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£102,99
What is a Tesla coil?
A Tesla coil is a resonant transformer that turns a low voltage into hundreds of thousands of volts at high frequency, producing visible electric arcs from its top terminal and lighting fluorescent tubes held nearby with no wires. Nikola Tesla built the first in 1891 to study wireless power. Desktop coils are a few centimetres tall, run from a mains adapter, and some play music through the arc itself.
6 modelsFrom £71.99Mini, musical or kitMains adapter includedFree UK delivery over £45
Who is this collection for?
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For a teenager fascinated by electricity
From 14 upwards, with an adult. A mini Tesla coil that lights a bulb through the air is the demonstration that turns a physics lesson into a memory.
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For the person who owns every gadget
Engineers, electricians and geeks. A Tesla coil on the desk is the one thing they have not got, and the one thing every visitor asks about.
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For teachers and science clubs
Wireless energy transfer, high frequency and resonance in one compact, repeatable demonstration. Noble gas tubes light up next to it.
How to choose a Tesla coil
Size sets the arc length and the wow factor; the musical models add sound; the kits add the pleasure of building the circuit yourself.
| Type | Best for | Arc | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Tesla coil | Desks, first coil, wireless light demos | 1 to 3 cm | £72 to £90 |
| Musical Tesla coil | Parties, arcs that play music | 2 to 5 cm | £100 to £107 |
| DIY Tesla coil kits | Makers, electronics students | 1 to 3 cm | £75 to £95 |
| Noble gas tubes (companion) | Colourful glow next to any coil | 6 sealed tubes | £174 |
Keep phones, bank cards and hard drives a metre away while it runs, and supervise anyone under 14. Unplug it when done. The arcs are high frequency and low current, but they will sting a fingertip.
The science in two lines
A primary coil and a capacitor form a tuned circuit; the tall secondary coil is tuned to the same frequency, so energy builds up in it turn after turn until the voltage at the top is high enough to break down the air. Because the frequency is so high, the current stays on the surface of the skin, which is why the coil is safer than its voltage suggests.
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Tesla Coil: your questions, answered
Is a mini Tesla coil safe?
At the sizes we sell, yes, used as intended: the output is high frequency and low current. Keep fingers off the top load, keep it away from phones, pacemakers and hard drives, and supervise anyone under 14.
What can it do?
Light a fluorescent tube or a neon bulb held near it with no wires, produce small visible arcs, and on the music models, play sound through the arc itself.
Does it interfere with electronics?
Within a metre or so, yes. Keep phones, laptops and bank cards away while it runs. Unplug it when done.
Which coil pairs with the noble gas tubes?
Any of our desktop coils will excite the gas tube set. The tubes glow their own colour when held near the top.
What power supply does it need?
A mains adapter, included with each model. Details and voltage on the product page.
Free UK delivery over £45 and 30 days to return it. For the same physics behind glass, the plasma balls are the gentler cousin.