Re: Tesla Coil Firehazards (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:25:55 +0000
From: David Rieben <drieben@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: drieben@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Tesla Coil Firehazards (fwd)

Hi Dave, all,

As a professional firefighter for nearly 19 years now (and it's been just 
about that long since I've had any schooling on fire extenguishers ;^), it's 
my understanding that the classes of fire extinguisher go like this:

Class A - wood, paper, and textile products fires
Class B - petroleum product fires
Class C - electrical fires  
Class D - combustible metal fires

The type of fires that a commercial fire extinguisher is designed 
to put out is labeled on the the side of the fire extinguisher. Since 
most A class only fire extinguishers are charged with water, it's ob-
vious that you would not want to squirt it on a fire with liquid petroleum 
products or certainly not live eletrical equipment involved! Also, many 
combustible metals (sodum, potassium, magnesium, ect.) are water 
reactive and the introduction of water to a fire involving these could 
actually worsen the situation (anyone who's ever dropped a lump of pure 
sodium metal into a beaker of water can attest to this!).

Bottom line, the proper fire extenguisher for your high voltage
projects shop should be suitable for class C electrical fires, since
you may not have time to "throw the switch" before attempting extingusih-
ment. Most dry powder and CO2 fire extinguishers are suitable for Class
A, B, and C type fires. Due to its physical properties such as high 
specific heat, surface tension, and low viscocity, water is by far
the universal fire fighting agent, but there are definitely some situtations
in which water is NOT the suitable extinguishment agent!


--
David Rieben

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> 

> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- 
> Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:08:59 -0400 
> From: Dave Pierson 
> To: Tesla list 
> Subject: Re: Tesla Coil Firehazards (fwd) 
> 
> 
> >>Tesla's lab burned down and he had a huge spiderweb coil running 24 
> >>hrs/ day. Perhaps his coil was the reason.hrs/ day. Perhaps his coil was the 
> reason." 
> 
> > What's the source for that information, in particular the 24 hours a day 
> bit? 
> > Can't imagine any reason to do that. 
> 
> One might also ask which lab, where, when? 
> 
> Back to the (valid) reccomen=mendation to have a fire extinguisher handy: 
> Be familiar with the TYPES of extinsuishers, some are rated for electrical 
> fires, some not. (I think its 'Type C' for 'all fires', but may be rong.) 
> 
> Ideally, kill power before using, however there may not be time, the 
> 'right' 
> extinguisher may be important. 
> 
> best 
> dwp 
> 
> 
>