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Re: Electric bath? ... X-rays from light bulbs/Tesla Coils



Hello,

Ionizing radiation, such as x-rays being emitted from a "point source" (the
bulb), will drop off exponentially with distance, we use the inverse square
law to calculate dose rate: I1*(D1)^2=I2*(D2)^2  where I1=dose rate at
distance D1, I2=dose rate at distance D2, D1= first known distance (say at
12" from source, *x-ray bulb/Tesla coil*), D2=second unknown distance. Use
basic algebra to solve for I2. This assumes no attenuation or back scatter,
which will be small in air at any rate.

The real clue is time/distance/shielding. Reduce your time of exposure,
increase your distance using the inverse square law, and use shielding.

If you are unaware of basic radiation safety, then (IMHO) don't play with
Tesla coils and x-ray producing bulbs. Hopefully I can get my dose rate
meter fixed and I will test some of the more common bulbs for x-ray
production using a Tesla coil. 

Regards,

David Trimmell

At 10:54 AM 9/8/1999 , you wrote:
>Original Poster: "John" <jbowers1-at-jnlk-dot-com> 
>
>>Original Poster: MikeTesla-at-aol-dot-com
>>
>>What would be a safe distance if any in a garage for clear incandescent
>>bulbs, laser tubes, florescent tubes, hydrogen thyratron tubes??
>
>Mike,
>
>I'm not sure there really is any safe distance from x-ray incandescents.
>However, when I used to experiment, I used distance as my primary shield.  I
>would be located roughly 100 yards from my  Tesla x-ray device observing the
>results through a small telescope.  I'd also have a monitoring Geiger
>counter with me, with the probe pointed toward the x-ray source at all
>times.  I'd also make sure no one was within the range when the device was
>energized.   I suppose lead shielding could also be used, but I tried it and
>always had arcing problems.
>
>Note that the aforementioned applied to my set-up, which was an incandescent
>bulb energized by a small 50 Kv Tesla coil.  Other situations may require a
>completely different type of shield.
>
>John Bowers
>
>