Tesla Coils, They did it!!!

  Howdy Everyone.

  Does anyone here know anything about Tesla Coils?

My boys are about ready to set the world on fire with a considerably large Tesla Coil they have designed and are building.

I and mostly my wife…  are concerned about the danger of what this project is capable of.  Just plugging this thing into the wall sets us into a different category of our battery operated prototypes, but I just have no experience other than you tube videos and what I'm reading.

Anyone have experience or even better yet, can help advise my young scientist?     

 

That'll keep the kids off my lawn!

Make sure keep the pets away 

  Howdy Everyone.

  Does anyone here know anything about Tesla Coils?

My boys are about ready to set the world on fire with a considerably large Tesla Coil they have designed and are building.

I and mostly my wife…  are concerned about the danger of what this is project is capable of.  Just plugging this thing into the wall sets us into a different category of our battery operated prototypes, but I just have no experience other than you tube videos and what I'm reading.

Anyone have experience or even better yet, can help advise my young scientist?     

 

LOL at least they are not making gun powder and other things yet. I'm sure they will be ok how much brain damage can that do any way. They will be fine I'm sure as soon as they find out there is pain involved.

My wife is freaking out, and I keep telling her what I was doing at 17…   

  I think were OK…  but we do need more info before this thing gets power,  and then multiples it or something like that.  My boys are just Fascinated with Mr. Tesla and the innovated inventions he had. Did you know that his original idea for electricity was free power for all.  It involves the theory behind the Tesla Coil in that is creates a field or plasma field of energy.  Tesla's idea was to have these coils all over the country and world that would generate free energy to all.  The problem was there was no way to profit and then came Eddison.

A real jackass if you do some research and stole, screwed over most of what Mr. Tesla invented.  Interesting stuff…

Thanks for the replies and I do think they will be fine.  I'm not to concerned about this 'lighting" that comes out of the Tolrad,  but more of the huge high voltage system were creating underneath this thing...

Make sure keep the pets away 

I'd say the opposite. Test it on the cat.

Hi,
Properly constructed, shielded, and grounded, both for the device, and the target,  it is true that a being zapped by a tesla coil can be safe, and the machine safe to use.  They are really neat to play with.  But the circuitry is producing very high voltages and this is nothing to toy around with without either a good set of plans or kit, or very good expert advice.  Depending on their ages and responsibility level they might need supervision regardless.
So where to go.  If your kids school has a competent science teacher to act as an adviser that would be good.  Maybe the high school, or you might go to the Electrical Engineering Dept at UC and ask a professor if he could help.  The other great source of info and maybe help would be the Exploratorium in SF. It has an incredible number of highly competent builders of electrical devices.  I made parts for them and had a lot of interactions with them in the past.  In fact, you should bring the kids there regardless.  It is an incredible learning resource and fun for kids of any age.
When my son was young he had some amazing learning breakthroughs by playing with some of the exhibits there.  When you get there find out where the workshop is and try to speak with some of the guys there.
Have fun with your scientist kids and be safe.

Hi,
Properly constructed, shielded, and grounded, both for the device, and the target,  it is true that a being zapped by a tesla coil can be safe, and the machine safe to use.  They are really neat to play with.  But the circuitry is producing very high voltages and this is nothing to toy around with without either a good set of plans or kit, or very good expert advice.  Depending on their ages and responsibility level they might need supervision regardless.
So where to go.  If your kids school has a competent science teacher to act as an adviser that would be good.  Maybe the high school, or you might go to the Electrical Engineering Dept at UC and ask a professor if he could help.  The other great source of info and maybe help would be the Exploratorium in SF. It has an incredible number of highly competent builders of electrical devices.  I made parts for them and had a lot of interactions with them in the past.  In fact, you should bring the kids there regardless.  It is an incredible learning resource and fun for kids of any age.
When my son was young he had some amazing learning breakthroughs by playing with some of the exhibits there.  When you get there find out where the workshop is and try to speak with some of the guys there.
Have fun with your scientist kids and be safe.

Thanks Alcim11…

  That's the great advice and will do...

Google Dr Megavolt, one of my favorite freaks at Burningman. 

I grabbed one side of a working and hot tesla coil in Jr. High School (young and stupid) and got knocked on my ass. Ultra high voltages....definitely need adult supervision...and a proper understanding of the device!

-Murf

I'm on deck with the whole thing…

  But their light years ahead of me, I just know electricity and know it can kill.  What they have come up with is simply amazing, technical  and scary.  Their room looks like NORAD already and can only imagine what their up too.  I think were going to get a solid state kit while were still building this one.

Again it's solid state, but this would be taking it up a notch with AC and more hands on building with great instructions and explanations. My Guys are saying...

  "We got this…"       and see this as only to my amusement,  but at least it buys more time as we all learn more.

 The original design they started with was a 12" diameter PVC pipe 5' long… Talked them down off that and Thanks Mr. Magoo for the advice on how to get rid of this pipe, it's actually quite expensive.  Expect it at your shop soon as Andy was very sympathetic and it's going to be in your lobby for consignment.

Wow, there truly are no limits to the interests and motivations of NCKA members!

I must chime in to say, Dr. Megavolt was great at BM, and "The Drunk History of Nicoli Tesla" on you tube is a must-see.

Electricity is scary and I think starting small would be wise. An "Artist" I knew made a name for herself in some Oakland circles when her Tesla coil burned down a Multi-tenent dwelling and took an epic vinyl collection with it. Supposedly the thing wasn't even plugged in, and a lesson on capacitance was acquired. The artist did alright, but the DJ never recovered from his losses.

Google Dr Megavolt, one of my favorite freaks at Burningman.

+1
Besides Dr Megavolt, my friend Kelek built one for Burningman. She promptly burnt down the  live/work wharehouse she was living at. Personally i know nothing about them and whenever I go to a SRL or burningman show with these running I keep my distance. Hell, when it comes to SRL any of their machines will kill you in a split second.

LOL, Brian. I love the way you call Kelek an "artist" in quotation marks...frekin hilarious.

We work in high-energy here at work, in the tens-thousands of volts at times.  Scary to work around needless to say!  It's quite omnious when you can hear the electricity humm.

The Tesla Coil is quite unique if handles with great care, respect & knowlege.  Even a small one can be deadly.  Proceed with great caution!

Bill