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The Dangers
Hi All,
There has been a lot of discussion about what is dangerous: current, voltage
or frequency. Everyone seems to have a different opinion about this. I would
say it is a combination of all three factors plus a completely uncalculateable
figure: Your body�s ohmical resistance. This depends on so many factors (from
what entry to which exit point, shoe material, your constitution: just to name
three!!) There is no formula or table out there which will tell you what is
safe and what not. So assume what you are doing isn�t safe and be CAREFUL.
If I had to, I would put them in the following "danger order"
1.) The frequency. 50/60Hz is definately nothing to be foolish about. Anything
above 35-40 volts CAN kill you under the right circumstances.
2.) The amperage. Under the right conditions a welding transformer (i.e.: 36
volts unloaded and 100 amp capable) WILL again kill you.
3.) The voltage. If the total voltage is high enough (say a big TC.. low
current, high frequency) will fry you under the right conditions, even without
a strike to the primary.
Bill once said his TC will get a 2x4 to catch fire in under a second. Imagine
if your were struck by such an arc..... UUugh !! You may or may not notice it
right away (your nerve system can�t react to HF), but your body will take
damage from a hit.
You CANNOT say HZ, V or A are singely responsable for death, shock, etc (i.e
the danger)
An igntion coil (GM�s HEi e.g.) puts out 50,000 V -at- .5-1mA. This will be quite
painful, but (assuming no health defects like a pacemaker) it won�t kill you
A 5kv OBIT on the other hand with 10mA (both being 50W) could kill you under
the right circumstanes.
I would say take all three factors into consideration and just check, double
check, AND triple check everything before getting foolish (perhaps for the
first and last time)
Alfred wrote:
"John, I would hope that most of us are smart enough to be wearing rubber
soled sneakers or the like when working with any kind of electronics!"
Hi Alfred:
Rubber soled sneaker won�t help you a bit at high voltage. If you were to
touch a pig (even accidently, a pig doesn�t care abou this !!!) wearing your
rubber snubbers, the voltage would go thru your arm to your legs and right out
of your soles to the next ground. Not sumthin I would want to try.
STAY SAFE Teslaphiles!!!
Coiler greets from germany,
Reinhard