Re: Safe handling of Capacitors

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

Original poster: "Metlicka Marc by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <mystuffs-at-orwell-dot-net>

steve,
if i understand your description right, this is a very dangerous setup.
first NEVER use both hands when working with voltage. always use the
hand in pocket rule, the passing of even lower voltages at medium
currents in one arm and out the other leaves your heart in the stream.
with the 100k resistor in between the probes, i would be afraid that the
high voltage would choose to jump the block and decide that the handles
are just easier to travel?
no flame intended, just concern.
marc m. 

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Steve Cook by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
<Steve-at-g8cyerichmond.freeserve.co.uk>
> 
> I've certainly been 'zapped' that way. I use my version of a device that was
> popular many years ago for electrostatics experiments, namely discharge
> tongs. My version has brass probes mounted on long insulated handles, joined
> together with a length of hv cable, between one end of the cable and one of
> the probes is a 100k resistor, to limit current flow.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 6:27 PM
> Subject: Re: Safe handling of Capacitors
> 
> > Original poster: "Ed Phillips by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
> <evp-at-pacbell-dot-net>
> >
> > Tesla list wrote:
> > >
> > > Original poster: "Jim DeLillo by way of Terry Fritz
> > <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <jimdel-at-bellatlantic-dot-net>
> > >
> > > Wouldn't a length of small diam PVC pipe work?
> >
> > From what I've observed over the years, the "traditional" way to
> > discharge capacitors is with the shaft of a screwdriver, preferably with
> > insulated handle.  If there's enough charge in the capacitor the result
> > is nice little craters in the screwdriver!  Don't know if anyone has
> > gotten zapped doing this, but it could be risky if one carelessly got
> > across the HV.
> >
> > Ed
> >
> >
> >
> >