[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
RE: Non-tech Question
Hi Ted,
If you have to ask - you'll never understand :-) Sorry, but that's my first
hand experience after talking to maybe a hundred people about Tesla Coils...
or 9000 Joule pulse caps... or the 128 horsepower on the rear wheel of my
motorcycle.
I'm sure there are as many reasons as there are coilers, but I'm betting the
dominant reason is the theme you have already mentioned - it's "guy stuff".
It's mean looking, dangerously throws lethal white-hot arcs all over the
place (well, not really, but it looks that way), makes lots of noise, scares
the women & children, etc. The other main reasons you will hear is that we
enjoy the science and engineering behind Tesla Coils and that we just like
to build stuff.
I almost said that I'm half on the "guy stuff" side and half on the "science
side", but that was before I seriously though about it. If I was really
into science and engineering , I could spend all my time trying to figure
out how to scratch build a micro-powered QRP ham rig that I could talk to
other countries on. That would be at least as hard as Tesla Coiling and
would probably teach me about as much radio and EE stuff. Although it
sounds like a neat project, the idea of making a milliwatt device and
learning all those clicks and beeps (morse) just bores me to tears when I
compare it to making BIG ARCS! I also love to build stuff, but you don't
see me making furniture or bookshelves, both of which I could use more than
another coil. Nope, after thinking about it, I have to admit that I mainly
do it because it thrills me.
Now don't get me wrong, I love learning about the theory of coiling and have
learned much from all of the little side roads that coiling has taken me
down. Although I never saw a "live" coil until 2 years ago when I first
flipped the switch on mine, I was really hooked twenty-something years ago
as I watched my first thunderstorm - I just didn't know it yet.
Making Arcs in Huntington Beach, CA
Ross Overstreet
http://users.better-dot-org/roverstreet/
-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla List [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2000 10:36 AM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Non-tech Question
Original Poster: "Ted Rosenberg" <Ted.Rosenberg-at-radioshack-dot-com>
To All Coilers...
Ever since I stood in the total darkness of the Hangman's House of Horrors
last October, playing my theremin to scare folks as they walked by and had
an idea of building a coil for this upcoming October, I have learned much
from all the list contributors.
My modest 6 inch coil is well on the way to completion. The concept for the
use of the coil with appropriate safety measures provided by respected list
members, has been accepted by the management of the haunted house. I hope
that it works and is as successful in its intended purpose...to make the
patrons "wet their pants" as Dr Resonance so aptly put it.
But ever since I began to understand what a Tesla Coil did and having seen
a reasonably sized one in operation last May and learning what was involved
in building one, there has been one question that has gone unanswered.
I do not mean to start a war or an unending thread.
That would be my last intention. I owe much to all the posting people whose
knowledge far exceeds mine in matters Tesla.
But I really want to know why...
If it were not for the Hangman's House I do not think I would ever really
want to build a coil.
But there are those of you who not only start with a coil capable of 6 inch
streamers and keep building more and more until 10 footers or more are
attainable. As a challenge, I recognize that.
People build cars to go faster. Athletes are always trying to better a
record.
But, what real purpose does a coil have other than to scare someone or
worse, injure or kill or merely light fluorescent tubes?
Once someone has achieved that 10 foot arc...what becomes of the coil once
it's power has been shared with all either in person or on the web?
This may sound like blasphemy. But this posting is truly a desire to
understand something of the philosophy of the coiler that so far has
escaped me.
The truth is out there and I want to believe...someone once said.
Help me to understand. And I will thank you all.
Ted Rosenberg