TESLA COIL

Report submitted to the Dr. N.G.P. Arts and Science College in partial
fulfillmentfor the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PHYSICS

BY

Mr. UDHAYA SHANKARA. S (Reg. No:

191PH037) Mr. VINODH. S (Reg. No: 191PH039)

Under the Guidance of

Mrs. A. SARAVANAPRIYA, M.Sc., M.Phil., (Ph.D)

Assistant Professor

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

Dr. N.G.P. ARTS AND SCIENCE COLLEGE

(An Autonomous Institution, Affiliated to Bharathiar University, Coimbatore)

Approved by Government of Tamil Nadu & Accredited by NAAC with ‘A’ Grade (2nd Cycle)
Dr. N.G.P.-Kalapatti Road, Coimbatore - 641 048, Tamil Nadu, India.

Website: www.drngpasc.ac.in | Email: [email protected]. | Phone: +91-422-236910

NOVEMBER – 2021
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Report entitled, TESLA COIL submitted to

Dr.N.G.P. Arts and Science College in partial fulfillment for the award of degree of

Bachelor of Science in Physics is a record of original project work done by

Mr. UDHAYA SHANKARA.S (Reg. No: 191PH037) and Mr. VINODH.S

(Reg. No:191PH039) during the period of his study (2019 - 22) in the

Department of Physics Dr. N.G.P. Arts and Science College, Coimbatore - 48

under my supervision and guidance, and that the Lab on Project Report has not

formed the basis for the award of any Degree/ Diploma/ Associateship/ Fellowship or

other similar title to any candidate of any autonomous college.

(Mrs. A. Saravanapriya) (Dr. C. Selvakumar)

Guide HOD

Submitted to the L a b o n p r o j e c t viva-voce examination held on 24.11.2021 at

Department of Physics, Dr. N.G.P. Arts and Science College, Coimbatore - 48.

Internal Examiner

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 DECLARATION

We Mr. UDHAYA SHANKARA.S (Reg. No: 191PH037) and Mr. VINODH.S

(191PH039) hereby declare that the thesis entitled, TESLA COIL submitted to

Dr.N.G.P. Arts and Science College, in partial fulfillment for the award of degree of

Bachelor of Science in Physics is a record of original project work done by us during the

period 2018-20 under the supervision guidance of Mrs. A. Saravanapriya, M.Sc.,

M.Phil., (Ph.D) Assistant Professor, Department of Physics,

Dr. N.G.P. Arts and Science College, Coimbatore - 48, and that it has not formed the

basis for the award of any Degree/ Diploma/ Associate ship/ Fellowship or other similar

title to any candidate of any autonomous college.

(Mr. Udhayashankara. S)

Student

(Mr. Vinodh.S)

Student

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would like to express our profound gratitude

to Dr. Nalla G. Palaniswami, MD., AB (USA)., Chairman, Kovai Medical Centre

and Hospital (KMCH), Coimbatore and Dr. Thavamani D. Palaniswami, MD., AB

(USA), Secretary, Dr. N.G.P. Arts and Science College, Coimbatore for their

encouragement.

I wish to express our sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. V. Rajendran, M.Sc.,

M.Phil., B.Ed., M.Tech. (Nanotech)., Ph.D., D.Sc., FlnstP (UK).,

FASCh., Principal, Dr. N.G.P. Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, for his

encouragement and support during the course period.

I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. C. Selvakumar, M.Sc.,

M.Ed., Ph.D., Professor & Head, Department of Physics, Dr. N.G.P. Arts and

Science College, Coimbatore, and all the Teaching and Non-teaching Staff members,

Department of Physics, for their inspiration for the successful completion of this

work.

I wish to express our deep sense of gratitude and thanks to my

guide Mrs. A. Saravanapriya, M.Sc., M.Phil., (Ph.D.),Assistant Professor,

Department of Physics, Dr. N.G.P. Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, for her

excellent guidance and strong support throughout the course of my study.

