Re: Plexi Spark Shield

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Plexi Spark Shield
From: "Steve Cook" <Steve-at-g8cyerichmond.freeserve.co.uk> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 12:37:26 -0700
Approved: twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net
Delivered-To: fixup-tesla-at-pupman-dot-com-at-fixme

In my view the grounded chicken wire's a winner. I've certainly used
something similar for small demo coils.

----- Original Message -----
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 7:26 PM
Subject: Plexi Spark Shield


> Original Poster: Ted Rosenberg <TRosen1-at-Tandy-dot-com>
>
> Dale: You raise an interesting point. While I can't draw the plan I have
for
> the scene, I simply want to make sure people who walk by are kept at least
3
> times the distance from the longest spark distance.
> If my coil is successful, I hope to achieve 36" sparks. The output should
> jump to a 1" diameter grounded conduit overhead to 'contain' the display.
> (From Frankenstein's head to the arched bar above the monster)
> Therefore, I figured if the distance to the viewers is another 10 feet or
> so, a 'dutch door' made of plywood on the bottom and plexi on top would be
> suitable.
> But, chicken wire would be visually and audio-wise much better.
> When the time comes, I will try the chicken wire first and see if any
sparks
> or anything else goes further.
> I would be on the side using a foot switch to my Variac.
> Ted
> ===============================================
> Subject: RE: Plexi Spark Shield
>
> Original Poster: Dale Hall <Dale.Hall-at-trw-dot-com>
>
> Ted,
> Plexiglas may be inadequate as a shield from a Sec Spark Discharge.
> It may serve to keep people from physically touching the innards, though.
>
> Being a dielectric, Plexiglas is likely to channel discharges
>  to people leaning against or near it.
> People are simply another plate of the secondary capacitor separated by
> Plexiglas being a more dense (thus preferred arc path)
>  dielectric than air.
>
> I take advantage of the air/dielectric boundary affect to limit,
>  i.e. 'control' discharges to 2 dimensions.
>
> Use chicken wire mesh or similar, with continuous edge ground.
> (else it may re-radiate induced sparks those close to the wire)
> An advantage it will pass the full dynamics of the less harmful sound
waves!
>
> BTW I used my manual controlled bang battery powered DC TC
> this Halloween with great success.
> 28" power arcs on demand.
> Want a picture ? (((YES)))
>
> Regards, Dale
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tesla List [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
> Sent: Monday, December 13, 1999 4:37 PM
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: RE: Sealing Plexiglas
>
> Original Poster: Ted Rosenberg <TRosen1-at-Tandy-dot-com>
>
> snip....
>
> It's use is planned for a local Haunted House for next October. Between
the
> noise and the sparks it should scare the %$&-at- out of the patrons (who will
> be kept an appropriate distance by plexi sheeting and 2x4 walls).
>
> Regards, Ted
> Snip............
>
>
>
>