns,

and the heart

Today, although small Tesla coils are used as leak detectors in scientific high vacuum

systems and igniters in arc welders, their main use is entertainment and educational displays.

Tesla coils can also be used to generate sounds, including music, by modulating the system's

effective "break rate" via MIDI data and a control unit. 

Scientists working with high vacuum systems test for the presence of tiny pin holes in the

apparatus (especially a newly blown piece of glassware) using high-voltage discharges

produced by a small handheld Tesla coil. When the system is evacuated the high voltage

electrode of the coil is played over the outside of the apparatus. At low pressures, air is more

easily ionized and thus conducts electricity better than atmospheric pressure air. Therefore, the

discharge travels through any pin hole immediately below it, producing a corona discharge

inside the evacuated space which illuminates the hole, indicating points that need to be

annealed or reblown before they can be used in an experiment.

1.1 Objectives of the Study

This study generally aims to build a functional Tesla coil and to understand how Tesla coil

works. Specifically, this aims the following:

1. Build a functional Tesla coil.

2. To show the effect of number of turns in Tesla coils magnetic field.

3. Analysis effect of winding on radiation-electromagnetic field on the tesla coil.

4. To solve the resistivity.

1.2 Significance of the Study

The tesla coil is an electrical resonant transformer circuit designed by inventor Nikola Tesla

in 1891, it is used to produce high-voltage, low-current, high-frequency alternating-current

electricity. In 1891, Tesla unveiled one of his most important inventions, the “Tesla coil” a high-
frequency transformer capable of creating very high voltage at low current. Circuitry using the

Tesla coil was part of the first generation of transmitters to carry wireless telegraphy.

1.3 Scope and limitation

A Tesla coil is an electrical resonant transformer circuit designed by inventor Nikola

Tesla in 1891.It is used to produce high-voltage, low-current, and high frequency alternating

current electricity. This research focus only in constructing low-voltage type of tesla coil to test

the following objectives which is to build a functional tesla coil and to understand how tesla coil

works through number of turns and identifying resistivity. The materials that used were PVC

pipe 9cm, 28AWG copper wire with 0.321 mm in diameter, 2N2222 transistor, 2.2k ohm resistor,

9 volts lithium battery, and connector, on-off switch and cardboard sheet.
 CHAPTER 2

GENERAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1 Making the TC step-by-step process

Tesla coil is a radio frequency oscillator that drives an air-core double-tuned resonant

transformer to produce high voltages at low currents.Tesla's original circuits as well as most

modern coils use a simple spark gap to excite oscillations in the tuned transformer. More

sophisticated designs use transistor or thyristor switches oscillators to drive the resonant

transformer. Miniature Tesla coil also does a same work but it does not produce as much high

voltages. The following process is identified: Materials were prepared PVC Pipe 9cm, 28AWG

Copper Wire, 2N2222 Transistor, 2.2K ohm Resistor, 9v Battery and Connector, Switch,

Cardboard sheet. Next, is to take PVC pipe and winded 300-400 turns of 28G copper wire

(Primary coil), apply tape at bottom and winde 4-5 turns of 22G copper wire (Secondary coil),

now remove enamel of copper wires at end, solder 22k ohm resistor to the base of 2n2222

transistor, solder bottom end wire of primary coil to base, solder one end of secondary coil to

collector, solder Positive terminal of battery clip to Switch and negative terminal to emitter pin,

now solder another end of secondary coil and another pin of switch to the free end of 22k

resistor and lastly, leave the top end wire of primary coil free in air.
2.2 Different Material Characteristics/Function/Uses

A Tesla coil is an electrical resonant transformer circuit designed by inventor Nikola Tesla in

1891.[1][2] It is used to produce high-voltage , low-current high frequency alternating currect

electricity.] Tesla experimented with a number of different configurations consisting of two, or

sometimes three, coupled resonant electric circuits. Tesla used these circuits to conduct

innovative experiments in electrical lighting, phosphorescence, X-ray generation, High

frequency alternating current phenomena, electrotherapy and the transmission pf electrecal

energy without wires. Tesla coil circuits were used commercially in medical equipment such as

electrotheraphy and violet raydevices. Today, their main usage is for entertainment and

educational displays, although small coils are still used as leak detectors for high vacuum syste.