(Mr. Udhayashankara. S)

(Mr. Vinodh.S)

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 Contents
Page.NO
Chapter - I Introduction 1–3
1.1 Definition 2
1.2 Uses of tesla coil 3

Chapter – II System Study and Analysis 4–7

2.1 Objectives 5
2.2 Principle 6
2.2.1 Working of the principle 6

Chapter - III System Specification 8 – 13

3.1 Components Used 9
3.1.1 Transistor 9
3.1.2 Resistor 10
3.1.3 Battery 10
3.1.4 ON/OFF Switch 11
3.1.5 Primary coil 12
3.1.6 Secondary coil 12

Chapter - IV Architecture of the Circuit 14 – 16

4.1 Circuit diagram 15
4.2 Procedure 16

Chapter – V Summary and Conclusion 17 - 19

5.1 Result 18
5.2 Conclusion
19
5.3 Reference
19

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 LIST OF FIGURES
CHAPTER – I
Fig. 1.1. Nikola Tesla 3
CHAPTER –III
Fig. 3.1. 2N2222A Transistor 9
Fig. 3.2. 22K ohm resistor 10
Fig. 3.3. 9V Battery 11
Fig. 3.4. Switch 11
Fig. 3.5. Primary and secondary coil 12
CHAPTER-IV
Fig. 4.1. Circuit diagram 16
CHAPTER-V
Fig. 5.1. Tesla coil Model 19

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CHAPTER I
Introduction

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1.1.INTRODUCTION

A Tesla coil is a type of resonant transformer circuit invented by Nikola Tesla

around 1891. It is used to produce high voltage, relatively high current, and high

frequency alternating current electricity. Tesla experimented with a number of

different configurations and they consist of two, or sometimes three, coupled resonant

electric circuits. Tesla used these coils 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.

The early Tesla coil transformer design employs a medium- to high-voltage power

source, one or more high voltage capacitor(s), and a spark gap to excite a multiple

layer primary inductor with periodic bursts of high frequency current. The multiple-

layer Tesla coil transformer secondary is excited by resonant inductive coupling, the

primary and secondary circuits both being tuned so the resonate at the same frequency

(typically, between 25 kHz and 2 MHz).

The later and higher-power coil design has a single-layer primary and secondary.

These Tesla coils are often used by hobbyists and at venues such as science museums

to produce long sparks. Tesla coil circuits were used commercially in sparkgap radio

transmitters for wireless telegraphy until the 1920s, and in electrotherapy and

pseudomedical devices such as violet ray (although Tesla circuits were not the first or

the only ones used in spark transmitters). Today their main use is entertainment and

educational displays. Tesla coils are built by many high-voltage enthusiasts, research

institutions, science museums and independent experimenters. Although electronic

circuit controllers have been developed, Tesla's original spark gap design is less

expensive and has proven extremely reliable.

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 Figure 1.1: Nikola Tesla in 1890

1.2 USES OF TESLA COIL

Tesla coils are very popular devices among certain electrical engineers and

electronics enthusiasts. Builders of Tesla coils as a hobby are called "coilers". A very

large tesla coil, designed and built by Syd Klinge, is shown every year at the

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, in Coachella, Indio, California, USA.

There are "coiling" conventions where people attend with their home-made Tesla

coils and other electrical devices of interest. Low power Tesla coils are also

sometimes used as a high voltage source for Kirlian photography.

Tesla coils can also be used to create music by modulating the system's effective

"break rate" (i.e., the rate and duration of high power RF bursts) via MIDI data and a

control unit. The actual MIDI data is interpreted by a microcontroller which converts

the MIDI data into a PWM output which can be sent to the Tesla coil via a fiber optic

interface.

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CHAPTER II
System Study and Analysis

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2.1. OBJECTIVE

The aim of this project is to develop a low cost Tesla coil that may saves

enormous amount of fossil fuels. This project is based upon the Theme Save Energy.

Mini Tesla Coil is a very interesting model, which is a very high frequency wireless

power transmission system. Before we start building the Tesla coil, it is very

important to know how it works. Only then, we will be able to build and debug one

successfully. The Tesla coil works with the principle of Electromagnetic Induction.

According to which, when a conductor is placed under a varying magnetic field, a

small current will be induced inside the conductor. For a Tesla coil, this conductor

will be called as the secondary coil and the varying magnetic field will be produced

by the primary coil by passing an oscillating current through the primary coil. This

coil has the ability to produce output voltages up to several million volts based upon

the size of the coil. The Tesla coil works on a principle to achieve a condition

called resonance. Here, the primary coil emits huge amounts of current into the

secondary coil to drive the secondary circuit with maximum energy. The fine-tuned

circuit helps to shoot the current from primary to secondary circuit at a tuned resonant

frequency.

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2.2 Principle
The Tesla coil works with the principle of Electromagnetic Induction.

According to which, when a conductor is placed in under a varying magnetic field, a

small current will be induced inside the conductor.

Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction

Electromagnetic induction is the process of generating electric current with

a magnetic field. It occurs whenever a magnetic field and an electric conductor, such

as a coil of wire, move relative to one another. As long as the conductor is part of a

closed circuit, current will flow through it whenever it crosses lines of force in the

magnetic field.

