[Thursday] Steam Up wrap up - Pacemaker issue

[David Crowell]

 Randy, 

I've been thinking about the rotary spark gap transmitter demonstrator. 

As usual, I asked if anybody had a Pacemaker. When the gentleman at Steam-up responded he had one, I told the people I couldn't run it. The man said he would move away and walked part way towards the front of the building and he said it was okay. I said are you sure and he said yes. I hit the key a couple of times and he said he felt it, but he was okay. I stopped the demo.

A few thoughts:1. Are there any guide lines as to a safe distance? Is the radiation strong enough to go through walls?
2. Should the power of the spark gap transmitter be decreased? Would this make any difference?
3. Would it help if the spark gap transmitter were enclosed in a one inch (or more) thick Plexiglas box?4. Is there a way we can demonstrate the Tesla coil without using the rotary spark gap or is the energy from the 
   Tesla coil itself still a problem? Wikipedia talks about using a solid state device instead of a spark gap.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_coil#Primary_switching
5. Are Pacemakers affected by our Ham Radio transmitter?6. What about the Massie spark transmitter? How safe is that as far as a Pacemaker is concerned? Is the radiation  strong enough to affect people downstairs or even outside?
7. When the telegraph sounder in the Wireless building is operated, it is heard in the AK breadboard radio in the other room! I wonder if this can be a problem for a Pacemaker that is nearby?
Other thoughts:1. When asking if anyone has a Pacemaker, we need to check the other isle by the display cases too.2. Maybe we can get a lead apron (like at the dentist office) for a person to wear.3. To test any of these ideas, a Field Strength Meter or a volunteer with a Pacemaker might be needed!
4. At least one small child went under the rope in front of the displays. The parent was slow to react.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_cardiac_pacemaker#Magnetic_fields,_MRIs,_and_other_lifestyle_issues
Safety must be our highest priority. 
If anyone with a Pacemaker is inside the building, for now just don't operate the transmitter.  

David Crowell10/04/2022


    On Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 11:54:52 PM EDT, Randall Snow via Thursday <thursday at newsm.org> wrote:  
 
 I want to thank everyone who has contributed to another successful Yankee Steam Up this year. Beyond just the day today, that was of course a bit challenging, I appreciate all the dedication and time through the last month of prep. Our progress is being noticed. I heard numerous comments about the significant work that has taken place in the last few years and nothing but positivity about it all. For a unpredictable dreary day, I don't think we could have asked for a better turnout or more positivity. Thank you all for your help.
In the way of numbers, we counted about 375 visitors. Given our confinement to covered spaces it still felt busy. Normal numbers would be at least twice that and I expected 3x that for the day. Food sales were strong, hitting 2/3 of the goals on many things and nearly selling out of some too. Again, great considering the day.
I hope it was a fun day for all of you as well. If there are any stories of particularly good or bad moments, or anything that was noted as needing improvement, please let me know.
One particularly concerning item came up with a gentleman with a pacemaker who was inside the wireless building during a demonstration of the rotary spark gap transmitter. He overlooked the signs and thought nothing of it until he started feeling the effects. We need to do something more for safety around this circumstance. 
Again, thank you all and please share any thoughts from the day.
Randy

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