Life Size Tesla Coils

A very special thank you goes out to all of you who helped me in the research process of creating my electric water garden. Should I be fortunate enough to have my work chosen to be included in the 2010 season at Franconia Sculpture Park, this image of a Life size Tesla Coil created by Miles Waldron will be printed on life size canvass and hung in the Glass house.

After considerable research I have replaced the concept of actual working Tesla coils with life size canvas images to be hung in their place within the “glass” house.
The overall feel of the piece is somewhat of a modern Salvador Dali version of an Alice in Wonderland style mad scientists laboratory.

If all goes as planned, you will soon be getting an invitation to visit the park and experience this magical world for yourself.

Research Update

Actually... This picture is pretty much the way I am feeling today!! The process of formulating an idea for this Grant Proposal for Franconia Sculpture Park has taken me on an intensive journey of research. I would have to say hands down that no other single work of art I have been involved with bringing to life has ever taken me as far into the world of possibilities available to me in terms of how I can shape my work using electricity.
As for creating a viable work for public space I have had to asses the work against public safety and financial reality. My first and most raw electrical vision was with the Tesla Coils in the "Glass"(polycarbonate) house.
In reality, the parts and means of constructing the Coils were not as far out of reach, as Museum quality Coils that are tried, tested and backed by warranties & liability insurance. The difference is: Home Brew Coils... about $2K. Museum Quality (respectfully developed over many years of research & development)... More like $25K each.
In the process of researching, I consulted hobbyists and professionals alike. I was even fortunate enough to have someone interested enough in my creative work to have had them send me a box full of parts to help me get started. For this I am very grateful. Also many suggestions were made as to how I could revise the electrical work inside of the house. One popular suggestions involved Plasma Globes... Which esthetically I found a version I am pretty happy with... Which means... more research.
At present I am consulting with a local glass studio about the possibility of collaborating on the globes. There are a couple of pro shops I need to consult with about the rest.
Will this be the final revision... maybe and maybe not. It just depends on the financial reality. With just a little over 3 weeks left to put it all together, I do have a third option in mind... Yes, the research goes on. And when it is all said and done... Man do I have a lot of cool new work in mind to begin what could prove to be the most experimental phase of my creative life.
Now there is still a chance that at least for one special event, if even for one day, that a local Pro shop could bring in 2 coils for a demonstration... There is at least one I have found here in the Midwest that does just that for schools and special events. Again, I am negotiating rates. I would like to say I was at the point of ironing things out, but it feels a lot more like a dusty burlap sack full of scraps of paper and cobwebs being shaken up and dragged around...
At any rate, giving up has never presented itself to me as an option... So I will keep doing what I do and carry on against all odds... That said I would like to extend a Very Special Thank You to all of the folks who have helped me along the way.
One very humbling lesson I am learning is how much better my work can be with the help and support of other people.

Tesla Coils

OK... So this is just a little bit bigger than what I am looking for... just a little!!
Over the past couple of months I have spent a great deal of time searching the internet to find my way essentially into a place that I can understand just what it will take to create my own lightning generator. In fact two of them capable of streaming electric arcs of about four or five feet. All part of a vision I am in the process of bringing to life, starting with a proposal to Franconia Sculpture Park.
I have a few links to add here that seem to illustrate the size and performance of the coils I am thinking of...
Notes to myself more or less to find my way back to the budget page and start getting some numbers down as to what it will take to make this happen. The Tesla Coils no doubt will be the most expensive and challenging part of bringing it all together.
So... In no particular order, other than sorting through a couple of months worth of links; Here it goes...

The Model 5 from Tesla Technologies Research
This one seems like it would be perfect.

Bert Hickman's Teslamania; Stoneridge Engineering
WoW... This is one of the first sites I found. Info overload... I knew I had a lot to learn... and now my head was spinning!!

Scots Shop
Excellent easy to comprehend detailed descriptions for the beginner.

Tesla's Legacy
This site has an excellent layout for practical information.

Deep Fried Neon
I love this visual breakdown of the components.

Steve Conner's Amazing Tesla Coils
This image shows the concept I am looking for in using a ground post at the center of my Glass House.

Nevada Lightning Laboratory
This is where I want to be!! This is one of the first images that inspired me to turn to Tesla Coils for my installation. I discovered it over the summer when I was studying the physics of lightning... After all... the real thing was my first choice... however given the relatively small size of the park I felt I needed to find a way to incorporate my attraction to intense electrical power in a more contained fashion.

Information Unlimited Tesla Coil Plans & Kits
The BCT5 High Power Tesla Coil with 4' To 6' discharges... 1,500,000 Volt Floor Model... Well, looks pretty appealing, however by the photo it looks like the components are hidden. I kind of prefer a model that has transparent housing.

The Geek Group
Guess I never realized how much of a Geek I really am!!

Terry Blake III
Of all the interesting info... Terry gets first prize for...
HOTTEST guy on a Telephone Wire Pictures!!

Cheesehead Teslathon
Next time you guys have a party like this... I want to be there!!

Resonance Research
Did I mention... I have a lot to learn.

TeslaStuff
Alan comes highly recommended for Parts and Plans

Roger Smith
This is the first Video I saw on YouTube. Still one of my favorites...
I'm even starting to understand what he is talking about :-)

Kevin Eldredge
My next step is to build one at home... Thanks for the inspiration guys!!
From your kitchen tabletops to your own back yards... I have really had a lot of fun watching you all at work. Now it is my turn... and the best way for me to really figure out this foreign language you all speak!!

Glass House

Essentially this is pretty close to the picture I have in my mind as to what the Glass House will look like. The door however will be moved to the back side... maybe even barn door style to allow access to the Tesla coils as needed. This is a pretty slick package for Just under $900 complete with shipping. I figure with a supply list of raw materials and a good plan I can build something similar for half the price.
That is my goal.
I am in the budget building phase of planning at the moment there are still a lot of technical questions arising as I go... but I am getting a pretty good handle on what to put on my shopping list.