Re: New Toy

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <tesla-at-ian-dot-org>

On Fri, 7 Jun 2002, Tesla list wrote:
> Claude died a few years later of cancer...  Totally unrelated...  He joked
> about all us getting fried, and we squealed with delight :o))  I have never
> noticed any ill effects symelf ~:o))
>
> However, I was always wildly fascinated by the Tesla coil wand!!  Well,
> while getting parts for Paul's next experiment, I saw it!  Brand new!  So I
> got one!!  Not cheap at $170, but I had to have it :-))

Don't worry about any radiation from this.  It puts out lots
of high frequency RF, but no x-rays or radiation.

What you have is an Odin coil, commonly known as a Violet Wand
which were used in the early days of the 1900's as a medical
device.  It was said to cure hair loss, cancer, blindness...
pretty much everything.

Now days all it's claims of health have been disproved, except
one.  It is still used for removing acne.  The HV does a great
job of killing bacteria and it really does work.

Most of the units come with gas filled glass tubes to keep
you safe from any dangerous AC current if you get grounded.
You can find lots of older medical units on eBay and new
ones like you have are still used.  The older ones use
wax cores and will melt and ruin if used for more than
a few minutes at a time.

It lights up neon tubes, light bulbs.. lots of neat effects
from it.  It runs at a frequency WAY higher than a Tesla
Coil, but is similar in operation.

There is a lot of confusion over the safety of these things
if you get zapped by it.  A lot of people say the electrical
skin effect keeps the current from penetrating, but others
say the human body being way more complex than a solid
conductor lets the current go very deep.  What is known is
the frequency is so high your nerves can't register it,
unless it arcs to you.  You can hold the glass electrodes
and feel nothing until you let go.  Long term effects and
possible nerve damage are pretty much not known.  But it
certainly seems quite safe for short periods.

If you like neat electrical things, go find an older one.
They make a great addition to any collection of electronic
junk.  New ones are much better made so better for
demonstrating it to people, old ones look cool.  :-)

--
Ian Smith
www.ian-dot-org
www.sportsmogul-dot-com