RE: Teslas enjoyment of ozone.

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

Original poster: "Dave Hartwick by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <ddhartwick-at-earthlink-dot-net>

"If you can smell it, ventilate" What does this mean? I operate with the
windows open in the basement. The amount of ventilation that actually
obtains, of course, depends on wind conditions. Frequently, after 4 or 5,
2-3 minute firings, the atmosphere is heavy with the smell of the offending
gases.

What should we do? Install ventilation hoods to reduce gas levels to near
zero? I think there is a rational approach to this as well as to all other
coiling safety matters. If I'm going to be doing extensive firing over a
period of hours, I put a couple of exhaust fans in the windows. If it's a 30
minute session, after which I usually leave the basement, I don't bother.

I also do not use an obsessive/compulsive number of interlocks, etc. on the
60 Hz side. I AM planning on adding a dead man failsafe because, Yes--I
almost always fire alone. If I had to depend on the presence of a another
person present, I would never be able to fire. A calculated risk,
admittedly.

I think the most important general safety measure is state of mind. Learning
to fly helped to illuminate the importance of this. Before approaching my
plane, I always take some time to assume the proper state of mind. I apply
this to coiling sessions as well. Once down the basement stairs, I actually
physically stop and take measure of what I'm about to do--A zen-like
transformative moment.

I'm sorry, I just don't think the ozone and nitrogen compounds levels
encountered during the average coiling session are that worrisome. That is
not to say that I would fire for hours on end in a Tesla lab the size of a
bathroom without efficient ventilation.
Dave H




Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<Dwight.Crider-at-regulusgroup-dot-com>

Certainly not to be picky, I am sure there are many environments other than
those associated with Tesla Coils, however the boundaries for this forum
seems to be somewhat limited. The point must have been "Always ventilate!"
Good point.
(Or, if you can smell it you should have ventilated!) AC/DC motors generate
a bit of carbon monoxide, and Lord only knows what is given off by the
various spark gap combinations. Again, however, the most prevalent Tesla
coil air emissions are ozone and nitrogen oxides. And seriously, what is
the percentage of professional coilers on the Pupman list? How often do
they take purified samples? The "ventilate" still goes for the rest of us
amateurs. Cheers-Dwight Crider


Original poster: "davep by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<davep-at-quik-dot-com>

> I would ask how you differentiate between ozone and the various other
> noxious gases produced by high E fields and arcs.

           Professionals, who set the limits, run with purified
           samples.

> However, the most pungent of these are likely nitrogen/oxygen

> compounds which result in nitric and nitrous acids,

           Ozone has a distinct odor.  cf any reference book.
           Also: many Very Toxic gases have no odour.

> to name a couple, when in contact with water.  None of these

> are less damaging to human tissue than ozone. If this doesn't
> make you cautious, maybe the fact that most metallic tools

> will be quickly corroded with this type exposure. It would

> seem that the safest bet would be: IF YOU CAN SMELL IT,

> VENTILATE!

           A useful rule, IF one bears in mind:
                     Many Lethal Gases are odorfree.
                     Some such paralyze the 'sniffer' nerves.

           Waiting to smell something can get someone dead.
           best
           dwp