ST.

XAVIER’S HIGH SCHOOL

Physics Investigatory Project

(2023-24)
NAME: Shilpi Yadav

STD: XII-A

BOARD ROLL NO : ______________________________

TOPIC : IS TESLA COIL REPLACEABLE WITH NORMAL

BATTERY?

SUBMITTED TO: Ms. Priyanka Yadav

 ST. XAVIER’S HIGH SCHOOL
Charwada, Koparli Road, Vapi
Tel.: 9033041764
E-mail: [email protected]

Certificate
This is to certify that Mst. / Ms. ___________________________ of Class XII –
of St. Xavier’s High School, Vapi, has completed his / her project file under my
supervision. He / She has taken proper care & shown utmost sincerity in
completion of his / her project.

I certify that this project is up to my expectation & as per the guidelines issued by
C.B.S.E.

Ms. Priyanka Yadav Mrs. Salma Pathan

[M.Sc., B. Ed.] [Principal]

[Subject: Physics]

Sign of External: _____________________________

IS TESLA COIL REPLACEABLE WITH NORMAL BATTERY?
Introduction
For this science experiment, I built a Tesla coil and proceeded to
experiment with different uses including wireless electricity, spark
gaps, energy transmission and other high voltage experiments

The Tesla Coil is an air-core resonant transformer. It was made by

the great inventor Nikola Tesla in order to create high-voltage, low
current, high frequency, alternating current electricity. Tesla also
experimented with different configurations in order to find out if he
could use it to wirelessly transmit electricity as a replacement to the
alternating current power system he had just set up to provide power
to the ordinary citizens of the world. Tesla was, in my opinion, the
greatest mind of history, and if you are interested in learning more
about the man who essentially created the modern world as we know
it, read my section on his life and works.
 Purpose
I decided to try and build a Tesla Coil by myself and try to see if I
could use it to actually transmit electricity wirelessly as claimed by
Tesla. I also wanted to see what kind of range I could achieve with a
small, table-top Tesla Coil. And finally, I wanted to discover if a
Tesla Coil is a practical way to replace wires in your home.

• A high voltage source. I used a Neon Sign Transformer rated at

7,500 Volts and 30 mA. This amount of electricity is extremely
LETHAL. Direct contact without High Voltage Gloves will be
deadly.
• A secondary coil. I used a and a half inch diameter PVC pipe with
about 750 turns of 26-Gauge Magnet Wire.
• A primary coil. I used 1/4 inch copper tubing and wound it into a
spiral shape.
• A spark gap. I used two copper fittings placed in close proximity
inside a T-shape PVC fitting.
• A series of capacitor. I used both home-made ones with glass
bottles, and store-bought ceramic doorknob capacitors.
• High-Voltage Wire
• A top load. I used a door-knob made of brass with the base
removed.
 • High-Voltage safety gloves.
• Someone with experience working with high voltages, because
anything above 100 Volts can be deadly, even at such low
currents.
To begin the construction of my Tesla coil, I had to spend a few
weeks researching and collecting parts.
For the actual construction, I started by winding my copper tubing
into a spiral pattern. This is my primary coil. I then made my
secondary coil. This was a painstakingly long process which involved
carefully winding the extremely thin wire around the diameter of the
tube. This part must be executed extremely precisely. You cannot
overlap any of the wires and you can’t leave even the smallest of
gaps. This process can take up to 2 or 3 hours, depending on how
many mistakes you make.
Next comes the construction of the spark gap and the assembly of the
capacitors. Now, you take your two conductors and put them in close
proximity to each other, and wire them according to the schematic.
Assemble the capacitor(s) in series (if required) and wire it up in the
circuit. Connect the NST to the spark gap and capacitors and attach
the output from the capacitors to the primary coil. Then connect the
final part of the wire on the secondary to the top load. You DO NOT
connect the secondary coil to the primary coil.
For operation, simply turn on the NST. What happens is that the
current travels through the NST into the capacitors with the spark gap
acting as a kind of switch, allowing energy to pass through the setup
into the capacitors and charge them up. The spark gap and capacitors
may not seem important, but without them the whole system would
not work. Capacitors store charge for much higher amounts of
voltages than the NST itself can provide, and the spark gap acts as a
kind of switch. The current goes to the capacitors and when they
discharge, a huge pulse of current hits the primary coil. The amount
of times this happens per second is very high. When the current
enters the copper primary coil, it creates an electro-magnetic field
which causes a voltage to appear in the magnet wire on the secondary.
This is where the name air-core resonant transformer comes from.
The core of this transformer is air rather than the iron ones found in
traditional transformers. The current gathers at the top in the topload,
where it gathers and is released as a corona discharge. In this process,
another electric field is made which gives off enough energy to light
a fluorescent tube or lightbulb.
 PROCEDURE
Tesla coils use high voltages, and the risk of death or injury is
significant. The following general guidelines are suggested:

