IMPORTANT UPDATE for 2011-2012: Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, personnel, and other factors, SCIPP Outreach will not be scheduling any Tesla Coil Presentations in the near future. We hope to resume the program eventually. Thank you for your interest and support of Outreach!
Demonstration Site Requirements:
Our Tesla Coil is designed to produce high voltage arcs as long as 5 feet. In addition we need about 15 extra feet of workspace for equipment and safety. A table or suitable chair is also necessary to help a volunteer get in and out of the metal suit used in our demonstration.
The Tesla is a very magnificent instrument but it can be quite dangerous if it is not treated properly. One of the most important steps in ensuring safety is to make sure that the power outlet that the Tesla Coil is hooked up to is properly grounded. While we will always do our own test at the demonstration site, it would make the demonstration go much more smoothly if you could have a school technician check out the power outlets that will be used and make sure that they are properly grounded. Remember: if we have to move the demonstration to a different location because the power outlet was not properly grounded, we may not be able to accommodate all of the audience.
In addition to the above requirements we ask that you please print out a copy of the AGREEMENT FOR OUTREACH PRESENTATION. Please read, sign, and mail it to the address at the bottom of this page. If you want an additional copy returned to you on the day of the demonstration, please sign and mail and a second copy. The agreement has additional information regarding safety and operation so please be sure to read it carefully and contact us with any questions that you may have. Also, it is preferable for your school to supply a large slide projection screen suitable for a powerpoint presentation and a PA system for addressing the audiance. We can obtain a projection screen if one is not available at your school, but it's very inconvenient for us.
Contact Information:
E-mail:
Tesla Coil Outreach Team: outreach@scipp.ucsc.edu
Send Agreement for Outreach Presentation (or any other mail) to the following address:
Tesla Coil Outreach Team
Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics
University of California, Santa Cruz
1156 High St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Or you may fax to:
Fax: (831) 459-5777
