[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Tesla Coil Firehazards (Exploding paint cans) (fwd)



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2007 09:32:22 +0800
From: Peter Terren <pterren@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Tesla Coil Firehazards (Exploding paint cans)

I'll call your bluff on this one and say that you made this one up.
You say you have encountered explosions with paint "most often".
Two reasons I find it hard to believe you.
A can is almost a full Faraday cage and it is hard to imagine how a strike 
could give a spark inside a can.  The contents are probably not flammable 
themselves (hydrocarbon propellant and paint) until mixed with air.
Striking the outside of a can results in very little heat transfer. Try 
heating a full coke can and you will be very disappointed.
So as you started this, please give details of :
1 Exactly how many explosions you have had?
2 What were your TC details including power?
3 Was it just streamers that ignited the cans as you say, not direct sparks?
4 Did the cans have caps on them?
5 Why didn't you stop having the TC strike the cans after the first flash 
fire?
6  If no-one on this list can reproduce your findings and we believe that 
you have lied, what should the group response be?

Peter
http://tesladownunder.com

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 10:15:58 -0700
> From: Nathan Stokely <50kva.54uf.750a@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: Tesla Coil Firehazards (fwd)
>
> Paper and wood are the least of your worries. Any flammable/explosive
> vapours such as petrol or methane can ignite very easily from the 
> streamers.
> Also, strikes to aerosol containers (such as bug spray, spray paint, or
> anything else you have where you operate your coil) can cause the
> hydrocarbon fuel in the aerosol to rapidly expand bursting the can and
> causing a flash fire. I have encountered this with spray paint the most
> often. The can will explode and then the paint (which burns hot) flies
> everywhere and can catch your garage on fire. Always stay away from 
> aerosols
> and fuels while operating a coil.
>
> On 8/9/07, Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: