Re: electrocution experiences

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

Original poster: "Tim by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <warpath-at-wtp-dot-net>

Hi All, How does one go about checking a bleeder resistor to see if it is
still working properly?
I am still putting my TC together and I do have "bleeders" attached to all
my "caps". I am
building a "TC" according to the pictures and specs of Terry's web site. I
'm using 2- 15/30 nst's
in "series???" to get 15/60.
A question that has been on my mind lately is this- I am wondering what
size PVC pipe to use for
my secoundary to obtain the best performance? I have my wire, which is 27
gauge "I think" and I am
in the process of making a winding jig.
Supporting the "Say No to Electrocution" policy-Tim

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "David Sharpe by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <sccr4us-at-erols-dot-com>
>
> Hi Marc!
>
> WOW!  10 Joules is considered lethal, your combination calculated out
> to just over 5.5J.  The warning on bleeder resistors can't be overstated,
> however, NEVER trust (your life) on the fact that the bleeders
> did discharge the capacitors, they can fail too (and have a relatively
> high probability of failing since they are pulse discharging a capacitor
> and dissipating power while the circuit is on).
>
> Also as a side note, the NEC "suggests" bleeders on any capacitors
> larger then 0.1uF and charged to higher then 250V.  If 250V is a
> peak value, stored energy is just over 0.003 Joules.  Capacitor discharge
> time (5 time constants) should be no more then 1 minute, or faster
> then you can get access to circuit.  Capacitors should be checked by
> discharging with a grounding rod (hot stick), before touching circuits,
> or physically grounding the HV with a mechanical crowbar (this technique
> is used in commercial broadcast transmitters and VT induction heating
> equipment).
>
> I've never be "zapped" by the anode of a picture tube, but if you
> assume the capacitance of a 26" tube to be approximately 200pF, and
> charged to 25kV, results in an available 0.06 joules.  I know of a coworker
> who was thrown 5 feet by a picture tube on residual charge alone while
> working in the military..
>
> Be careful out there, and Happy New Year all...
>
> Regards
> Dave Sharpe, TCBOR
> Chesterfield, VA, USA
>
> Tesla list wrote:
>
> > Original poster: "Metlicka Marc by way of Terry Fritz
> <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <mystuffs-at-orwell-dot-net>
> >
> > I once let a friend hold a 4' florescent tube while i fired a 15\60 nst
> > coil, he held one end to his groin and waved the other end around while
> > laughing heartily. I screamed "NO" as i reached for the plug (very early
> > in my coiling) Well, the multiple 2' streamers turned into one 4.5'
> > streamer and you can all guess the rest? This was very "sobering" to
> > him, he learned some tc safety and i started using a magnetic contactor
> > to bring in the line voltage, with off button in my hand always.
> >
> > Once while coiling very tired i hit the on button for my pt powered
> > coil. The fan for the gap came up to speed, the timer kicked the main
> > contactor came in and all i herd was a hum? I shut her down and started
> > looking, I discovered that my dog had knocked one of the primary leads
> > off. I started to reconnect when all of the sudden it felt like someone
> > was cramming a howitzer up each arm and set both off at my heart. I
> > could feel the adrenaline working against what felt like my heart
> > fluttering! i really thought a trip to he hospital or instant heart
> > attack was coming soon? The pain in my arms and chest was almost
> > unbearable for a good five minutes, but the "fear factor" of a heart
> > attack made me mostly ignore this until the heart flutters stopped five
> > or so minutes later
> > This was before i found this list, I had never heard of a discharge
> > resistor and was too tired to remember to discharge the 25nf bucket caps
> > i had built, charged too 21kv it was nasty!
> > Two lessons here:
> > ALWAYS USE DISCHARGE RESISTORS AND/OR DISCHARGE LEADS!
> > NEVER RUN YOUR COIL WHILE TOO TIRED!
> >
> > Tesla list wrote:
> > >
> > > Original poster: "G by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> > <bog-at-cinci.rr-dot-com>
> > >
> > > While testing my first coil, I held a 4' fluorescent tube out toward
> > > the 30" spark to try and get better illumination. Well, I was the one
> > > who got lit up. The pulsing of each break was very evident, as was
> > > the propagation of the spark up my veins and tendons!
> > >
> > > My only reaction was "Ow, it bit me".
> > >
> > > Cya,
> > > Gregory