For this year’s Halloween, MIT student Tyler Christensen decided to create something a little different to wear and opted for a Tesla Coil Musical Hat.
The creation is powered by a 28V A123 battery pack, and all the electronics are included in the hat along either side. Watch the video after the jump to see the Tesla Coil Musical Hat in action.
Design and Functionality
Tyler Christensen explains:
“Really, it’s just a DRSSTC. Nothing less, nothing more, nothing fancy. It was a bit tricky to make a bridge appropriately sized, and even harder to make a boost converter for it. In fact, the boost never truly worked. If I play a mid to high note for a few seconds, the boost can’t keep up and it fades away. I think this is due to saturation of my boost core”
The Tesla Coil Musical Hat is a fascinating piece of wearable technology. A DRSSTC, or Double Resonant Solid State Tesla Coil, is a type of Tesla coil that uses solid-state electronics to produce high-voltage electrical discharges. This technology is often used in demonstrations and musical performances due to its ability to produce audible tones by modulating the frequency of the electrical discharges.
The hat’s design incorporates a compact bridge and a boost converter, which are essential for stepping up the voltage to the levels required for the Tesla coil to function. However, as Tyler mentioned, the boost converter faced challenges in maintaining performance during prolonged high-note sequences, likely due to the saturation of the boost core. This highlights the complexity and precision required in designing such high-voltage, high-frequency electronics.
Building Your Own Tesla Coil Musical Hat
If you fancy making your very own Tesla Coil Musical Hat, all the details have been kindly published by Tyler Christensen on his website, which can be viewed here.
Creating a Tesla Coil Musical Hat is not for the faint-hearted. It requires a solid understanding of electronics, high-voltage safety, and the principles of Tesla coil operation. The project involves sourcing components such as the A123 battery pack, designing and assembling the bridge and boost converter, and integrating these into a wearable form factor. Additionally, careful tuning and testing are necessary to ensure the Tesla coil operates safely and effectively.
The video above showcases the Tesla Coil Musical Hat in action, demonstrating its ability to produce musical tones through electrical discharges. This innovative project not only serves as a unique Halloween costume but also as an educational tool, illustrating the principles of Tesla coil operation and the challenges of high-voltage electronics design.
Source: Engadget : Tyler Christensen
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