Fwd: [TCML] Deadly MOTs (warning)

[krux]

FYI, something to bear in mind if you ever think about playing with
Microwave Oven Transformers (MOTs).


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [TCML] Deadly MOTs (warning)
Date: 2018-04-08 20:37
From: Steve White <steve....@mchsi.com>
To: Tesla Coil List <te...@pupman.com>
Reply-To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <te...@pupman.com>

This message is mostly for newbies and other people inexperienced with
high voltage, especially MOTs.

We often read warnings about the potential dangers of MOTs but I have
never heard of anyone actually being killed by a MOT. That has now
changed. About 2 weeks ago a friend of my son was killed by a MOT. He
was 30 years old. I don't know all of the details but he had made some
sort of wood-burning tool that he was using to burn images on to wood as
art. Somehow he touched the HV terminal of the MOT and it instantly
killed him. I had no idea he was trying to do such a thing because
unfortunately he never consulted me about it. I have known him since he
was a teenager and I can tell you that he knew nothing about HV or even
electricity. He probably got this idea from the internet. MOTs can be
put to many useful purposes (I use them myself) but you must know what
you are doing and understand the danger.

So the lesson to take from this is to heed the warnings about the safe
use of MOTs in HV projects. These warnings are real.

Steve
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[Daniel Hill]

Probably something like this but with more voltage. It is very popular right now in the woodworking community.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Woodburning-with-Electricity/

[kr...@krux.org]

> Probably something like this but with more voltage. It is very popular right now in the woodworking community.
>
> http://www.instructables.com/id/Woodburning-with-Electricity/

Actually, exactly that. MOTs are not current limited, so the 2000vac they put
out, is pretty lethal, pretty fast.

Neon Sign Transformers are current limited, though they are current limited to
between 15 and 30mA are still well into in the dangerous/lethal range.
Though since they are current limited at least, they are "safer" than MOTs.
But not something you play with unless you've done your research, and you
practice a bloody hell of a lot of safety.


perl -e 's==UBER?=+y[:-o]}(;->\n{q-yp-y+k}?print:??;-p#)'

[kr...@krux.org]

Oh yea, and normal electrical insulation may as well not even be there when
you're talking high voltage. Most household stuff is only rated for 600V os
so. High voltage wire is built a bit differently. Looks almost like a
thin coax cable without the shielding.