Re: Safety Considerations

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Peter Terren" <pterren@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Sparks are very high temperature but the spark channel is very narrow 
and not a lot of the total spark length energy is dissipated at the 
point of contact. They also tend to be one off or at least a short 
train of 10 - 15 pulses.  A match will supply more energy locally 
(and still won't light carpet).
Don't try this over flammable liquids though as the results may be 
different....
I don't think you will need the fire extinguisher for TC 
sparks.  Your primary circuitry is much more likely to overheat 
though. Don't use a water based fire extinguisher of course.

Peter
http://tesladownunder.com/

> Original poster: Ed Phillips <evp@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> "Speaking of safety, what is the deal with all of these pictures I see
> of tesla coils operating indoors?!?  I've seen strikes hitting carpet,
> curtains and all sorts of seemingly flammable materials...why no fires?
>
> I plan to do most of my testing outdoors with a fire extinguisher handy
> :)
>
> Justin"
>
> What makes you think there have been no fires?  I asked Richard Hull
> something once about pictures like that from the TCBOR guys and he
> mentioned things like "a few fires and burns from home-made X-ray
> tubes".  When I see pictures like that I often wonder what is happeneing
> inside the plaster, in the windings of the bench grinder, inside the
> fluorescent light fixture, etc.
>
> Ed