RE: HV accident (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2007 22:03:44 -0600
From: S&JY <youngs@xxxxxxxxx>
To: 'Tesla list' <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: HV accident (fwd)

Wyatt,

What works for me are a couple of 1 K power resistors, several inches long
to avoid arc-over, each mounted on a pair of 12 inch long HDPE handles.  The
two resistors are connected together with about a foot of HV wire.  The
other ends of the resistors have a couple inches of stiff wire protruding
out which are used to contact the two sides of a capacitor.  This quickly
discharges the caps without the severe stress of directly shorting them.  I
also monitor the HV with my controller panel meter to ensure the voltage
really does go to zero.  Once it is zero, you can then add a shorting jumper
to ensure the caps stay at zero volts.

Bottom line - don't directly short capacitor banks.  Instead, discharge them
through a resistor that can withstand the peak voltage across it.

--Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 9:12 PM
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: HV accident (fwd)


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 04 Aug 2007 05:36:41 +0000
From: nancylavoie@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: HV accident (fwd)

Is there really any truly "safe" way of doing what we do? I mean come
on,every aspect of the hobby has a hazard of some sort and I think that
The List does a pretty good job of pushing those issues (sometimes to the
level of sheer paranoia-see archives for Thoriated tungsten for
example).Perhaps it's time to review some basic safety and maybe we should
all be looking for alternative methods for discharging capacitors that
don't use the trusty screwdriver! I have had no other choice in the past
and never was too crazy about doing it having seen what even a small
photo-flash cap can do when discharged.Is it time to step up to large
shorting relays or something? Wyatt

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> 

> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- 
> Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 22:55:30 +0100 
> From: Chris Swinson 
> To: Tesla list 
> Subject: Re: HV accident (fwd) 
> 
> > 
> > I suspect every one of us has done something with the same potential 
> > for danger. 
> 
> 
> I once built a large rolled cap, about 40nF 5KV, discharged it with a
screw 
> driver after first use, did not use it for a few weeks, picked it up by
the 
> 2 copper pipes which I used as electrodes, next thing I knew I was on the 
> floor unable to get up for about 20mins. needless to say don't ever take 
> anything for granted! 
> 
> Safe coiling to you all! 
> 
> Chris 
> 
> 
> 




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