Re: Getting zapped by my unpowered Secondary

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Original poster: "Charles Hobson by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <charles.a.hobson-at-btinternet-dot-com>

----- Original Message -----
From: Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:29 AM
Subject: Getting zapped by my unpowered Secondary


> Original poster: "Ray Robidoux by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <robidoux-at-basystems-dot-com>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I have just completed the build of a 2.5" coil, and have
> experienced a strange problem. When I grab hold of the
> secondary to adjust the height for coupling purposes I
> get a fairly painful zap. I am wondering if anybody else
> has seen this and what the cause may be. I assume it must
> be some sort of parasitic capacitance formed by the wire
> in the coil and one of the dielectrics involved in the
> construction, with the ambient air-to-ground forming the
> other plate. If so which dielectric is involved (coil
> form, wire insulation, sprayed polyethylene)? And why
> haven't I heard of this before from some other coilers?
> I have solved the problem for now by wrapping my entire
> secondary in Saran Wrap. This was a good solution and it
> is working well now but I would still like to know what
> is happening.
>
> Ray

Hello Ray,  I've never been zapped by residue electric charges in the way
you described. Saran wrap is pretty thin stuff so I don't think it would
hold off very high static voltages, but it probably would insulate you
against 120V ac. I've been "zapped" by ac power which managed to find its
way into equipment I worked on even though the power switch was off. This
was because of poor grounding. Anyway, I always make it a point to UNPLUG
before working on anything like TC's. Be careful and happy coiling.

Chuck