Re: COOL STUFF YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR COIL!

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Barton B. Anderson by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <tesla123-at-pacbell-dot-net>

Hi All, David,

David, well spoken. I loved your analogy and realism regarding how the RF
Voltage
(current) will travle on (and penetrating a bit) of the surface of a copper
wire -
but NOT on the surface of the insulation. As blood vessels of the human
body are the
most conductive, the RF will seek and find them - not the outer surface of
our skin.
The skin effect does not refer to the human body as if RF voltages travel
on the
outer surface of our skin. In effect, these RF voltages travel within our
highest
conductive parts - not the skin. People are fooled due to the RF frequencys
which
are too high for our nerves to react - no initial "pain". However, damage
is still
occuring and sometimes results in a dull ache in the bones and muscles.
Been there
and done that. It hurt for about a week or so.

Be intellegent. Let voltages travel along metal - not the body. If your
going to
take arcs, wear some sort of metal suit or something similar which has a
connected
path to go somewhere. Three people I know of have lost their lives - lets
have no
more. Also, with more and more coilers using pole pigs, it's just a matter
of time -
it could be anyone of us. So, let us always try to give the safest
information to
new pole pig coilers. New coilers - don't be tempted. Learn NST's or
similar lower
current devices first! Then later - go to something bigger if desired.
NST's can
kill -  have no doubt about this - anyone who says different is naive and still
alive. Most of the time, no - but, it can happen. Be smart regardless of
power used.
What is smart? Smart is taking a step back before firing and going over safety
protocols. How many fire up their coils with a gas water heater near by?
How many
have a gas can or flamable spray cans near by? Think first - remove hazards
- then
let it RIP!

And don't "drink and coil". This is a bad - bad - bad combination - been
there and
done that. That was the time my arm hurt for a weak or so (even a couple
glasses of
wine can impare ones actions - and I'm no lightweight in the drinking
arena). Thank
God I was running at low power. Never-Ever again. Enough said.

Take care,
Bart

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
<Tesla729-at-cs-dot-com>
>
> In a message dated 1/29/01 6:43:54 PM Pacific Standard Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> writes:
>
> Drew,
> Chris stated:
>
> << I would suggest reading the safety sheet at www.pupman-dot-com, All of those
> <  things are EXTREMELY dangerous, and I suspect that you are lucky that you
> <  weren't hurt. The pros take arcs and become part of their coils, but they
> are
>  < just that--professionals, who know how to do it, and have their safety in
> <  mind. Please don't kill or injure yourself on your coil. It takes all the
> fun
> < out of it. Thoughts, anyone??
>
>  < Chris W >>
>
> I've got agree with Chris on this one. Some of the old text on Tesla
> coils will state that some of these tricks that you described are per-
> fectly safe, but today we know that's just not true!
>
> Also, Scot stated:
> < the latest results have proven that skin effect is no longer viable with
> < humans ( or anything alive) the
> < voltages / currents flow thru the body -   not over the surface   in other
> < words  ...   this can hurt you
> < or even worse kill you...
>
> and this is very true. Instead of traveling over the relatively high
> resistance
> of the outer surface of your skin, the HV would much rather travel thru the
> much more conductive blood vesels and nerves underneath the skin! Yes,
> even the higher frequency voltages of a Tesla coil prefer these same channels
> thru the body.The "skin effect" only applies to conductors whose surface
> is at least, if not more so, as conductive as its interior. If RF goes
through
> a rubber insulated copper wire, it's not going to go thru the outer
rubber in-
> sulation instead of thru the copper wire is it? RF conductors are often
silver
> plated copper wires and silver is an even better conductor than copper.
>
> Tesla coils are amazing and educational devices, but you must remember
> to respect the dangerous voltages that they readily produce.
>
> Keep 'em sparkin', but safely,
> David Rieben