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Re: ISEF display
Although you almost certainly wont be able to run the coil at the science fair,
you
could display it with
pictures and/or video of it operating. Tesla coils look impressive just
sitting
there.
-Scott Harris
Tesla List wrote:
> Original Poster: forlaser-at-gte-dot-net
>
> before you go and build this puppy, you better be certain you will be alowed
to
> use it. From what I remember of the ISEF rules (I did the science fair thing
> back some years ago) you cant use more than about 20v, unless it's properly
> insulated per some national code. I'm not sure what code would say about
> insulating a 200,000 volt source of harmonic rich AC, but i'm sure the safety
> inspector at the fair will raise an eyebrow from the neon sign transformer,
let
> alone the coil. Another part of the rules included a clause that said there
can
> be nothing distracting or offensive. even a small coil makes a heck of a lot
of
> noise, so you might get complaints there. Also coils through off ALOT or RF
> interference. An ISEF has one of the highest 'packing desnities' for
electonic
> and computer gear I've ever seen outside of an electronic and computer gear
> trade show. You might run into problems there to... I don't want to be a
stick
> in the mud, but I just thought I should let you know about potential
problenms
> you may have...
> Pyroguy
>
> Tesla List wrote:
>
> > Original Poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-jpl.nasa.gov>
> >
> > ----------
> > > From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> > > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > > Subject: ISEF display
> > > Date: Sunday, March 28, 1999 6:18 PM
> > >
> > > Original Poster: jeremy sweeney <cyberjer-at-inetone-dot-net>
> > >
> > > Greetings,
> > >
> > > I qualified this weekend to go to the 1999 ISEF. Part of my project
> > > involved a Tesla Coil, so I wanted to build a small one for my display.
> > I
> > > have built small and large TCs before, but this one will be a little
> > > different than I am used to. Since putting a grounding rod into the
> > floor is
> > > not an option, is there some way I can do a virtual RF ground?
> >
> > For a small coil, a metal sheet on the table top or hardware cloth or
> > chicken wire (aviary netting) should work. If it extends about as far out
> > as the coil is tall, it should work just fine (i.e. a 1 ft high coil in the
> > middle of a 2 ft diameter plate would work). BTW, I've run a 2' high coil
> > off a 30 mA NST with no grounding other than the third wire with reasonably
> > good results.