Correction: the block diagram at 6:53 misrepresents how feedback has been implemented. The coils operate in a self resonant mode and can self adjust for changes in resonance by sensing the current in the secondary through the shunt resistor, and feeding this signal back as positive feedback to the drive circuit. The STM32's PWM audio signal serves as the interrupter signal by enabling/disabling the triple AND gates within the dead-time circuit. (V1.6 schematic)
depending on what midi player software you are using, you can assign different instruments within the MIDI file to play on different USB outputs. if you have 4 coils they will each enumerate with their own unique device descriptor in the MIDI software for example. hope this helps!
The best electronic video on RUclips!! It's fun to watch, very easy to understand the physics behind this project with the help of your great explanation!!! Hope to see more videos like this!!!
Great video, thanks. Nikola Tesla impulsed the series resonant primary, this impulse (half wave, inductive spike) was then used to induce the secondary. This way he could get very high frequencies, and his spectacular high voltage radiant effects.
I’m slowly building up a website to share blog posts and have merch section. Definitely looking into the economies of producing these in quantities of 100 or so to see if the price point makes sense.
I applaud your narration. If you haven't seen the movie Pi I suggest you check it out, just to compare your narration to narration of the movie. It's interestingly monotone, yet intriguingly informative.
Hey, thank you! Yes I very much want to make some proper coils... just trying to find the time. As soon as I do I'll be making a video for them. :) Cheers!
the fourth coil is still there, it failed for some reason, presumably a soldering mistake, i didn't waste much time troubleshooting it as the 3 coils were still interesting enough. technically you can interrupt it at fractions of a Hz, so it can definitely cover the lowest note on a piano (A0 or 27.5 Hz) but I'm not sure how great it would sound. i could do a frequency sweep and check!
Wouldnt it be possible to up the volume of the fast following notes by alternating which one you use for it and giving it more time to build up energy?
unfortunately the higher frequency notes don't have as big of streamers or audible amplitude because in order to generate them you have to cut them off/on faster. the larger Tesla coils don't suffer form this as noticeably because they are being driven with much more power. these are powered only with USB voltages/current at the input (up to 3A @ 5V).
@@ZacksLab Can these TCs run continuous duty? In curious why most DRSSTCs are not allowed to run continuous. Is it a power dissipation issue due to high reactive currents in the primary requiring very low Rds(on) fets?
i haven’t tried running these continuously, nor have i characterized power dissipation in the GaN FETs, but generally DRSSTCs (like you mentioned) do not run continuously because the high Q of the primary resulting in much higher currents in the primary, and finding FETs that can handle such high continuous current is difficult. you could choose a FET with low Rds_on and aggressively heat sink it to keep junction temps below max rating.
@@ZacksLab I have been working on my small 300kHz coil, I'm using 90A 200V 20mOhm HY1920P fets and a PCB half bridge but they do like to fail. I measured 60A on the current transformer feedback but the heatsinks don't really get warm
hmm interesting that you’re losing FETs but not noticing any heat issues. are you sure you aren’t exceeding any other parameters of the FET? Vgs max or Vds max?
This is not how a traditional Tesla coil works. I was super excited cause u were explaining it so well but then went and talked about a solid state Tesla. Was hoping u would explain the spark gap one 😔
Correction: the block diagram at 6:53 misrepresents how feedback has been implemented. The coils operate in a self resonant mode and can self adjust for changes in resonance by sensing the current in the secondary through the shunt resistor, and feeding this signal back as positive feedback to the drive circuit. The STM32's PWM audio signal serves as the interrupter signal by enabling/disabling the triple AND gates within the dead-time circuit. (V1.6 schematic)
Explains to me a thing I can't understand: how do I get multiple separate signals (for each coil separately) from one midi output?
depending on what midi player software you are using, you can assign different instruments within the MIDI file to play on different USB outputs. if you have 4 coils they will each enumerate with their own unique device descriptor in the MIDI software for example. hope this helps!
best teslacoil theory explanation on YT, i think.
thank you!
The best electronic video on RUclips!! It's fun to watch, very easy to understand the physics behind this project with the help of your great explanation!!! Hope to see more videos like this!!!
Great video, thanks. Nikola Tesla impulsed the series resonant primary, this impulse (half wave, inductive spike) was then used to induce the secondary. This way he could get very high frequencies, and his spectacular high voltage radiant effects.
This was really nice and informative, everything was well explained and I love how neat the final result is. thank you!
glad you enjoyed it, Leonhard :)
this can be a merch! I sure will buy one.
I’m slowly building up a website to share blog posts and have merch section. Definitely looking into the economies of producing these in quantities of 100 or so to see if the price point makes sense.
Awesome build! I could watch you build boards for hours, really glad you captured that montage.
Thanks Flavius! More coming :)
I applaud your narration. If you haven't seen the movie Pi I suggest you check it out, just to compare your narration to narration of the movie. It's interestingly monotone, yet intriguingly informative.
I have not seen the movie but it looks interesting, I will check it out! Thank you for the kind comment :)
Wow, awsome video. Are you planning to make some on the big coils or VTTC? Keep going :)))
Hey, thank you! Yes I very much want to make some proper coils... just trying to find the time. As soon as I do I'll be making a video for them. :) Cheers!
Where's the fourth coil and why is it not in the demo? Also, what's the lowest note they can play?
the fourth coil is still there, it failed for some reason, presumably a soldering mistake, i didn't waste much time troubleshooting it as the 3 coils were still interesting enough.
technically you can interrupt it at fractions of a Hz, so it can definitely cover the lowest note on a piano (A0 or 27.5 Hz) but I'm not sure how great it would sound. i could do a frequency sweep and check!
Holy Odin, that's awesome!
subbed..
Wouldnt it be possible to up the volume of the fast following notes by alternating which one you use for it and giving it more time to build up energy?
unfortunately the higher frequency notes don't have as big of streamers or audible amplitude because in order to generate them you have to cut them off/on faster. the larger Tesla coils don't suffer form this as noticeably because they are being driven with much more power. these are powered only with USB voltages/current at the input (up to 3A @ 5V).
@@ZacksLab Can these TCs run continuous duty? In curious why most DRSSTCs are not allowed to run continuous. Is it a power dissipation issue due to high reactive currents in the primary requiring very low Rds(on) fets?
i haven’t tried running these continuously, nor have i characterized power dissipation in the GaN FETs, but generally DRSSTCs (like you mentioned) do not run continuously because the high Q of the primary resulting in much higher currents in the primary, and finding FETs that can handle such high continuous current is difficult. you could choose a FET with low Rds_on and aggressively heat sink it to keep junction temps below max rating.
@@ZacksLab I have been working on my small 300kHz coil, I'm using 90A 200V 20mOhm HY1920P fets and a PCB half bridge but they do like to fail. I measured 60A on the current transformer feedback but the heatsinks don't really get warm
hmm interesting that you’re losing FETs but not noticing any heat issues. are you sure you aren’t exceeding any other parameters of the FET? Vgs max or Vds max?
No words😑😮!!!
Why you look like poor man's Ryan Reynolds
Hahah, thanks! ;)
This is not how a traditional Tesla coil works. I was super excited cause u were explaining it so well but then went and talked about a solid state Tesla. Was hoping u would explain the spark gap one 😔
building a spark gap coil has been on my todo list for a while now, I will make a video when I get to it. thanks for the comment!
You need to dumb it down just a tad bit more. Also speak slower.
Very high quality content but presentation needs to be simplified.
thanks for the feedback, i will keep this in mind for future videos
spark is too small... not even a little kid would like it lol
my kids like it! it looks better in person than it does on camera ;)