The Topload

The topload is the big metal part sitting at the top of your coil. It can be spherical or toroidal or in lamens terms, a ball shape or a doughnut shape. Toroids are slightly better then a sphere though.

As cool as it looks, its not just for aesthetics. The topload actually acts as a capacitor, the topload as the first plate, the air being the dielectric and the ground or any other metal object it strikes being the second plate. As its a capacitor it builds up charge meaning there is a bigger output spark. The bigger and the SMOTHER the topload, the bigger the discharge will be.  

Now you can buy a spun aluminium toroid like in the picture above for about £50 or you can make one nearly as good for only  £15. All you need is that aluminium dryer ducked in the parts list and some foil pie plates.

First, cut a 1cm wide strip down  the whole length of the tubing. Then stick two pie plates together the top one being upside down kind of like a sourer shape. Wrap the dryer pipe around the pie plates making sure the edge of the pie plates go inside the strip cut for it. Finally, secure the two ends of the duck with tape or glue. Your toroid should now be ready to mount onto the secondary coil later.

Finished toroid laid out for the glue to dry.

Next step: Spark Gap