Tesla Coil Earthing

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: PeteWoloszyn <pwoloszy@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi,

I am new to this list and am in the process of building my first coil.
I am concerned about the earthing arrangement and the amount of 
return current that i will be pumping into the ground.

How close (or far) should the electrode be placed from the coil?

Has anyone ever given consideration to touch and step voltage hazards 
surrounding the electrode and what the minimum clearances are for 
people for a particular configuration?

Cheers,
Peter