[dorkbotpdx-blabber] Fwd: Not killing people.
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Jason Plumb
Jul 27, 2012, 12:53:35 AM7/27/12
to An discussion list for dorkbot-pdx (portland, or)
I know it's boring, but sometimes you have to consider not killing people.
Like a lot of other interesting stories, it starts with "So we have
these jacob's ladders..."
They're currently mounted in some wooden half-boxes that will be
finished off with plexi so that people can't reach in and touch them to
die. We have this neat clear plastic tube/pipe (maybe 5 or 6" diameter)
that we are considering using instead, and this would give a greater
viewing angle.
The problem is, that I don't remember the material, and I'm unable to
convince myself that it won't kill.
I bought it at TAP, and I think it's acrylic but it could be polycarb
(or ??).
We confirmed that the jacob's ladder does not arc when the wall of the
tube is placed between the two wires..which I think is a reasonably good
test...but doesn't confirm that the the wall of the tube will be safe
for human fingers in the event that one side of the ladder accidentally
touches the tube.
One person suggested rubber gloves, long wooden stick with a grounded
wire attached and poking around to see if it out of the tube. I like
this idea and will attempt soon...but any other ideas about testing with
confidence?
Thanks!
-jason
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Like a lot of other interesting stories, it starts with "So we have
these jacob's ladders..."
They're currently mounted in some wooden half-boxes that will be
finished off with plexi so that people can't reach in and touch them to
die. We have this neat clear plastic tube/pipe (maybe 5 or 6" diameter)
that we are considering using instead, and this would give a greater
viewing angle.
The problem is, that I don't remember the material, and I'm unable to
convince myself that it won't kill.
I bought it at TAP, and I think it's acrylic but it could be polycarb
(or ??).
We confirmed that the jacob's ladder does not arc when the wall of the
tube is placed between the two wires..which I think is a reasonably good
test...but doesn't confirm that the the wall of the tube will be safe
for human fingers in the event that one side of the ladder accidentally
touches the tube.
One person suggested rubber gloves, long wooden stick with a grounded
wire attached and poking around to see if it out of the tube. I like
this idea and will attempt soon...but any other ideas about testing with
confidence?
Thanks!
-jason
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dorkbotpdx-blabber mailing list
dorkbotpd...@dorkbot.org
http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/dorkbotpdx-blabber
dan p
Jul 27, 2012, 1:03:42 AM7/27/12
to A discussion list for dorkbot-pdx (portland, or)
Back in the day, made neon tubes. High voltage and when burning in high currents. Would take the burn in lead attach it to a 4 ft length if tube standard length and while standing on wooden platform complete the circuit. Could get a 4 ft arc.
Jerry Biehler
Jul 27, 2012, 1:06:03 AM7/27/12
to A discussion list for dorkbot-pdx (portland, or)
Two things, I have built one for display before.
Two things. I prefer glass. A jacobs Ladder produces a lot of ozone and various nitrogen compounds. You don't want them completely sealed. And its a good thing to put them on a timer.
Anyway, how thick is the plastic? And assuming you are using a neon sign transformer or a oil burner transformer it is probably not going to kill anyone even if they come in contact with the electrodes.
If you want extra safety you can put the NST on a isolation transformer and not ground the case of the NST or burner transformer. They are mid point grounded on the secondary. This would give you a floating output on the NST with no reference to ground. You still could break down the insulation of the isolation transformers but that is not likely to happen. You can also put a GFCI on it.
-Jerry
Two things. I prefer glass. A jacobs Ladder produces a lot of ozone and various nitrogen compounds. You don't want them completely sealed. And its a good thing to put them on a timer.
Anyway, how thick is the plastic? And assuming you are using a neon sign transformer or a oil burner transformer it is probably not going to kill anyone even if they come in contact with the electrodes.
If you want extra safety you can put the NST on a isolation transformer and not ground the case of the NST or burner transformer. They are mid point grounded on the secondary. This would give you a floating output on the NST with no reference to ground. You still could break down the insulation of the isolation transformers but that is not likely to happen. You can also put a GFCI on it.
-Jerry
Jason Plumb
Jul 27, 2012, 1:06:07 AM7/27/12
to dorkbotpd...@dorkbot.org
Our stuff is small in comparison! Initial gap is maybe 1cm, ends at 5
or 6cm about 6 or 8 inches up.
-jason
On 07/26/2012 10:03 PM, dan p wrote:
> Back in the day, made neon tubes. High voltage and when burning in high
> currents. Would take the burn in lead attach it to a 4 ft length if tube
> standard length and while standing on wooden platform complete the
> circuit. Could get a 4 ft arc.
>
> On Jul 26, 2012 9:53 PM, "Jason Plumb" <ja...@noisybox.net
> dorkbotpdx-blabber mailing list
> dorkbotpd...@dorkbot.org <mailto:dorkbotpd...@dorkbot.org>
> http://music.columbia.edu/__mailman/listinfo/dorkbotpdx-__blabber
> <http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/dorkbotpdx-blabber>
Jerry Biehler
Jul 27, 2012, 1:07:08 AM7/27/12
to A discussion list for dorkbot-pdx (portland, or)
With the bombarding transformer, right? Those will put out 15kv at an amp.
-Jerry
-Jerry
Karl Anderson
Jul 27, 2012, 12:52:19 PM7/27/12
to A discussion list for dorkbot-pdx (portland, or)
I don't remember the amperage, and they're not here, but we're running
two neon sign transformers, 5KV and 7.5KV.
two neon sign transformers, 5KV and 7.5KV.
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