2.2.1 WORKING PRINCIPLE

The Tesla coil works with the principle of Electromagnetic Induction. According

to which, when a conductor is placed under a varying magnetic field, a small current

will be induced inside the conductor. For a Tesla coil this conductor will be called as

the secondary coil and the varying magnetic field will be produced by the primary coil

by passing an oscillating current through the primary coil. A primary coil which will

have an oscillating current, and hence will produce a carrying magnetic flux around it.

Now, this coil is wound around the secondary coil and hence a according to law of

electromagnetic induction a voltage will be induced in the secondary coil. Since the

number of turns in the secondary coil is very large than primary coil, this voltage will

be a very high voltage and hence this coil will have a very strong electric flux around

it that is powerful enough to glow normal CFL bulbs and is used in Wireless Power

Transmission.

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 The main component in this circuit is the secondary coil (golden colour), which is

made by winding a magnetic wire (enameled) around a cylindrical object (any non-

conductive) object will work high current high frequency transistor like 2N2222A is

used to supply current through the primary coil. The whole set up is powered by a 9V

battery as shown above. The positive end of the battery reaches the collector of

Transistor through the primary coil, and the emitter is grounded. This means that

whenever the transistor conducts, current is flown through the primary coil.

The LED diode and one end of the secondary coil is also connected to base of

transistor to make the circuit oscillate, this way the transistor will send an oscillating

current into primary coil So, with this arrangement we have a primary coil which will

have an oscillating current, and hence will produce a carrying magnetic flux around it.

Now, this coil is wound around the secondary coil and hence a according to law of

electromagnetic induction a voltage will be induced in the secondary coil. Since the

number of turns in the secondary coil is very large than primary coil, this voltage

will be a very high voltage and hence this coil will have a very strong electric flux

around it that is powerful enough to glow normal CFL bulbs and is used in Wireless

Power Transmission.

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CHAPTER III

System Specification

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3.1. Components used
1. PVC Pipe 9cm

2. 28AWG Copper Wire

3. Wire

4. 2N2222 Transistor

5. 22K Ohms Resistance

6. 9V 6F22 Battery

7. Snapper

8. ON-OFF Switch

3.1.1 TRANSISTOR

The 2N2222A is a common NPN bipolar junction transistor (BJT) used for

general purpose low-power amplifying or switching applications. It is designed for

low to medium current, low power, medium voltage, and can operate at moderately

high speeds.

Figure 3.1: 2N2222A Transistor

Pin1 (Collector): This is the first pin of the transistor & it is an o/p pin. The main

function of this pin is to provide transistor current toward the o/p load.

Pin2 (Base): The base pin is a control pin & it is a second pin of the transistor.

The main function of this pin is to control the current from emitter to base.

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 Pin3 (Emitter): The emitter pin is the third pin of the transistor & it is used to

drain out the complete current of the transistor.

3.1.2 RESISTOR

A resistor works by restricting the flow of current, it can do this in one of three

ways: firstly, by using a less conductive material, secondly by making the conductive

material thinner and finally by making the conductive material longer.

Figure 3.2: 22K Ohm Resistor

22K Ohm 1W High Quality Carbon Film Resistor (CFR) with ±5% Tolerance and

Tin Plated Copper Leads. Resistance: 22K Ohm, Power Rating: 1 Watt, Approximate

Maximum Current: 6.74mA .

3.1.3 BATTERY

An electric battery is a device consisting of one or more dectrochemical cells that

convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Each cell contains a positive

terminal, or cathode, and a negative terminal, or anode. Electrolytes allow ions to

move between the electrodes and terminals, which allows current to flow out of the

battery to perform work.

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 Figure 3.3 : 9V Battery
Primary (single-use or "disposable") batteries are used once and discarded, the

electrode materials are irreversibly changed during discharge. Secondary

(rechargeable batteries) can be discharged and recharged multiple times, the original

compositions of the electrodes can be restored by reverse current.

3.1.4 ON/OFF SWITCH

ON/OFF switch is used to on or off the power supply in the circuit. A simple

on/off switch is being used in the model.

Figure 3.4 : On/Off Switch

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3.1.5 PRIMARY COIL
The primary coil which produces an alternating magnetic field. The input to the

setup is the excitation current to the primary coil, and the magnetic flux induced in the

magnetic conductive material causes an electromotive force in the secondary coil.

3.1.6 SECONDARY COIL

Secondary coil is the coil such that current is induced in it by passing a current
through the primary coil.

