Two Plasmasonic, solid state Tesla coils capable of being modulated to music were purchased in 2014. These will form the basis of the electronic musical show.
“Continue reading” for conceptual details and technical details.
The Plasmasonic is designed and manufactured by Dan McCauley of Eastern Voltage Research. They are very tidy modular units of high quality and design.
Twin Plasmasonic musical Tesla coils in action playing Daft Punks’ “Aerodynamic”. They are modulating the song’s lead instrument midi track onto 200,000 volt sparks. The resulting sound is very loud and distorted. The background and bass tracks are played with conventional audio.
Uni of WA Open Day
The twin Tesla coils running (briefly) at the University Open Day 2014. Having all sorts of problems, some of which were midi related, some due to direct interference on the keyboard and the strains of running too close with cross strikes. Eventually both Tesla coils died, presumably due to blowing the IGBT’s. https://vimeo.com/103051362
Twin musical Tesla coils from Peter Terren on Vimeo.
Note how the left Tesla coil stops working (and half the notes are lost). The PA speakers give the backing track.
Home Open Day 2014
The first time the Tesla coil was used was only 5 days after the arrival of the first one. The occasion was the Open day with about 50 in the audience. Michael played requests, improvised and some music using the two tone polyphonic Tesla coil as a lead instrument with the backing being played through PA speakers. Other people were able to play short pieces as well.
The advantages of electronic Tesla Coils is that there are no heavy transformers or variacs, hence they are easily transportable. Unfortunately this one runs on 115 VAC so a step down transformer is needed from Australian 250 VAC. The most readily available one I have only has 107 VAC with no load so is underpowering the TC. but input power was 1100 W. I ran this from a 4 kVA generator to reduce load on the household supply.
Stepdown transformer 1500W isolated
Related pages
Open day 2014Try something else
External links
Photo Date: Sept 2013