Come and Meet Extreme Electronics and the Twin PI tesla coils (and some other stuff 🙂 at Derby Mini Maker faire. We will be by the jet engine just off the main hall.
An amazing day, all my coils and static machines worked from beginning to end with no issues. The VDG performed well after a hail storm had knocked out all of the moisture from the air. It made a huge difference. I did however have a failure the night before the Gaussfest (therefore it cant count as a failure AT the Gaussfest) where I shared the earth from my VDG with the PiZero coils. A strong discharge killed the i2c on my Pi Zero. A swap of PiZeros, a number of downloads and a recompile got me back working in a hour or so. Glad I’d gone with the PIZero saved me £21 over a full Pi Failure.
Roger’s VDG
Roger was new to the Gaussfest and brought his commercial VDG, a very nice unit with LOADS of accessories. It ran fairly well during the day after he replaced the original 15year old+ belt. I suspect he suffered with the damp as well, but it didn’t affect his VDG as much as mine, I put this down to a lack leakage from his very smooth top terminal. (The VDG’s not his).
Steve’s coils
VTTC at Nottingham Gaussfest
Steve brought a couple of coils and a VDG (sorry no photo) . His desktop Static gap coil was a good solid performer, but his VTTC was just a work of art. It performed well with those lovely straight arcs characteristic of VTTC’s. He vows to return to Cambridge, can’t wait.
Jason’s Coil
Medium sized tesla coil at nottingham gaussfest
Jason’s coil ran very well, until he had a capacitor failure, which was a great shame, but hopefully easy to rectify.
Daves coil
Dave’s coil ran well as usual. Superb looking and a very reliable performer. I know Dave has plans for an upgrade, so look forward to the MkII
Phil & Phil’s coils
Slow motion (90fps capture)
Phil and Phils coils (now share so many parts I can’t tell them apart, I’m not sure their owners can either). Both coils ran very well giving 8-10′ arcs to the floor,ceiling and occasionally to a target earth. PhilS did have a problem with a stray topload cable that caused a secondary strike
It didn’t appear to have done much damage, but only a strip down will tell.
Thanks to everyone that came and especially those who brought “stuff” to demonstrate. After talking to a couple of non-UK visitors they are very envious of our Teslathons, there are very few across the world, and the UK has two!
After many years of sitting in a rack gathering dust, one of the volunteers at Cambridge museum of technology has resurrected their mercury rectifier.
Working for the first time
Cam Tech’s Mercury Rectifier
in 20+ years
It used to run a large DC Motor from the new-fangled AC mains. But this was soon superseded by a replacement.
The Rectifier has lain dormant since at least the 70’s. The Museum has managed to get a supply to the anodes and enough current via it’s ignitor circuit to get the tube lit up and working (although at much lower power).
A fantastic achievement that shows the engineering (and beauty?) of these rare devices. Much better than an odd shaped dust covered glass thingy in a rack.
With thanks to all of the Coilers (and wives) who brought stuff and supported us, Staff and volunteers at Cambridge Museum of Technology who let us abuse their electricity supply for the day and the visitors who asked some great questions this year.
Watch this space for details of next years Teslathon at the end of October 2016.
Thanks to all of the coilers and visitors to this years teslathon and of course a great thank you to the Cambridge museum of technology for hosting us again.
My Coils & Stuff
Phil S’s Coil
Phil T’s Coil
Alex’s Coils
Marks Coil
Anders’s Coil and Gessler Tubes
Dave B’s Coil
John’s Coils and Equipment
Steves DRSSTC
Then Steve’s coil opened up a rift in the Aether and we were all sucked in. Back next year.
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