RE: [TCML] Tesla Coil Output Hazards, Skin Effect?

["Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>]

Regardless of whether there are hazards specific to the high frequencies, you would be ill-advised to permit students to get close enough to make any kind of contact with the business end of your coil.  Even with my 4/20 NST coil, contact with the sparks is VERY painful and a violent recoil by the victim is likely.  Trauma from the recoil (and justifiable anger/lawsuits) is more likely than HF-related problems.  I also give demos with my 4/20 coil at my kid's school, and I use a hand-held dead-man switch to minimize the likelihood of someone getting too close to it.  A 15/30 may be on the large side for a school demo...

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clive Hansen [mailto:mrclivehansen@xxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 10:50 AM
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Tesla Coil Output Hazards, Skin Effect?
>
> Hello,
>     I have been reading some information which seems to assume that the
> output from a Tesla coil is not hazardous because of its high frequency
> and low current. However, I have also read a number of sources who
> believe otherwise. Because I never find any reports of people coming
> into contact with their HV output, it is difficult to come to a
> definitive answer. I am thinking of doing a demo of my coil at a local
> school when I have it finished and I need to weigh the dangers of having
> a device like that near the kids. Also, it is driven by a 15/30 nst.
>
> -Clive
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