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Registered Member #2566
Joined: Wed Dec 23 2009, 05:52PM
Location:
Posts: 147
I was wondering how much electrostatic energy from static generator is considered dangerous ? By that I mean that it can left you unconscious or kill. 1J VDG does not present danger in that way.For example,this article overestimates the danger.But machines like these,with few hundreds of joules,have capability to electrocute I think.
Registered Member #834
Joined: Tue Jun 12 2007, 10:57PM
Location: Brazil
Posts: 644
I have a calculation more detailed than the one in this site here: The maximum energy of the discharge is proportional to the cube of the radius of the terminal. E=500 r^3, with r in meters. For 1 Joule, r=12.6 cm, or diameter=25.2 cm, as in the article. For 10 Joules, a sure trip to the hospital, r=27 cm, or diameter=54 cm.
Registered Member #2566
Joined: Wed Dec 23 2009, 05:52PM
Location:
Posts: 147
Nice formula for VDG energy! ^^ But does it mean that 10 J VDG can electrocute? I never heard that VDG with dome d~0.54 m sent somebody to hospital. Anyway this is funny link with 0.5J<E<5J.
Registered Member #834
Joined: Tue Jun 12 2007, 10:57PM
Location: Brazil
Posts: 644
In these hair rising experiments the voltage rarely rises to more than a few tens of kV. A charged VDG is not exactly the same as a charged conventional capacitor. The other plate of the distributed capacitance is everything around, and so the discharge path may have vary large resistance. I don't recommend taking a spark from a large VDG inside a Faraday cage, however.
Registered Member #3343
Joined: Thu Oct 21 2010, 04:06PM
Location: Toronto
Posts: 311
Antonio !
Congratulation for the construction of all these eletrostatic machines. It is so nice receive all construction details as well as the the solid theory concept and historical facts...
I have read your articles, following step by step your explanations. I use your programs for electrical analyses. (Inca, Teslasim, Tesla Optmizer,)
I believe you have helped with a arc starter some time ago...
Registered Member #2893
Joined: Tue Jun 01 2010, 09:25PM
Location: Cali-forn. i. a.
Posts: 2242
Well, AFAIK there have been no recorded deaths from a VDG or similar electrostatic machine. IIRC Tesla coils claimed 3 lives in the 60's, and that's because of the tank circuit.
Registered Member #834
Joined: Tue Jun 12 2007, 10:57PM
Location: Brazil
Posts: 644
Really. The most dramatic reports are in texts of the XVIII century about discharges of large Leyden jars. Small animals were often killed in demonstrations. Some deaths occurred only in experiments with lightning.
Large battery of Leyden jars Richmann's death while experimenting with lightning
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VDG danger?
