I mentioned the bit about a firm driven ground on the old BBS. Tom is wise to be concerned. the shell of the fusor is 20kv positive DC! It is also ground. It is very improtant to check this ground visually every time you start the fusor.
Water pipes just aren't what they used to be (copper or iron). Grounds can be floaty depending on your situation in this plastic world. It is wise to either seek out and connect to the mains box ground and or drive a ground in the earth near the fusor and connect it to the shell of the fusor and your electrical ground.
Richard Hull
Created on Sunday, May 20, 2001 12:33 AM EDT by Richard Hull