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Re: Stunts and Fatality

I'm certainly no expert compared to the people on here, but it's my
understanding that in terms of current the 100ma to 1A range is the most
deadly, at least with 60Hz current.  Is this different at higher
frequencies?

Also, if you do public demonstrations make SURE you warn that people
with pacemakers or other such devices should be nowhere near a Tesla
demonstration.  As everyone probably knows TCs can induce fairly serious
charges in metallic objects up to at least 30 or more ft (ever touch a
water pipe in a room with an operating TC?).  Imagine what could happen
to a pacemaker with a large charge induced on it.  If I were you I'd
hand out a little sheet of paper to everyone warning them of the
possible dangers.  Otherwise you'd basically be completely liable
legally for any harm that resulted to any of the spectators.  Even with
the warning, you'd be taking a substantial risk.

-Stan

Tesla List wrote:
> 
> Original Poster: Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>
> 
> Hi Nick,
> 
>         I'll give my thoughts on these but no one can anticipate every
consequence
> of such things.  What ever you do, you do at your own risk!
> 
> At 12:51 PM 5/13/99 -0400, you wrote:
> >Hi All,
> >         As a coil which may be able to do some cool stuff is in prospect I
> >wondered how dangerous the cool stuff is.  Here are my questions:
> >1.  Is there a power throughput above which coils are considered potentially
> >lethal?
> 
> If it delivers more than 30 volts or 10mA yes.  Apparently, some people can
> find ways to kill themselves with as little as 30 volts. 10mA is the
> current level were shock effects can get serious.  Of course, any coil will
> exceed these levels by many orders of magnitude.  If a typical 10nF cap at
> 20000 volts hits you and you are say 100 ohms, you will conduct 20kV at 200
> amps!!  I think ANY Tesla coil can kill you with ease...
> 
> >2.  Is it safe to take a hit if you wear a conductive suit ( a boiler suit
> >with copper wire woven into it) ?
> 
> If you can take any given wire in your coil system (like in input mains)
> and ground it to the suit without damaging it or you, you're getting close.
>  Woven wire will be vaporized by a primary cap discharge as will an AC line
> contact.  Of course, being in a grounded suit may just be the equivalent of
> being in a bathtub full of water too.  You may be just grounding yourself
> REALLY good to eat the full jolt...  Thus, you almost have to be in a suit
> of armour to prevent you bare skin from coming into contact with the
> current.  A suit "could" be safe, but there are too many variable to be
> sure in just an e-mail forum.  Normally, I would think that anyone needing
> a protective suit also needs some pretty close and very expert advice
> before using up one's life on some oversight.
> 
> >3.  What exactly is my legal position if some one complains of RFI and I am
> >traced as the source (I am in GB) ?
> 
> I general, in any country, you are TOTALLY responsible for the problems you
> cause.  The fines and punishments are more or less in proportion to those
> problems...
> 
> >4.  Does anyone have any advice on public demonstrations?
> 
> Keep the public back so that they can never touch anything live!!!
> Electronic device may be destroyed.  Basically, you have to insure that no
> one will get hurt...  Difficult to do with Tesla coils...  Also, an
> audience is VERY distracting making is easy for you to grab the wrong thing
> and such...
> 
> These comments fall far short of the "total" answers, but maybe they will
> give some clues...
> 
> PLEASE don't kill yourself or anybody else!  I know of three deaths so far.
>  Since there are really very few coilers (maybe 5000??), this could become
> a statically dangerous hobby pretty quickly...
> 
>         Terry
> 
> >
> >Thanks in advance
> >Nick Field
> >