My first tesla coil

[MRMILSTAR]

I built my first tesla coil in 1969 when I was 16 years old. Oddly, it was a small VTTC based on a 6L6 vacuum tube and a rectifier tube. This project got me interested in electrical engineering as a career and tesla coils in particular. Even though it only puts out a 0.5 inch discharge it was exciting results for a 16-year old building his first tesla coil. It still works today 50 years later with the original vacuum tubes. I've had to replace the power cord though. The photo was taken at the 2018 Mid-Ohio Teslafest by Bill Fox.

[Mads Barnkob]

My first working Tesla coil was also a VTTC, incredible easy to understand when the valve is something where you can see the individual control parts and how the load affects it.

Since you built yours in 1969, did you know about the VTTC schematics from this: "The schematics for this dual 811A VTTC are by most people recognized as Steve Wards, but they do in fact go way back to a article from the magazine “Science Experimenter” fall 1963 issue, which are the drawings most dual 811A VTTCs are based on. I have not been able to find earlier material about this Tesla coil design." as I wrote in the article about mine http://kaizerpowerelectronics.dk/tesla-coils/kaizer-vttc-i/

[MRMILSTAR]

Vacuum tubes are also very forgiving and can take a lot of abuse. They won't explode like semiconductors if you make a small mistake.

My first tesla coil was based on the "Li'l TC" project from the July 1964 edition of "Popular Electronics" magazine. I bought this magazine new in 1964 when I was 11 years old however I wasn't able to build it until I was 16. I still have that magazine.

I also still have the 1966 edition of "Science Experimenter" with the dual 811 VTTC that you are referring to. I well remember reading that article and wanted very badly to build it but it seemed beyond my skills and means at the time so I settled for building the "Lil TC" VTTC instead.

The pages of both magazines have turned yellow but they are still very readable.

[Mads Barnkob]

Since the copyright of those magazines should be gone when over 50 years, could you scan and post the articles?

[oneKone]

@mads. i've found a copy of the 1966 version. unfortunately i cant post it due to the file limit being exceeded. but here's the link to download. (free download after waiting 60 seconds0
  https://documents.pub/download/powerful-tesla-coil-science-experimenter-fall-1963-55844a30df3cf

[Mads Barnkob]

I remembered that I had this file in my electronics paper collection and I also put it up in my online file archive, so you can also download it here: http://kaizerpowerelectronics.dk/tools/file-archive/?drawer=application_notes*tesla_coil

There is also a lot of other interesting papers in my archive if you feel like browsing it