Telivised "electrocution" via Tesla coil

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Scott Hanson" <huil888@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Tonight on A&E's Criss Angel show, there was a segment featuring a large
Tesla coil (provided by one of the list members) and a performer wearing a
chain mail "shark suit" being struck by the "three million volt" discharge
from the Tesla coil. At the highest power level, "something went wrong", and
the performer was (apparently) rendered unconscious by the discharge. The
paramedic crew jumped into action, provided oxygen and rushed the
unconscious performer to the hospital emergency room with ambulance siren
blaring and lights flashing, where he was initially diagnosed as possibly
suffering from "permanent nerve damage".

Now any or all of this may have been faked for the camera, but for the
average TV viewer the clear message was that Tesla coils are EXTREMELY
dangerous devices. Certainly large Tesla coils DO present dangers to
operators and bystanders, but portraying Tesla coils as electrocution
devices on prime time TV might be considered irresponsible, regardless of
how much one is paid by the network. Once Tesla coils have been perceived as
"dangerous devices" (legal term) by the general public and law enforcement,
a whole new window of opportunity opens for the restriction of Tesla coil
possession and operation.

Don't consider this wild speculation. Most of us are probably familiar with
the PVC pipe "potato cannons" powered by a squirt of hair spray or a few
drops of lighter fluid. The BATF specifically excludes these from the
official definition of a firearm, so you might think that building or
possessing one of these devices is "safe". However, local police
jurisdictions apparently have the power to define "dangerous devices". I
personally know of a case in California where a compressed-air powered
potato launcher was seized by police and the owner/builder successfully
prosecuted for possession of a "dangerous device", resulting in a FELONY
CONVICTION.

Don't think that in the worst case it couldn't happen to Tesla coils.

Scott Hanson