Musical Tesla Coils

[driverrob]

One of my ex-students just sent me this link on FB.
If only I could have had this for my lessons!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgll-XTqcS4

[AshVX220]

I see you....and raise you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_YSF7mRSs0

[456mgt]

Dumb question I know, but is it the Tesla coils that are generating the sound, or are they discharging in time with the music?

[driverrob]

456mgt said:

Dumb question I know, but is it the Tesla coils that are generating the sound, or are they discharging in time with the music?

The latter.
Some of the other Youtube videos show the interface box that controls it.

[AshVX220]

This thread lead me to look at a few vids of musical coils, is there a reason they only seem to use two at a time?

[anonymous-user]

456mgt said:

Dumb question I know, but is it the Tesla coils that are generating the sound, or are they discharging in time with the music?

These coils use a 'pulse width modulation' of the supply voltage to control the discharge voltage and hence size of the arc. This PWM is at a realtively high fundamental frequency (~20KHz) and so this carrier frequency can be modulated with an audio signal. In effect, the discharge arc strength is proportional in frequency and voltage to the audio track. This means the arc effectively acts as a speaker (all be it, a pretty band width limited one)

[Zumbruk]

Max_Torque said:

These coils use a 'pulse width modulation' of the supply voltage to control the discharge voltage and hence size of the arc. This PWM is at a realtively high fundamental frequency (~20KHz) and so this carrier frequency can be modulated with an audio signal. In effect, the discharge arc strength is proportional in frequency and voltage to the audio track. This means the arc effectively acts as a speaker (all be it, a pretty band width limited one)

You might be interested in Googling "DuKan Ionovac" (or "Ionophane") which was a tweeter that used plasma, rather than a diaphragm, as the driven medium to create sound ...

[Zumbruk]

AshVX220 said:

I see you....and raise you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_YSF7mRSs0

I raise again;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdrqdW4Miao

[omgus]

Zumbruk said:

AshVX220 said:

I see you....and raise you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_YSF7mRSs0

I raise again;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdrqdW4Miao

I will raise you with this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1O2jcfOylU

[Zumbruk]

omgus said:

I will raise you with this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1O2jcfOylU

Naah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3knD7m0-pk

[tapkaJohnD]

How is that different from disco lights, primitive coloured incandescent bulbs flashing in time to the bass or treble content of the music?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHhvRq9meMY

John

[hairykrishna]

tapkaJohnD said:

How is that different from disco lights, primitive coloured incandescent bulbs flashing in time to the bass or treble content of the music?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHhvRq9meMY

John

It's different because they're not 'flashing in time to the music'. They are acting as speakers - the plasma arcs are creating the sound.

[Dogwatch]

Think I'd rather be in the audience!












Probably peeping through my fingers.........

[tapkaJohnD]

hairykrishna said:

It's different because they're not 'flashing in time to the music'. They are acting as speakers - the plasma arcs are creating the sound.

Clever! John