The Forgotten 1894 Tesla Coil DIYers Are Building to Fight Rising Power Bills

Electricity bills have been climbing for years, and every storm season reminds us how fragile the grid can be. So it's no surprise that a growing number of home DIYers are digging into an old idea: a coil design Nikola Tesla patented back in 1894. It's now the centerpiece of a popular set of DIY plans that promise to help you lower your electric bill and keep a few things running when the power goes out.

We took a close look at the history, at the plans themselves, and at the simple projects that are proven to cut your bill. Here's what we found, including the parts the sales pages tend to skip.

The 1894 Patent Almost Nobody Talks About

Most people know Tesla for alternating current, the induction motor, and the famous crackling "Tesla coil" that throws lightning bolts in science museums. Far fewer know about a much quieter invention: US Patent 512,340, titled "Coil for Electro-Magnets", granted on January 9, 1894.

Instead of winding a single wire in a loop, Tesla laid two wires side by side and wound them together into a flat spiral, then connected the end of the first wire to the start of the second. The result is called a bifilar pancake coil. Because neighboring turns sit at very different voltages, the coil stores far more charge between its windings than a regular coil of the same size. Tesla's goal was simple: make electromagnets that work more efficiently without bulky extra parts.

The patent is real and public. You can read it yourself on Google Patents. What's newer is the idea of building a home power project around it, and that's where the Energy Revolution System comes in.

What the Energy Revolution System Actually Is

The Energy Revolution System is a digital DIY guide, not a device you can buy off a shelf. After purchase you get access to videos, diagrams and wiring schematics that walk you through building a small home power unit based on Tesla's coil design. The creator, who goes by Michael Garnett, presents it as a weekend project for regular homeowners rather than electricians.

Here's what you get, according to the official presentation:

Step-by-step video lessons showing each stage of the build
Wiring diagrams and a parts list, with parts the creator says cost roughly $60 to $200 from a hardware store or online
No solar panels or wind turbine required, so it's pitched as working day and night, in any weather
A one-time price of $39 for the main guide, plus optional add-ons
A 60-day money-back guarantee handled by ClickBank, the retailer

The creator claims the system could cut your electric bill by up to 80%. That's a big number, and it's worth putting it in context before you decide anything.

The Honest Part: What to Realistically Expect

We like this project for what it is, but we want you to go in with clear eyes:

No device creates energy out of nothing. The laws of physics are clear on that. Any power a home unit puts out has to come from somewhere, such as a battery, a motor, or another source. A coil can help a system work more efficiently, but it is not a power source by itself.
The savings claims are the creator's, not ours. We haven't seen independent lab tests of the "up to 80%" figure, and results from any DIY build vary a lot with how well it's built.
Think of it as a supplement. The most realistic uses are small loads: charging phones and devices, running some lights, or giving you a bit of backup during an outage. It's not a replacement for the grid in a typical home.

So who is it for? If you enjoy hands-on electrical projects, you're curious about Tesla's work, and you want a low-cost weekend build with a refund window as a safety net, it's a fun one. If you want a guaranteed way to slash your bill this month, start with the proven fixes in the next section first.

7 Proven DIY Fixes That Lower Your Electric Bill Right Now

Whatever you decide about the coil project, these are the upgrades that reliably bring a bill down. Most take an afternoon or less:

Seal air leaks. Weatherstripping on doors and caulk around windows are cheap, and drafts are one of the biggest sources of wasted heating and cooling.
Swap every remaining bulb for LED. LEDs use a fraction of the power of old bulbs and last for years.
Install a programmable or smart thermostat. Setting your heating or cooling back while you sleep or work adds up fast over a season.
Turn your water heater down to 120°F. Many are set higher from the factory. Insulating the first few feet of hot water pipe helps too.
Kill phantom loads. TVs, game consoles and chargers draw power on standby. A switched power strip cuts them off with one click.
Add a ceiling fan. A fan lets you set the thermostat a few degrees higher in summer and still feel comfortable. (See our guide to installing a ceiling fan without an electrician.)
Insulate the attic hatch and outlets on outside walls. Foam gaskets behind outlet covers cost pennies and stop cold air from leaking in.

Stack a few of these together and many households see a noticeable drop on the next bill, with no special equipment at all.

Safety First If You Build Any Home Power Project

Any project that involves wiring, batteries or inverters deserves respect. A few ground rules:

Never connect a homemade unit to your home's wiring or breaker panel. Connecting to the grid requires a licensed electrician and the right transfer equipment.
Use proper fuses and the wire gauge called for in the plans. Undersized wire is the most common cause of overheating.
Work on a non-flammable surface with good ventilation, especially around batteries.
Test with a multimeter before you plug anything valuable in.

If you're setting up a work area for builds like this, our guide to building a basic workbench in a weekend is a good place to start, and the 15 tools every DIYer needs covers the basics you'll reach for.

See the Tesla Coil Plans for Yourself

If the project sounds like your kind of weekend build, the creator walks through the full story and shows the unit in a short free presentation. Watch it, decide for yourself whether it's a fit, and remember you're covered by the 60-day refund if it isn't. Watch the Energy Revolution System presentation here.

Take Back a Little Control

You can't control what the power company charges, but you can control how much power you waste and how prepared you are when the lights go out. Start with the proven fixes above. Then, if you love a hands-on challenge, Tesla's forgotten coil makes for one of the more interesting builds you can tackle in your garage.

Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Results from any DIY project vary, and claims about the product are the creator's own.

Watch the Free Presentation →