Re: Mad experiment/Dean Ortner

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

Original poster: "Bert Hickman by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-net>

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the additional information! Last month I was trying to pull
together some more information about this system for Harry Goldman
(TCBA) for historical interest. At one time the Moody demonstrators also
used a ceiling mounted secondary, perhaps in conjunction with the stage
coil perhaps as a bipolar system? In 1965, Harry obtained some of the
system's parameters from their lead scientist and presenter, Dr. Moon:

Primary: 	24" diameter, 7" high, 7 turns
Secondary #1: 	24" diameter, 36" high, 480 turns  (on stage)
Secondary #2	18" diameter, 42" high, 750 turns  (on ceiling )
Tank Cap: 	0.004 uF
HV Supply:  	15,000 volts
Input: 		40A at 220 VAC
Gap Style:  	Rotating

Could you get some further information on this system from Mr. Ortner?
Contact me off list if he doesn't wish to share this on a public forum
or if he'd like me to contact him directly. Thanks!

Additional questions:
1. Is this the same coil and system that was used back in the 1950's?
and are the parameters above correct?

2. Is the tank capacitor size actually 0.004 uF or perhaps instead 0.04
uF? (typo?)

3. Did it use HV AC or HV DC to charge the tank cap?

4. What was the operating frequency?  

5. Did it use any unique charging or gap switching techniques (i.e.,
resonant charging, cap voltage   reversals via spark gap) to
significantly increase the tank cap voltage above that of the supply  
voltage?

6. Any other technical/historical information about this historical coil
would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

-- Bert --
-- 
Bert Hickman
Stoneridge Engineering
"Electromagically" (TM) Shrunken Coins!
http://www.teslamania-dot-com


Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Mark W. Stolz by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <mark_w_stolz-at-hotmail-dot-com>
> 
> >Original poster: "Bert Hickman by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> ><bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-net>
> >
> >Robert and all,
> >
> >This sounds like the famous demonstrations done by the Moody Bible
> >Institute using their "Million Volt" Tesla Coil. This system, was used
> >along with numerous other scientific demonstrations - they brought along
> >LOTS of other neat toys(!), as part of a week long traveling show called
> >"Sermons from Science". The program tied scientific facts/demos with an
> >overarching religious theme. As part of the show, the presenter would
> >stand in bare feet on top of a squat secondary coil (~2 feet in
> >diameter, no toroid). When energized, 3-4 foot streamers would issue
> >from the fingertips of his raised hands which were covered by modified
> >thimbles. The thimbles had little nail-like points soldered to the tips
> >like little breakout points. The demonstrator would also set a 2 X 4
> >board on fire by simply holding it in one hand. The board was wrapped in
> >aluminum foil where he held it to prevent burning his hand, and a
> >graphite trace would be marked via a pencil to promote carbon tracking
> >and quick flaming of the board.
> >
> <snip>
> 
> >the system used a rotary gap. Although the Moody Institute no longer
> >does these performances, a tamer version of these performances is still
> >being done today as the "Wonders of Science", Whittier Christian
> >Schools, Whittier, CA:
> >http://www.wondersofscience-dot-org/
> 
> The "Sermons from Science", now known as the "Wonders of Science", coil is
> technically not a Tesla coil but rather an Oudin Resonator.  I was told this
> by Dean Ortner last week.  He is the one in charge of the "Wonders of
> Science" shows and the one that stands on the coil and ignites the board.
> For those interested, here is more info on Dean and the show.
> 
> http://www.whittierchristian-dot-org/ortner/ortner.htm
> http://www.wondersofscience-dot-org/sfs/BIOGRAPH.HTM
> 
> Mark Stolz
> Houston, TX
>