Re: Safe handling of Capacitors

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

Original poster: "Jim DeLillo by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <jimdel-at-bellatlantic-dot-net>

Wouldn't a length of small diam PVC pipe work?


Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Christopher Boden by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <chrisboden-at-hotmail-dot-com>
> 
>> Ok now where do i get a suitable pole?
> 
> 
> There are several options.
> 
> At the Sigma-6 labs we use a wooden handle from a push-broom with a 12" 
> length of copper pipe screwed on the end. You can get both of these at Home 
> Depot or your local hardware store. We have attached to the inner end (the 
> end nearest the operator) a 12' length of 10AWG wire with Green insulation. 
> This is VERY useful for dischargeing caps, testing electronics (it's how we 
> tested our new pig), and working with Tesla Coils. The technical term for a 
> device like this would be a "Jesus Stick", I have no idea about the origin 
> of the name, but having used them on large caps I would have to say it 
> because that's what most people say the first time they use one with a 
> serious discharge :)
> 
> There is also such a thing as a Hot-Stick. This is also usefull in HV work. 
> You *CAN* use just a wooden pole, but we were fortunate enough to "Liberate" 
> one from an abandoned factory. It's a long (about 8 or 10') 1 or 2" dia 
> fiberglass pole. Ours is painted red. It will have one end with a rubber 
> cap, and the other end will have an odd shaped metal peg with a cone on the 
> tip. The peg will be at a right angle to the long axis of the pole. This is 
> a GREAT thing to have when working with HV. They are used to throw switches 
> in the real world, and other such applications. We use it for those all too 
> often times of
> "Ok....turn it on"
> "No, you turn it on"
> "Um...no.....safety first........MARK!.......-dot-come here.......hey.....push 
> that button"
> FIZAT
> 
> There are a number of things it's nice to be able to do safely with a HV 
> system while operating, and this is the ONLY way I'd come close to touching 
> most parts of a coil while running. I've used it most recently to make 
> discharge measurements with the Sparky (Mark Broker's) coil at Sigma-6. We 
> had a ground rod on a lab stand and I s-l-o-w-l-y nudged it closer to the 
> operating coil with the hotstick untill a streamer connected with the rod, 
> then we shutdown everything and measure. I would never have done this 
> without a LOOOONG pole, as I'm a complete wus and allergic to pain.
> 
> btw, wooden poles are fine, and safe to use, so long as you keep them DRY! 
> Once it gets wet, throw it away. Fiberglass is MUCH better, but harder to 
> get. I think they make fiberglass poles for painting, but make SURE it's not 
> aluminium! That would ruin your whole weekend.
> 
> 
> Have fun, and don't get dead.
> 
> Christopher A. Boden Geek#1 (G-6)
> President / C.E.O. / Alpha Geek
> The Geek Group
> www.thegeekgroup-dot-org
> Because the Geek shall inherit the Earth!
> 
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Jim DeLillo
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