Re: Safety

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

Original poster: "Jason by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jasonp-at-btinternet-dot-com>

Neilster,

> I was looking at some photos of a couple of fellows playing around with a
> 14.5KV transformer. I am an electrician who works in and on substations
and
> what you are doing makes my skin crawl. Its no big deal working with high
> voltage but for gods sake use some safety equipment. IE stand on a
dielectric
> mat, where a hard hat with face shield, wear HV gloves that are tested and
> rated for the voltages you are working with, and last but not least invest
in
> some nomex cloths. Folks this stuff is fun but we only come around this
way
> once try to make it last.

I agree with you that safety is an important issue, but you have to realise
that these guys arent working on a live xfmr :) Most, if not all coilers
know exacly what they are doing too. There have only been three deaths
related to tesla coils in the past hundred years, and as far as im concerned
that is a very good safety record. The dangers associated with HV only arise
if your are either thick or careless :) Thick as in not knowing that HV
jumps or careless as in not discharging your cap bank... there are very few
other dangers.

IMHO ;)

Jason