The Tesla coil is a development that any electronics enthusiast wants to have in their garage or basement. There are many designs out there, and the final cost often varies greatly, but if what you really want is access to a compact, relatively inexpensive, safe and easy-to-assemble kit, then you need this model. The coil is integrated into the PCB, and its power source is a USB port, so you can place it next to your computer without any issues.
Our latest article on Tesla coils introduced us to Cameron Prince from the Tesla Universe website, and to his impressive ray gun. If you want to build a Tesla coil from scratch, the technical information on that portal will be very useful. However, it is reasonable to think that in most cases there is no budget, time or space to allow it. So, what solutions can we adopt? The market has responded with small kits that barely need a 12-volt supply, and they work as speakers. Obviously, those kits have limitations, and their sparks are not very impressive, so here is a more robust alternative.
The design shared by Daniel Eindhoven carries a fundamental advantage: it turns a Tesla coil into a safe ornament that can occupy any desk. A small button on the back enables frequency switching and two different power modes. This point is very important because the kit only requires power from a USB port. The maximum consumption is 5 watts (5V x 1A), but its secondary mode reduces it to 2.5 watts (5V x 0.5A). Despite the sparks, the truth is that nobody should get hurt by placing their fingers on the coils, and the sensations are limited to heat or very mild tickling.
Eindhoven's original article has multiple technical details of interest, including the firmware to program the coil, and the circuit if you prefer to follow the DIY route thoroughly. However, the people from the Elektor portal offer us the kit that includes the PCB with all surface-mount components already soldered, the casing elements and a 10-watt USB power supply for 100 euros.