Figure 3.5 : Primary and Secondary Coil

Winding the Secondary Coil:

One very important step in this project is winding the secondary coil. It is a time

consuming process and hence do not rush ourselves in this part. First, we will need a

magnetic coil, which is also called as enameled coil wire. These wires can be found

inside relays coils, transformers and even motors. We can either reuse one or buy

ourselves a new one. The thinner the wire is the better the results will be.

Once we are ready with the magnetic wire, we will need a cylindrical object. The only

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rule while selecting this object is that it should not be conductive, we can select PVC

pipes, cardboard roll or even stack 4-5 A4 sheets together and roll them up. The

diameter of the cylinder can be anywhere between 5cm to 10cm, and the length

should be at least 10cm. The longer the object is more number of turns it can fit in.

After getting the coil and cylindrical object, it is time to start the winding process, just

wind few turn and use a tape to secure the winding initially and then proceed with the

complete winding.

Make sure we follow the below tips while winding

1. Wind the coils as close as possible

2. Do not overlap one coil turn over another

3. Try to get a minimum of 150 turns; a value of 300 turns will be typically good.

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CHAPTER IV

Architecture of the Circuit

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4.1. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
The circuit diagram of Mini Tesla Coil Project given below is very simple. So let

us understand how it works and learn how to build it. The main component in this

circuit is the secondary coil (golden color), which is made by winding a magnetic

wire (enameled) around a cylindrical object (any non-conductive object will work).

A high current high frequency transistor like 2N2222 is used to supply current

through the primary coil (violet color). A 9V battery as shown above powers the

whole set up. The positive end of the battery reaches the collector of Transistor

through the primary coil, and the emitter is grounded. This means that whenever the

transistor conducts, current is flown through the primary coil. The LED diode and one

end of the secondary coil is also connected to base of transistor to make the circuit

oscillate, this way the transistor will send a oscillating current into primary coil. If you

want get more technical and learn how the current oscillates, we can Google

for “Slayer Exciter Circuit”.

Figure 4.1 : Circuit Diagram

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So, with this arrangement we have a primary coil, which will have an oscillating

current, and hence will produce a carrying magnetic flux around it. Now, this coil is

wound around the secondary coil and hence a according to law of electromagnetic

induction a voltage will be induced in the secondary coil. Since the number of turns in

the secondary coil is very large than primary coil, this voltage will be a very high

voltage and hence this coil will have a very strong electric flux around it that is

powerful enough to glow normal CFL bulbs and is used in Wireless Power

Transmission.

4.2 PROCEDURE
 Take one PVC pipe nearly 5-6 inch length and make one solenoid using the

insulated copper wire

 Turns will be nearly 600 to 700 for better result and one end is to be connected

to the base of the transistor

 Take one wire and make the primary coil (3 turns only). Connect one LED in

reverse bias.

 Switch ON the circuit and hold a CFL lamp near the coil.

 Lamp will glow without any direct connection.

 If it does not works change the direction of the primary coil.

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CHAPTER V

Summary and Conclusion

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5.1 Result
While the Tesla coil does not have much practical application anymore, Tesla’s

invention completely revolutionized the way electricity was understood and used.

Radios and televisions still use variations of the Tesla coil today.

1. We are able to generate high voltage with high frequency and it can be

used for testing the apparatus for switching surges.

2. It can also be used for study of visual corona and ionization of gasses under

electrical stress

3. It can also transmit the electrical power wirelessly up to a certain

distance depends upon rating.

Figure. 5.1 : Tesla coil Model

5.2 Conclusion
 The main objective was to demonstrate wireless power transmission using

solid state tesla coils.

 Tesla coils are remarkable devices able to generate high voltage, high

frequency waveforms with little control circuitry.

 Most of the builders of tesla coils are interested in producing electric arcs and

visible effects suitable for displays and general amusement,

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 not in producing power supplies and power effects units which may have

significant practical importance.

 It has demonstrated that tesla coils can be designed for wireless power

transmission.

5.3 Reference

 Tesla’s Legacy - Philip Tuck. http://www.hvtesla.com/index.html Very

good material on theory and construction.

 Herb’s Tesla Coil Page. http://home.wtal.de/herbs_teslapage/index.html

Detailed explanations about construction (including how to make

homemade capacitors).

 DeepFried Neon –Steve Bell. http://deepfriedneon.com/tesla_frame0.html

Helpful website on construction.

 Tesla Coil Mailing List. http://www.pupman.com Ask the Tesla coil experts.

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