Re Article on Build your own Tesla coil

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

Original poster: "Garry Freemyer by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <garry-at-ndfc-dot-com>

I sent this to Conformity magazine regarding their article. I hope this will
help reduce the chances of a desaster caused by commonly accepted
misinformation.

March 2001 vol 6 number 3.

Article starting on page 10 called "Build Your Own Tesla Coil"

I really appreciate the article in your magazine on Tesla Coiling. It is
indeed a fascinating and valuable hobby. However, the article speaks of
tesla coilers being able to take sparks to themselves and other experiments
that are supposed to be "safe" due to the so-called "skin effect" myth of
high frequency current.

The skin effect is a myth that does not hold true for human beings as
conductors. It is entirely possible that the current IS going through deep
tissue and even cause deep tissue burns because the frequency of TOO high to
be responded to by the nervous system. Just as you cannot hear a sound of
too high a pitch, readers who foolishly take sparks to themselves could be
incurring damage that they cannot feel. The article seems to indicate that
tesla coils are a safe hobby as long as you are careful. This may be true,
but it depends on the knowledge of the coiler. If the perspective coiler
does not have the knowledge necessary to know "How" to be careful and "How"
to avoid dangers, such a person building a tesla coil would be tantamount to
someone taking to the road in a car without driving lessons.

Another of the dangers of taking sparks to one's person is that sparks could
jump from you to a wire connected to 60 cycle 20 amp house current or may
jump to any other wire carrying high amperage current which can kill.

It would be a desaster to our hobby should someone be killed or severely
injured as a result of misinformation or lack of knowledge. Much like a
knife, and other common work shop tools and house hold appliances, Telsa
coils are not a toy and proper knowledge is necessary for safest operation.
I myself have built a coil, and I have taken some pictures of the wonderful
displays these are capable of at http://home.pacbell-dot-net/garryfre/ I had the
pictures framed and put on the wall because I find that looking at the
pictures are safer and as ejoyable as operating my coil.

There is much correct information to be found on the internet by examining
the information at www.pupman-dot-com that will give prospective coilers enough
information to make the right descision as to whether they are ready to
begin building a coil.

I urge you to put an ammendum to encourage readers to educate themselves by
use of the safey information that can be found at www.pupman-dot-com

Regards
Garry Freemyer