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Re: Science Fair Project
From: Phalcon[SMTP:phalcon362-at-worldnet.att-dot-net]
Reply To: phalcon362-at-worldnet.att-dot-net
Sent: Monday, November 10, 1997 5:32 AM
To: Tesla List
Subject: Re: Science Fair Project
Well, I'm kinda conviced now, thanx for everyone's help. But, I wanna make
a small coil, where can I get plans for small coils? Like possibly under 2
feet? I dont want to make a big one & zap myself or others.
>
> From: Chip Atkinson[SMTP:chip-at-XiG-dot-com]
> Reply To: Chip Atkinson
> Sent: Friday, November 07, 1997 2:53 AM
> To: Tesla List
> Subject: Re: Science Fair Project
>
> Greetings,
>
> It's relatively easy to build a tesla coil. Getting it to work is a
> little more difficult. One doesn't have to be an electronics pro, but
you
> do have to be aware of things that don't happen at lower voltages. For
> example, at 12,000 volts you don't even have to touch a wire to get a
> shock. If you get close enough the electricity will reach out and touch
> _you_. Other things to keep in mind are that the capacitors that you
will
> need to make and use keep a charge on them that will cause great
> discomfort or death. I've never been zapped with a cap, and certainly
> never been killed, but I have shocked myself with one end of a 15kV neon,
> which was probably 7500 volts. That was the most painful shock that I've
> ever gotten.
>
> Anyway, I think you can build a tesla coil. While it's not even
necessary
> to understand much about what is going on, it will help you troubleshoot
> when things go awry. Being 13, your biggest problems will probably be
> with money. You'll most likely have to buy the wire for the secondary at
> the very least. The rest can probably be scrounged. You may also have
> trouble getting neon sign transformers because of sign companies being
> afraid of giving/selling a transformer to someone your age. I'd
recommend
> getting a parent to assist you with the neon sign transformer. The rest
> shouldn't be too hard. You can make a capacitor bank with pop/beer
> bottles and salt water. Using light bulbs as resistors, you can probably
> get away without having a variac as well. From what I've seen and read,
a
> working tesla coil can be built rather cheaply, depending on the level of
> scrounging and improvising you are willing to do.
>
> As for the safety warnings on my website, it isn't intended to scare
> people for the purpose of scaring them. It was intended to list as many
> of the real dangers that you'll likely encounter during tesla coil work.
> It is like driving a car in a sense. There are many dangers that you may
> or may not be aware of. When driving a car, you don't just give the
> steering wheel a yank when on the freeway going fast. With a tesla coil,
> you don't touch the capacitor when it's running or charged. There are
> other subtle dangers too. For example, you shouldn't change lanes in an
> intersection. Similarly, you should ventilate the place you are working
> in. Why? The ozone that accumulates can damage your lungs and poison
you
> if concentrated enough. The thing is too, that your sense of smell gets
> used to the ozone smell and you don't notice it until you are wheezing.
>
> Hope that helps.
>
> Chip
>
>
> On Thu, 6 Nov 1997, Tesla List wrote:
>
> >
> > From: Phalcon362[SMTP:Phalcon362-at-worldnet.att-dot-net]
> > Reply To: Phalcon362-at-worldnet.att-dot-net
> > Sent: Thursday, November 06, 1997 3:24 PM
> > To: Tesla List
> > Subject: Science Fair Project
> >
> > hi peoplez, I'm new to this tesla coil thing...lemme explain my
> > situation....
> >
> > ok, I'm 13 yrs old, and in 8th grade, and we got this science fair
project,
> > and I'm thinking of making a tesla coil....I dont have much experience
in
> > this electronic hobby thing, but I looked at a bucha websites when I
found
> > this....you people think I can make this tesla coil? I mean is it easy
> > (not like simple easy, kinda of like a bit fraustrating, but not that
hard
> > easy) and is it like VERY dangerous or do they [websites] just say that
to
> > scare people.
> >
> >
> > p.s. I'm not really stupid just FYI, I go to a gifted school for
people...
> >
> > Phalcon362.....
> > / /
> > / /
> > //
> > /
> > /
> > \ / /
> > \\\' , / //
> > \\\//, _/ //,
> > \_-//' / //<,
> > \ /// <//`
> > / >> \\\`__/_
> > /,)-^>> _\` \\\
> > (/ \\ //\\
> > // _//\\\\
> > ((` ((
> >
> >
> >
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Chip Atkinson; Xi Graphics 1801 Broadway, Denver CO 80202
> (303)298-7478voice (303)298-1406fax (800)946-7433sales
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>