united-states is-x-legal
Is owning high voltage equipment legal?
<p>So pretty much all of you have probably seen the channel, TheBackyardScientist. Hes a really skilled YouTuber that does all of these crazy science experiments including Defibrillating steak, playing with molten metal, and other crazy stuff. The Defibrillation and capacitors really got me thinking, 'Is it perfectly legal to buy a bunch of capacitors and make my own high voltage toy as long as i know what im doing? I typed &quot;Is it illegal to own a TELSA&quot;, and the results came back as trying to convince me to buy a TESLA. I want to know if it is illegal to make my own Telsa Coil and use it, as long as it doesnt do any of the following: Disturb the neighbors, Injure anyone else, Not big and bulky, or turn into a bomb and blow everything in the surrounding area up.</p>

<p>The chief legal problem might be (depending on how you build and operate the thing) the amount of Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) that you're causing.</p>
<p>You are <em>not</em> exempt from FCC regulations, but</p>
<blockquote>
<p>§ 15.23 Home-built devices. (a) Equipment authorization is not
required for devices that are not marketed, are not constructed from a
kit, and are built in quantities of five or less for personal use. (b)
It is recognized that the individual builder of home-built equipment
may not possess the means to perform the measurements for determining
compliance with the regulations. In this case, the builder is expected
to employ good engineering practices to meet the specified technical
standards to the greatest extent practicable. The provisions of §15.5
apply to this equipment.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Since the question assumes &quot;the builder knows what he's doing&quot;, we may assume the FCC demand &quot;the builder is expected to employ good engineering practices&quot; is met. But that also would assume that the builder knew about EMI in the first place.</p>

<p>If you live in an apartment or condominium, the lease or condo association agreement may have rules about what you are allowed to plug into electric power outlets. Such contracts might require that anything you plug in be listed by a testing laboratory such as UL or ETL. So consider this if the device you make plugs in.</p>
