RE: Boston Museum of Science Tesla coil safety

["Ted Rosenberg" <Ted.Rosenberg-at-radioshack-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

Thanks a bunch, Gary. Taking a que from your note, I sent inquiries
yesterday to the Boston Museum and also Knotts Berry and the Franklin
Institute. I have received a confirming note from the info person at the FI
that told me that I will hear from their TC guru soon.

Because of my great concern, I will probably followup with Mr. DeAngelis
unless you think it's politically inappropriate.

Ted R.

--------------------------
Subject: Boston Museum of Science Tesla coil safety


Original poster: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau-at-compaq-dot-com> 

Dear List:

I contacted the person who built and maintains the large Tesla Coil at the
Boston Museum of Science, Tony DeAngelis, regarding the museum's experience
with public display and liability relating to the coil.  The museum rounded
up some true experts in the field of pacemakers and magnetic fields, and
took actual measurements of the EM fields.  The bottom line was that the
fields were determined to be perfectly safe for anyone.  The Faraday
enclosure referenced is a small one-person cage for the operator of the
equipment, located much closer to the coil, and is a target for the massive
Van De Graaf  discharges.

Thank you Tony for agreeing to share this!

Regards, Gary Lau
Waltham, MA USA

>From: Anthony DeAngelis 
>
>OK Gary, here is the real deal from the guy who
>built the darn thing.  Worked long and hard to get the
>big coil revamped and Up and running, and then
>everything was put on hold.  Ken and Mike run the
>eduaction dept.  Mike talked to the pacemaker mfr.and
>he said there was no problem at all. Ken talked to
>home cardiologist at Mass General Hospital who said
>hed be sending him business in droves.. Now what? Well
>the EPA, OSHA, and a few others all came up empty,
>like I don't know.  This went on for almost a year and
>then they got in touch with some super guru in the
>magnet lab at MIT who was a true expert in
>Electromagnetic fields.  He came in and took
>measurements inside the lightning rod Faraday area,
>and outside, where the public would be about 6 weeks
>later, then I got a call saying all the numbers show it
>would be perfectly safe even to those with pacemakers
>as long as they remain outside the wire enclosure.  I
>have been inside while it runs but the public is
>outside and probably a good 10-15 feet away from the
>wires anyway.  So with that in hand, we got the thing
>set up and ran it with no problems to date over the
>past several years.  Hope this gives you a little more
>info regarding our little museum tesla coil.
>
>All the best, Tony.