Electronics vs. Tesla coil

[daltore]

I learned something new in Physics 2 today. We were talking about electricity, so my teacher brought in a small spark-gap table top Tesla coil and did the standard demos, then he asked if anyone wanted to touch it. Since I plan to build one in a few months, I figured I should get an idea what I was in for, so I did.

Next period, I pulled out my palm pilot to make a note, and it had ceased to function with the strangest error I've ever seen it run, resetting once a second.

This brings me back to Maker Faire a couple years ago where I got to witness Arc Attack up close and personal, and when I got home my cell phone showed a blank screen.

Any comments on this phenomenon? I've already found a thread about the Palm m505 about how it's especially prone static electricity problems. I guess the main lesson is take the electronic gadgets out of your pockets before you touch a Tesla coil

[EricGoodchild]

Thats strange Ive never had that happen to me befor. I have 2 DRSSTC (Duel Resonant Solid State Tesla Coil) same as arc attack just not as big, and I have never killed any electronics with them. From my experience I would say the plasma has to strike the device to kill it. Otherwise you will just interfere with the device because of the massive amounts of RFI produced by the coil.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

An old ham once told me...
"Boy, the only thing predictable about lightning is it's unpredictable."
When you have high voltage of any kind in close proximity to micro-millimeter electronic junctions, failures can occur. some are transient and some are permanent. Try removing the battery if you can for 10-15 seconds and reinstall.

[EricGoodchild]

hehe I am a Ham too. and believe it or not high voltage electricity can be very predictable it will always find the shortest path to ground. Although I can see it interfering with sensitive MCU devices but never my cell phone. It's funny I can touch the arcs of my Tesla coil with my cell phone in my pocket and it is always fine, but on the other hand a VCR 3 rooms away goes crazy lol

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Eric,
Find me and ask about the ham that had a direct strike on his tower that took out his plumbing and set the house on fire. Shortest isn't the rule.

[Jeff Pahl]

I used to take lightning strikes on my tower all the time. Tower was right outside the window from my PC. Never had a problem with the PC. Did have problems with the garage door opener on the other end of the house. Also had problems once with the phone line, which also came in the other side of the house.

And I could often tell when I was about to get hit, as the phone would start ringing continuously from the induced voltage in the phone line, for about 2-5 seconds before the big flash and noise.

[Dale(294engr]]

Hey I'm a Ham too!! K3MNN living in So Cal!! (originally from Pittsburgh PA)

Look me up in Newton I'll relate some interesting Tesla Tests I've performed.

The relevant one for you.. 2" wide Copper ribbon shorting an 18" florescent lamp still lights..

Induction proliferated around a spark gap tesla!! it is the impulse that does the damage.

even short wide copper / silver ribbon represents high impedance, allowing development of voltages high enough to arc in the most unsuspecting places..

The field can encompass a very large area.. and long arc hits set up their won LCR resonances in odd places.

Faraday shields can be effective

.. all bets are off on anything with an antenna protruding!!

even Satellite launches have succumbed... to this force..

Dale..

[EricGoodchild]

I'm glad to see so many Hams in Robotics. Also I'm glad to see there are some more Tesla Coilers besides me here. BTW I build Solid State Tesla Coils and not SGTCs.





Eric
KI6LPX
So Cal