Re: Tesla Coil Tricks

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

Original poster: "Harold Weiss by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <hweiss-at-new.rr-dot-com>

Hello Dan,

I have came up with a wild idea for a trick.  Suspend one of those 
motorized airplanes that fly in circles above your coil.  Add some 
aluminium foil or wires to provide a dicharge path around the motor and 
battery, thus protecting them.  It would look similar to a real airplane 
getting hit by lightning, as it flys around in circles above your 
coil.  There's also a helicopter, a bat ( Great for Halloween ), flying 
pig, ect.  You would need somthing sturdy above the coil like rafters or a 
heavy long boomed mic stand, to attach the fishline. I have got to try this 
on my coil.

Also try a zinc wicked candle.  This will produce small ball lightning.  As 
Tesla used a #10 rubber coated wire in his ball lightning 
expiriments.  Rubber coated wire back then had lots of soot in it.  The 
zinc wick has a fine zinc wire in it and is known to produce sooty 
flames.  They are a little harder to find.  Make sure that you have a way 
to contain any spilled wax.  If outdoors pick a really calm night.

Thanks for getting me thinking,

David E Weiss