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Re: shocking questions

Subject: 
            Re: shocking questions
       Date: 
            Fri, 28 Mar 1997 17:56:16 -0800
       From: 
            Bert Hickman <bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-com>
Organization: 
            Stoneridge Engineering
         To: 
            Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 References: 
            1


Tesla List wrote:
> 
> Subject:
>         shocking questions
>   Date:
>         Mon, 24 Mar 1997 00:53:15 -0500 (EST)
>   From:
>         Noetic1-at-aol-dot-com
>     To:
>         tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> 
> Ok..
> 
> My sons and I have a pretty standard setup:
> 
> 15kv/60 ma neon
> approx 15 turns 1/4" copper tubing
> 6" diameter secondary, wound 22.5" 22 Gauge wire on a 24" form
> 6 doorknob caps, in series/parallel, 4000 pf/15 kv
> Static Gap a la Richard Quick, copper sections gapped at .028,
> and a healthy ground, two five foot copper pipes, buried 8 feet apart
> and the secondary grounded with a big zinc strip directly from the
> secondary base to the ground. Other ground is safety gap/center tap. No
> other
> 
> wires to ground.
> 
> The problem is, we are getting a substantial shock from the sparks
> pulled off the secondary. Kind of takes some of the fun out of it.
> 
> Does anyone have an idea why this is occuring? Basic wiring
> diagram is out of the nic.funet site, nothing strange. I KNOW
> we have a substantial ground for the secondary..why the shock?
> 
> appreciate any ideas..
> 
> Chris Dunagan
> and
> Evan (13) Andrew (11)

Chris, 

This is normal - disruptive coils _will_ "zap" you. The larger the coil,
the more energy available in the coil self capacitance and any topload
capacitance. This capacitance behaves exactly like a charged capacitor
would when charged to a high voltage. Taking "hits" off a disruptive
coil is NOT recommended. If you HAVE to, make sure that you are standing
on a well insulated platform and well away from anything that could jump
from your body to ground. 

If you are running with any size toroid or sphere for a top-load, you do
NOT want to be in a direct path of a high current discharge to ground
with a coil even as small as yours - the surge currents can be in the
hundreds of amperes! Don't let your hobby kill you! PLEASE read the
safety FAQ at:

   http://bhs.broo.k12.wv.us/homepage/chip/safety.htm 

and, SAFE coiling to you, Chris!

-- Bert H --