HIGH voltage visual effects created in a Bunbury amateur scientist’s backyard have captivated a huge global audience.
Millions have watched Peter Terren’s experiments with electricity and Tesla coils and his many other amazing science feats on-line and on international science shows.
Dr Terren’s Tesla coils produce incredibly long, bright purple sparks that look like forked lightning - which he controls quite literally at his fingertips.
The crackle and snarl of electricity which accompany the light show is phenomenal as Dr Terren illuminates fluorescent lights, melts CDs and performs many other electrifying performances.
He enjoys showing his experiments to a growing audience and he has become quite a showman.
He has spent more than 40 hours being filmed by Lomax Media for Discovery Channel programs and European science shows.
“Tesla coils are visually impressive and in respect to those who collect stamps it’s more dynamic,” he said.
“(It’s about) the power to make things happen which shouldn’t normally happen by controlling a large amount of power.”
And what power.
Dr Terren manipulates a 500,000 volt current to create many electrifying moments.
Standing inside a Faraday cage made of wire mesh shapes the sparks, leaving glowing marks where they strike the wire many times a second, barely centimetres from his face.
“That seems to be more popular than I had expected,” he said.
“Some people use chain mail suits but they look like Robbie the Robot to me. Plus this is cheaper.”
Dr Terren’s trust in the science comes from his knowledge of Tesla’s abilities and he has amazed science journalists and other backyard scientists worldwide.
But the self confessed eccentric scientist admits he has never researched at a library.
His curiosity in science and electricity began when he built a transistor radio in primary school.
Dr Terren discovered Tesla coiling many years later when he was able to re-visit his interest.
“My first attempt at sparks was a few inches long and it grew from that,” Dr Terren said.
He also became an amateur photographer and was driven to improve on what others were putting on the internet.
“The defining thing was when I put it all on my website for my benefit and so other people could see it,” he said.
His website www.tesladownunder.com showcases his experiments the science behind them and his media coverage.
Some of his experiments have drawn hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube including the smoke ring generator built for $100 in an afternoon.
His ‘Eye of Sauron’ video was such an immediate hit that it briefly shut down his internet service provider.
“That’s what I love doing. Something dramatic that generates popular interest,” Dr Terren said.