Never adjust tesla coils when the power is turned on.

• High voltage capacitors may hold a charge long after power is

turned off. Always discharge capacitors before adjusting a primary
circuit.
• Make sure the metal cases of transformers, motors, control panels
and other items associated with tesla coils are properly grounded.
• Make sure that you are far enough away from the corona discharge
so that it cannot strike you. Do not come in contact with metal objects
which might be subject to a strike from the secondary.
• The low voltage primary circuit is extremely dangerous! These
voltages are especially lethal to humans. Make sure these circuits are
well insulated so users cannot come in contact with the A.C. line
voltage.
• A safety key should be used in the low voltage circuit to prevent
unauthorized use.
• Use adequate fusing of the primary power and/or circuit breakers to
limit the maximum current to your control panel. Do NOT count on
your home circuit panel to provide adequate protection!
• Never operate a tesla coil in an area where there is standing water,
or where a significant shock hazard exists.
• Do not operate a tesla coil when pets or small children are present.
• Spend some time laying out your circuits. Hot glue, electrical tape
and exposed wiring are quick and easy, but could be lethal
• Tesla Coils are potentially dangerous devices and precautions must
be taken before every operation to help prevent possible damage to
property, injury, or death. Unqualified persons should never be.
• Tesla Coils can damage or destroy hearing aids and cardiac
pacemakers in the proximity of the unit. This means that Tesla Coils
are capable of killing a person wearing a pacemaker. It is imperative
to verify that anyone using one of these devices maintains a good
distance from an operating Tesla Coil.
 Observation:
To start off with, I wanted to know how large the sparks would be on
my Tesla Coil. TO my surprise, the Coil only produced sparks about
1 to 1.5 cm long. Tesla coils produce AC at a high frequency that is
not useful. Second, the Tesla coil can't direct power to where it is
needed, so most of the power will radiate into space. Third, there is
no way to bill customers for their use of the received energy.
 Conclusion
In conclusion, I can say that the Tesla Coil is capable of lighting up a
fluorescent light bulbs wirelessly. However, I can say that it is not a
practical solution. It is extremely dangerous, and you can not touch
anything involved because of the lethal nature. Also the machine is
extremely loud. You simply can not use it at home. The high voltages
required can easily back fire and cause deadly disasters including fire
or electrocution.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
1) UNIVERSITY of WISCONSIN–MADISON
➢ The Tesla Coil
➢ https://wonders.physics.wisc.edu/tesla-coil/
2) Physics Forums
➢ Powering a Tesla Coil with a 12 volt battery
➢ Reference: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/powering-a-
tesla-coil-with-a-12-volt-battery-help.780248/
3) Live Science:
➢ Wireless Electricity? How the Tesla Coil Works-
➢ Reference: https://www.livescience.com/46745-how-tesla-coil-
works.html#:~:text=A%20Tesla%20coil%20consists%20of,gen
erates%20the%20spark%20of%20electricity.