Re: Holloween Ideas...

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

Original poster: "Arpit Thomas" <neko4-at-dodo-dot-com.au> 

Great idea with the pumpkin, except dont use spark plug wiire, its very 
resistive. maybe some sort of coax would be in order, I dunno.

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 28/09/2003 at 2:58 PM Tesla list wrote:

 >Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance-at-jvlnet-dot-com>
 >
 >
 >The helium idea sounds interesting but I can't see it actually working.  If
 >you discharge the coil into the helium near the ground, it should follow
 >the
 >helium trail to the nearest ground, ie the helium bottle or the ground
 >itself and not discharge upwards into the air.  You would have to totally
 >insulate the helium and an area of ground for this to work if the coil is
 >discharge near the ground through hidden wires.
 >
 >You might try an elevated pumpkin on fiberglass rod with a small needle or
 >group of needles sticking out of it's mouth area.  A pumpkin with 6-7 foot
 >sparks emitting from the mouth would be interesting.  You can use spark
 >plug
 >wire covered with plastic tygon tubing to hook up to the coil.
 >
 >Dr. Resonance
 >
 > >
 > > Personally, I think it'd be really cool if you got a canister of helium
 > > (lighter-than-air, easily ionized) and released a cloud of it to cling
 >to
 >the
 > > ceiling. Turn on the coil with a connection near the ceiling, and
 >suddenly
 > > sparks are flying all over the ceiling of the room.
 > >
 > > I wouldn't pull a stunt like that in any place except one that had no
 >wiring
 > > in the ceilings (read: a dedicated stunt house).
 > >
 > > On the other hand, you could do something similar outdoors: Turn on the
 >coil,
 > > and make it discharge into the helium tank. Start pumping helium out,
 >and
 > > have a column of sparks flying into the air for probably 20 feet.
 > >
 > > A variation would be to have both the TC power and gas release slaved to
 >one
 > > control, so you press the button and the tanks shoot out a jet of
 >helium,
 > > belching sparks. It'd be a good use for a coil small enough it wouldn't
 >hurt
 > > anyone: bury little cans of helium that are leaking to create a plume,
 >and
 > > have a little discharge wire connected to each. Behind the scenes,
 >ground
 > > your coil to the wires randomly, so it's like lightning shooting out of
 >the
 > > ground for no reason.
 > >
 > > Did I get any ideas right?
 > >
 > > On Saturday 27 September 2003 04:05 pm, Tesla list wrote:
 > >  > Original poster: BunnyKiller <bunikllr-at-bellsouth-dot-net>
 > >  >
 > >  > Its that time of the year again and the ideas of sparks n arcs themes
 >for
 > >  > haunted houses are becoming a prominent part of my daily thoughts...
 > >  >
 > >  >
 > >  > I want to do more than Zap a pumpkin on a metal post....  I have a
 >couple
 > >  > of ideas  some good a few lame...  but Im looking for that really
 >good
 >show
 > >  > stopper that will make people remember the scene.   I am limited to
 >about
 > >  > 8' radius ( well actually 12' but I want to keep the safety margin
 >high)
 > >  >
 > >  > This years idea is to have a 36" skeleton with demon wings sitting on
 >the
 > >  > toroid with a wire run to his fingertip pointing outwards towards the
 >end
 > >  > of a bridge going across the "swamp" ( round muddy bare spot
 >surrounded
 > >  > with dead bushes/ tree limbs etc   where the pool was)
 > >  >
 > >  > I ask the patrons to "ask" the evil demon permission to cross the
 > >  > bridge....   they ask   I hit the foot pedal activating the coil....
 >I
 > >  > tell them he said "NO"    I make them ask again....   hit the switch
 > >  > again...   then tell them he said "YES" ...   I allow the patrons
 >across
 > >  > the bridge
 > >  >
 > >  > and no Im not going to activate the switch while they are crossing
 >the
 > >  > bridge  ;)
 > >  >
 > >  > this way they get to see the coil in action twice....
 > >  >
 > >  > what would be better in this case???   a chicken wire mesh to direct
 >the
 > >  > arc and brighten it to a blinding noisy white arc or should i go for
 >the
 > >  > free ranging longer thin blue streamer effect??
 > >  >
 > >  > any of you fellow tesla coilers have any " professional " experience
 >in
 > >  > visuals for this type of theme ...  I would love to hear from yall
 > >  >
 > >  > and you all with the creative minds   let me know what yall think...
 > >  > Im all ears...
 > >  >
 > >  >
 > >  > Scot D
 > >
 > >
 > >