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TC produce X-Rays?
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From: Bert Hickman [SMTP:bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 1998 7:16 AM
To: Tesla List
Subject: Re: TC produce X-Rays?
Tesla List wrote:
>
> ----------
> From: Mad Coiler [SMTP:tesla_coiler-at-hotmail-dot-com]
> Sent: Monday, August 10, 1998 8:22 PM
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: TC produce X-Rays?
>
> Coilers,
>
> Someone the other day told me to be careful with Tesla Coils cause they
> can produce *dangerous* x-rays. I was just wondering if anybody ever
> measured any x-rays produced by TC's? I told the guy that I didnt think
> so - I thought you had to have a decent vacuum to create x-rays. I would
> amagine the UV produced by the spark gap (and streamers?) is much more
> dangerous than any x-rays that are produced (if any?).
> So, does anyone have any info on this?
>
> Tristan Stewart
>
Tristan,
A TC won't generate any dangerous levels of X-rays by itself, since the
density of the air around the coil prevents electons from being
accellerated sufficiently.
However, it you put a device with a high vacuum at the top of the coil,
the combination of high voltage and vacuum can generate a significant
amount of x-rays. This can include vacuum capacitors, electron tubes, or
(obviously) x-ray tubes - especially if the devices contain metals of
relatively high atomic weight. If I remember correctly, a few years back
one of the members of TCBOR members inadvertantly gave himself an
overdose of "soft" x-rays, effectively giving him a radiation-induced
sunburn... NOT a good thing!
Most incandescent lamps, although partially evacuated, are backfilled
with enough gas so that they are relatively safe if run for brief
periods. This is NOT the case wioth some of the older heavily evacuated
"antique" incandescent bulbs, particularly those with tungsten
filaments.
Safe coilin' to you!
-- Bert --