Tesla coils?

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:07 am

So what kind of restrictions/rules/etc would there be on a smallish Tesla Coil rig?

hunter S · Post by **hunter S** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 12:52 pm

None! bring it! I've brought one the last couple years, Dr Mega Volt brings his big toys! It's all good...electricity is our friend!

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:04 pm

My hero..

http://www.drmegavolt.com/index.html

I just ooze with love and respect for this guy!

There are some GREAT books about N. Tesla and his work out there, excellent additions to any library.

thisisthatwhichis · Post by **thisisthatwhichis** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:52 pm

Yes!......Pyker, you go!

Dustdevil · Post by **Dustdevil** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:24 pm

Please don't forget Mistress Megavolt. (Picture #45)
http://www.rowdydow.com/gallery/?gid=2006-08-future

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:17 pm

...if your Art is deemed dangerous, you might be asked to define a safe perimeter (perhaps with gaurds). This could be a fence, or a line on the ground, depending. But most Tesla coils are not all that dangerous...what size are we talking?

Dustdevil · Post by **Dustdevil** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:41 pm

Dragonfly is correct. If it is dangerous YOU will be asked to provide a safety perimeter. If it is really dangerous, like 2BLEVE in 06' (see youtube video) the BR Rangers will create a perimeter. And if it is loud enough and really really dangerous, your art will create its' own perimeter. (see link)

I for one would love to see more Tesla coils. Therm uses one to ignite some of their fire art at performances in the Bay Area.

http://www.jesshobbs.com/brc2006/eldiablo/index.html

Finnegan · Post by **Finnegan** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:49 pm

"Restrictions"

?!

No I don't think you get it yet. Blow shit up. We dare you.

It sounds like a fabulous idea!

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:40 pm

If anyone is out there with pacemaker, the coil can screw with it, but then anyone with a pacemaker knows to stay away from microwaves and telsa coils.

Badger

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:49 pm

Tesla coils are awesome sparky and cool sounding too, but I've never seen a Van de Graff generator out on playa. Would they work there? Is it too dry? Should I build one and find out? Hmmmmm.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:59 am

I know... I watch him play and my knees melt.

Notice his show is on top of a truck? Nice stage. Keeps people AWAY.

Last year, one of his coils blew - I don't know if anyone else noticed, but it was heartbreaking. I'm just glad he's out there again!!!

And... um... Isn't looking into an arc kinda hard on the eyes??? Just wondering...

bb

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:43 am

His original thought was a Van de Graff but he decided to go Tesla instead. If he'll quit lurking, he might come answer.

If it all comes together, I can utilize my truck as a platform for it. I was already planning on a deck for the top of the ladder rack.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:47 am

I'd love to do a directed arc from a T coil on either side to a grounded center connection (somehow) or a single on one side to a tower ground on the other... as part of the entry arch over our Kamp. Or over the entrance gateway to a certain pseudo-village... heh heh heh...

bb

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:57 am

Now that would be a good entrance for their DOOM.

"Hey, where's the DOOM?"

--<ZOT>-- sizzle sizzle

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:44 am

...But DON'T bring one of those rigs that "Ziggy" Tesla was tinkering with in "The Prestige"- The LAST thing we need out there is a big MOOPy pile of black cats and tophats.

Steven bradford · Post by **Steven bradford** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:21 pm

I dunna unnerstand this fixation on 19th century tech. Where are the superconducting railguns and plasma cannons?

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:23 am

dragonfly Jafe wrote:But most Tesla coils are not all that dangerous...what size are we talking?

Wrong, absolutely. You are thinking of Van deGraff generators which are, in essence, giant static electricity machines. To make a Tesla coil work one needs a high voltage power supply and a spark gap. The spark gap gets super hot and involves highly lethal voltage. The discharge from a Tesla coil is far from benign. Tela coil lightening has a "tendency" to follow along surface areas and thus serious injury is sometimes avoided. However this rule of thumb is never trusted by anyone who has ever built a coil. A Tesla coil that isn't properly grounded can kill you even after its unplugged. There is a real good reason Dr. Megavolt has no exposed skin while the coil is on and his coils are mounted high enough so no one can encounter them but the properly protected Megavolt crew.

Not tryin' to be a know-all, just know what it feels like to get zapped.

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:32 pm

Teo del Fuego wrote: To make a Tesla coil work one needs a high voltage power supply and a spark gap. The spark gap gets super hot and involves highly lethal voltage. The discharge from a Tesla coil is far from benign.

Very true, and also points out some nice features about Van De Graff machines, like they need no HV power supply, in fact can be hand cranked or pedal powered for that matter, and their voltage is high but current is very low and safe (at least in the common small-mid size science demonstrators).

They do need a good ground to draw charge out of (hence my wondering if the playa surface was too dry...but me thinks a copper rod could be driven down 5 feet or so and be in nice moist charge rich playa) and dust would be absolutely fatal to the charge conveying ability of the belts/rollers so that would need to be sealed. Other than those issues the things ought to work on the playa and at night produce a very pretty glowing corona. The top sphere would likely have to be dusted and cleaned regularly.

A plasma cannon would be fun too.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 9:49 am

Steven bradford wrote:I dunna unnerstand this fixation on 19th century tech. Where are the superconducting railguns and plasma cannons?

Those are TWENTIETH century technology! This is the Grass Roots Twenty-First, so find a rock that feels good in your hand.

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:03 pm

Old science teacher joke:

Q: What's the difference between a Tesla coil and a Van de Graaf machine?

A: A whole lotta hurts!

Get it? Hurts you with lots of hertz, as in a Tesla is high frequency AC discharge and a VDG is DC HV milliamp and oh never mind....

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:23 pm

.....when I said most Tesla coils are not dangerous, I was refering to the 12" kind (The vast majority of tesla coils people deal with). Having played with one for years, I can attest that you cannot injure yourself with one of these (I tried enough times while drunk). This is why I asked for size.

Bigger tesla coils can kill you (or someone else). If you are not experienced with high voltage electricitry, you may want to gain some experience before proceeding....or at least have an up to date insurance policy

timburly · Post by **timburly** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:55 pm

If your playing with high voltage and are stupid enough to short it across your chest then hell, out of the gene pool! Its population control.

A friend of mine built one about a year ago, made a beer bottle capacitor......couln't waste the beer so we where a bit drunk by the time we fired the thing up.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:39 pm

Have you seen the film of the girl sitting on a tesla coil doing a song?
She is wearing insulated wired gloves and raises her hands to release arcs.
Wish we could get her out to the playa.
Hella cool.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:46 pm

dragonfly Jafe wrote:I was refering to the 12" kind

I suppose size does matter, ehem!, but the majority of Teslas I've seen at BM functions (i.e. big enough to view from more than a few feet away) were 2-3 feet high and running hi voltage.

I always wondered if you could make a pedal powered VdG or maybe a Wimhurst machine mounted on a moving bicycle? I suppose dust and problems sufficiently grounding the thing would be huge hurdles...still is an interesting idea.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:34 pm

Check out the rig in the film The Scarlet Clue.
Looks like a cylindrical van de graaf maybe?

Tesla coils?

Tesla coils?

what about Van de Graff gens?