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Re: Arcs off the fingers and getting killed in the process...

Hi Tero,

	I tried to design a "beginner" coil once but it turned out being just as
dangerous as any other Tesla coil.  That was my 13 inch spark GM HEI coil
thing.  The input cap energy ended up at about 2 Joules and the resonant
frequency was 10kHz.  It is now considered a dangerous coil for experts
only.  The 10kHz output will send you through the ceiling (maybe all the
way to heaven) if it gets you!!

I always get people writing me about how they can make a first coil
especially no in science fair season.  I usually refer them to the kits at:

http://www.amazing1-dot-com/tesla.htm
http://www.amazing1-dot-com/tesla2.htm

These usually fulfill the "kid wanting something fast and cheap for a
science fair" requests...  Information Unlimited has been in this "kids,
Tesla coils, and science fair" business for a very long time so I guess
they have it figured out.  Even I remember getting some of their stuff as a
kid...

Cheers,

	Terry



At 04:20 PM 02/06/2000 +0200, you wrote:
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Tesla List" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2000 06:51
>Subject: Re: Arcs off the fingers and getting killed in the process...
>
>Dear List,
>
>I have never got any bigger shocks from any of my coils (vacuum tube TC and
>some other flyback/ignition things made for fun), except the one time I
>operated my coil near a small yucca palm tree on my table, the plant
>probably absorbed some RF from the coil and when my hand brushed against the
>leaves, it gave me an unpleasant jolt. I could smell burnt flesh... heheh
>
>A few weeks ago I got an email from someone who had been on my site and was
>asking for tesla coil plans. I told him that I don't have any general plans.
>I sensed he was a newcomer, so I told him I could help him make a "sort-of"
>tesla coil using car ignition coil and a relay wired as an oscillator
>
>Then, a few days after that, I received a mad email from his father telling
>me that I would have been held responsible had the kid harmed himself or the
>others with his experiments, because I provided the info.
>
>I should have realized that the "88" in his email address meant the year of
>his birth!
>
>
>As it have been noted, many unexperienced newcomers to this hobby go
>directly to pigs and powerful NSTs. What if we could make beginners to start
>with something easier, just like the ignition coil thing? Ofcourse if there
>is a website which provides you with information how to get 10 foot sparks,
>why would you build an ignition coil thingy which gives you only very small
>discharge to a grounded object? I don't know, maybe if we exaggerated the
>costs and trouble involved, as someone suggested...
>
>Would it help if there was a link to "First TC Project for a Beginner" in
>the Pupman safety faq, or somewhere else where the beginners would be
>guided?
>
>The project would consist of some theory and then the instructions. The coil
>would be made of an ignition coil, a 12v car battery, ordinary relay wired
>as an oscillator, a car ignition system condenser, wires and switched etc
>
>Advantages of this approach would be:
>-12v battery, so the beginner wouldn't have to play with mains
>-small parts count
>-parts can be obtained easily at any car parts shop
>
>Disadvantages:
>-12v battery, 12v battery charger could be used instead
>
>And one more thing: If you touch the output of the ignition coil, it *will*
>hurt, and maybe steer the youngster away from the pig and 10 foot sparks
>filled wet dreams... :-)
>
>Just an idea,
>
>Tero
>
>
References: