DIY Tesla Switch Guide

[geotron]

Ok, I've been searching around for them (CD4011BE), and
the only place seems to be Farnell at the moment. It is
confusing to me dealing with the wide variety of suffixes.

Is there any kind of reference that shows explicitly
what these letters and numbers stand for?

I've been studying the original schematic for this timer,
having drawn it down on paper, and had to take a look at
your digital representation of it Groundloop because I
couldn't make out the label on the item which I've circled
in the pic attached.

As a matter of fact I still don't understand what it is.
The 'R3' indicates to me that its a resistor, but the '8K2'
seems foreign to me. Then there's the R4 which I thought
looked like '1.2K', but you've labeled it in much the same
way as the previous one.

Everything else seems fairly self-apparent, excepting
what type of relay it calls for. At Farnell alone there
are close to 8000 choices, including those that even
have their own built-in time delay function... at first
glance I would choose to look in either the 'High Frequency'
or more general 'Relays/Contactors' categories.

Relays at Farnell

If I was going to pick one, it would be the Omron G2R-14-DC12

[Groundloop]

@geotron,

The resistor is 8,2 Kilo Ohm. So 8K2 = 8,2K = 8.2K = 8200 Ohm.
(Resistors below 1000 Ohm is often labeled with a R back. e. g. 100R = 100 Ohm.)

Groundloop.

[geotron]

Well that makes a lot of sense - thanks for clarifying me.

On the matter of relays, the Omron model I've listed above
is rated at 275ohms. I'm not quite certain how this value
would effect the circuit's functionality, or whether it
makes any difference at all for the purpose of the Tesla
Switch...  Honestly I don't see how it could.

Would I be correct in viewing any 12V relay as a suitable fit?

[Groundloop]

@geotron,

If the 2N2222 transistor is connected via the relay to +12 volt then your use a 12 volt relay.
If you build the oscillator as I did draw it on page 4 then you use a 5 volt relay.
The diode across the relay can be 1N4148, 1N914 or any other fast switching diode.
If you use your drawing (on page 4) then remember to ground pin 7,8,9,12 and 13 on the 4011 IC.

Groundloop.

[geotron]

I've been messing around with building my own oscillator
device lately with the use of another project entitled
PC Fan Generator in Half-Baked Ideas. It involves positioning
a small disc magnet near the perimeter of the other ones being
spun by the Fan's motor. Video

It seems to work extremely well, although without a scope
I can't corroborate this, but I'm fairly certain that with a bit
of adjustment I can get it to perform at least 100-200 contacts
per second without too much trouble.

In the video I've glued a matchstick to the outter fan casing and
a small disc magnet - magnet facing towards the spinning ones on
the fan, and an alligator clip is being held to the other side
of the matchstick by attraction to the small disc magnet, vibrating
against the positive contact of the LED bank.

So, it looks as if I may be able to go ahead and order all of my
parts for the main body of the Tesla Switch and hook the finished
device right onto this Magnet Commutator. (?)

The voltage going through it in the video is around 3.3V, although
I've got leads on my supply for 12V as well... its an old ATX supply
scavenged from a non-working computer.

Again, here is my working model illustration for hooking the timer
to the T-Switch. The reason I've brought it back is, I'm not certain
if I would still need the 1K resistor inline with the +12V like is
shown at top...