[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: Science Fair Project




From: 	Phalcon[SMTP:phalcon362-at-worldnet.att-dot-net]
Reply To: 	phalcon362-at-worldnet.att-dot-net
Sent: 	Monday, November 10, 1997 5:32 AM
To: 	Tesla List
Subject: 	Re: Science Fair Project


Well, I'm kinda conviced now, thanx for everyone's help.  But, I wanna make
a small coil, where can I get plans for small coils?  Like possibly under 2
feet?  I dont want to make a big one & zap myself or others.


> 
> From: 	Chip Atkinson[SMTP:chip-at-XiG-dot-com]
> Reply To: 	Chip Atkinson
> Sent: 	Friday, November 07, 1997 2:53 AM
> To: 	Tesla List
> Subject: 	Re: Science Fair Project
> 
> Greetings,
> 
> It's relatively easy to build a tesla coil.  Getting it to work is a
> little more difficult.  One doesn't have to be an electronics pro, but
you
> do have to be aware of things that don't happen at lower voltages.  For
> example, at 12,000 volts you don't even have to touch a wire to get a
> shock.  If you get close enough the electricity will reach out and touch
> _you_.  Other things to keep in mind are that the capacitors that you
will
> need to make and use keep a charge on them that will cause great
> discomfort or death.  I've never been zapped with a cap, and certainly
> never been killed, but I have shocked myself with one end of a 15kV neon,
> which was probably 7500 volts.  That was the most painful shock that I've
> ever gotten.
> 
> Anyway, I think you can build a tesla coil.  While it's not even
necessary
> to understand much about what is going on, it will help you troubleshoot
> when things go awry.  Being 13, your biggest problems will probably be
> with money.  You'll most likely have to buy the wire for the secondary at
> the very least.  The rest can probably be scrounged.  You may also have
> trouble getting neon sign transformers because of sign companies being
> afraid of giving/selling a transformer to someone your age.  I'd
recommend
> getting a parent to assist you with the neon sign transformer.  The rest
> shouldn't be too hard.  You can make a capacitor bank with pop/beer
> bottles and salt water.  Using light bulbs as resistors, you can probably
> get away without having a variac as well.  From what I've seen and read,
a
> working tesla coil can be built rather cheaply, depending on the level of
> scrounging and improvising you are willing to do.
> 
> As for the safety warnings on my website, it isn't intended to scare
> people for the purpose of scaring them.  It was intended to list as many
> of the real dangers that you'll likely encounter during tesla coil work. 
> It is like driving a car in a sense.  There are many dangers that you may
> or may not be aware of.  When driving a car, you don't just give the
> steering wheel a yank when on the freeway going fast.  With a tesla coil,
> you don't touch the capacitor when it's running or charged.  There are
> other subtle dangers too.  For example, you shouldn't change lanes in an
> intersection.  Similarly, you should ventilate the place you are working
> in.  Why?  The ozone that accumulates can damage your lungs and poison
you
> if concentrated enough.  The thing is too, that your sense of smell gets
> used to the ozone smell and you don't notice it until you are wheezing.
> 
> Hope that helps.
> 
> Chip
> 
> 
> On Thu, 6 Nov 1997, Tesla List wrote:
> 
> > 
> > From: 	Phalcon362[SMTP:Phalcon362-at-worldnet.att-dot-net]
> > Reply To: 	Phalcon362-at-worldnet.att-dot-net
> > Sent: 	Thursday, November 06, 1997 3:24 PM
> > To: 	Tesla List
> > Subject: 	Science Fair Project
> > 
> > hi peoplez, I'm new to this tesla coil thing...lemme explain my
> > situation....
> > 
> > ok, I'm 13 yrs old, and in 8th grade, and we got this science fair
project,
> > and I'm thinking of making a tesla coil....I dont have much experience
in
> > this electronic hobby thing, but I looked at a bucha websites when I
found
> > this....you people think I can make this tesla coil?  I mean is it easy
> > (not like simple easy, kinda of like a bit fraustrating, but not that
hard
> > easy) and is it like VERY dangerous or do they [websites] just say that
to
> > scare people.
> > 
> > 
> > p.s.  I'm not really stupid just FYI, I go to a gifted school for
people...
> > 
> > Phalcon362.....
> >                      / /
> >                     / /
> >                    //
> >                   /
> >                  /
> >  \             / /    
> >   \\\' ,      / //     
> >    \\\//,   _/ //,      
> >     \_-//' /  //<,          
> >       \ ///  <//`
> >        /  >>  \\\`__/_ 
> >       /,)-^>> _\` \\\    
> >       (/   \\ //\\      
> >           // _//\\\\    
> >         ((` ((     
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Chip Atkinson; Xi Graphics 1801 Broadway, Denver CO 80202
> (303)298-7478voice (303)298-1406fax (800)946-7433sales
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
>