Tesla Coils Unleashed: A Survey on High Voltage and Frequency Generation

Abstract

The Tesla Coil is a device designed to generate high voltage at high frequencies, enabling wireless power transmission without the need for conducting wires or transmission lines. Invented by Nikola Tesla, the coil was developed with the goal of transmitting electricity through the air. Tesla conducted extensive research in this field, utilizing high-frequency transformer action and resonant voltage amplification to produce very high potentials ranging from tens to over 100 kV. Historically, Tesla coil circuits found uncommercial use in spark gap radio transmitters for wireless telegraphy until the 1920s, as well as in electrotherapy and various pseudo-medical devices like violet ray machines. Today, they are primarily utilized for entertainment purposes and in educational institutions for research. There is also demand in commercial settings for equipment capable of testing against switching and lightning surges, alongside devices designed to study visual corona effects and gas ionization under electrical stress. Typical Tesla coils face mobility issues due to their size; however, the proposed design aims to maintain similar functionality while significantly reducing dimensions. This paper discusses the principles of simple construction, design, and application of a 5 to 10 kV Tesla Coil for laboratory use.