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Believe it or not!
TCML,
A few days I was approached by the Ripley's "Believe It
Or Not" television show to do an on screen interview
for an upcoming episode on Tesla coils. After learning
the details, however, I declined. Here's why...
Many of you already know my stance on the "Lightning
Guy" high voltage stunt that is performed professionally
by kVA Effects member Brent Turner. I feel that this is the
most dangerous high voltage stunt in our industry and
should not be attempted by ANY non-professional despite
electrical engineering experience. Mistakes can be fatal
and the more reasonable among us certainly agree that
mistakes can never be fully factored out of most situations.
We, as experts in high voltage special effects, have only
performed this stunt twice in the last three years and always
with a stunt coordinator, several HV technicians and safety
personnel on hand. We take our work VERY seriously.
The representative from the "Believe It or Not" television
production informed me that the show's subject is an
Evangelical "Power" Christian that hooks himself to a
Tesla coil to demonstrate God's power to his audience.
I have no issue with Evangelical Christianity, "Power"
Christianity or any other religious organization's efforts
to entertain their followers or increase their numbers
through recruitment efforts.
I do take extreme exception to this public display and
am concerned that this person is going to kill himself
in front of an audience (as Henry Transom did).
Public accidents will kill your hobby and my profession.
This type of public irresponsibility will subject Tesla coils
to negative Federal and State scrutiny. I know this. Trust
me. I will be revisiting this subject soon. Stay tuned.
Jeff W. Parisse
Director, kVA Effects
www.teslacoil-dot-com