RE: Shocking Event

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

Original poster: "Ted Rosenberg by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Ted.Rosenberg-at-radioshack-dot-com>

Steve:
IF I ran a ground wire from the screen, considering it's distance to the
coil, wouldn't I take a chance, albeit a remote one, of drawing an
honest-to-goodness arc to the screen?
Actually, I am considering replacing the entire piece with nylon volleyball
net! (Tonight)

Safety First

Ted

Subject: Re: Shocking Event


Original poster: "S & J Young by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<youngs-at-konnections-dot-net>

Ted,

Yes, the screen was a near-field antenna and can have at least a few hundred
volts RF.  Rather than insulate it, I think it would be safer to connect it
to an earth ground.
--Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2001 8:27 AM
Subject: Shocking Event


> Original poster: "Ted Rosenberg by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Ted.Rosenberg-at-radioshack-dot-com>
>
> Hi all:
> I thought everyone might get a "charge" from something that happened last
> night at the Hangman's House of Horrors.
>
> The $6M coil is positioned in the center of a 8 x 8 foot 2x4 fenced area.
> The three hair dryers (5-gal paint buckets on PVC pipe in concrete pots)
> are positioned around the arc circle to take hits to their grounded pie
> plates which are mounted on the bottom of each bucket. There is,
> unfortunately, one corner of the fencing where someone could possibly
reach
> too far and get too close to the left most pie plate. So, for safety, we
> closed those rail slats (made from 2x4's) with window screening stapled
into
> the 2x4's with 1/2 staples (T-50).
>
> Last night, while demonstrating the coil to a visitor, I casually rested
my
> bare arm on the top of the railing where the screen was stapled. As I hit
> the remote start transmitter, I felt a decent shock to my forearm area
that
> rested on the staples!!!
>
> Not a bad, throw you to the floor shock, but a very annoying, like you
were
> being jabbed with needles, type shock.
> After saying a few 4 letter words and turning off the coil at the same
time,
> I theorized that the small area of screening (perhaps 3 square feet at the
> most) was picking up enough RF that it generated a charge to the staples
and
> I was the grounded target. If anyone wishes to give me details or clarify
> this, I'd appreciate it.
>
> Needless to say I layered the top and front of the screen with TV gaffers
> tape and the problem went away.
> I just think it is interesting and educational what we learn as we use our
> coils.
>
> Safety <ouch> First
>
> Ted
>
>
>