MTFCA Forum

I just received a pacemaker. My model T is a 1924, so the coils are fairly close. Should I be concerned about rf interference from the coils and or mag?

Thanks,
Mike

I'm not a doctor, but play one on TV...

Sure are lots of people with Ts and pacemakers, my dad was one, so I would say you're good. I would not lay across the transmission though.

I personally doubt that there is a cardiac surgeon anywhere that can answer that question. How many readers here know enough about Model T magneto EMI, AC flux or their magnetic field strength in gauss? If a virtual room full readers cannot answer that question, how would the surgeon (who implanted it, not design it) answer that question? In the absence of a non-ligitable certain answer, he will very likely default to "Why take the chance?" I have seen several T's sold because that is the best scientific answer provided to them by their Dr.

And while no one is going to ask, I'll say anyway, I think the choice to sell the car was the wrong choice, unless it let them sleep better at night.

Anyway, for something very close to an answer, go here: https://wwwp.medtronic.com/medtroniccon ... pr2010.pdf

or just guess.

I think I'll just have my Mother-in-Law who has a pacemaker lean over the mag while the car is running and if she survives then I know I'll be OK.

I am not a doctor, nor have I ever played one. I also am not an attorney, And I do not like them. I totally agree with Scott Conger about most doctors defaulting to the "legal safety net" response.
I was an RFI expert, fault finder, and worked in "electro-magnetic field effect phenomenon" finding as an expert for many years. IF (that silly big IF again) you had a brass era T with an aluminum hogshead, and lay your chest upon it with the engine running? Maybe you could suffer serious effects from the magneto. Even then, I would consider the danger to be minimal.

Is it possible that an electro-magnetic wave could cause a problem with a pacemaker? The actual honest answer is yes. HOWEVER, it would require several unlikely combinations of circumstances to do anything noticeable, let alone serious. Frankly, one would be nearly as likely to suffer adverse effects from the static walking across the carpet in their home as from their running model T.

So go out and enjoy life!

Scott, I agree with you that there's likely few cardiac surgeons, or electrophysiologists for that matter, who know the Gaus units needed to upset the pacemaker, let alone the strength of model T magnets at various distances from the hogshead. They will therefore default to "why take the chance". I believe I posted that link to Medtronics several years ago on the forum, and mentioned my letter from them. It appears that unless you are laying across the hogshead that there isn't enough magnetism to upset the pacemaker. Also, most pacemakers are "demand" type, and only fire if the heart slows too much, such as under 60 beats/minute. the magnet turns them off so your own rhythm takes over. Unless the pacemaker is in constant demand use, there isn't likely to be a problem even if you are laying chest down on the hogshead. Sitting in the driving seat of a T there's likely less concern than the electronics in your modern car. If you have a pacemaker, I suggest you contact medtronics, or the manufacturer of your pacemaker, and then research the magnet strength of the magneto magnets. Also, a running T has more voltage at higher RPM than at idle, but the strength of the magnets and effect on the pacemaker, if any, is unchanged whether the engine is running or not. I personally would have no problem driving a T with a functional magneto, but I suggest folks contact their pacemaker manufacturer for their own piece of mind.

Is this a cardiac pacemaker or some other type ? One implanted for those
who cannot keep a beat in a toe-tapping contest might very well be within
magnetic range to falter while dancing and driving, or just tapping that toe
to the beat of a favorite song playing in one's head while driving. Dancing
and driving accidents kill 3 people every year, worldwide, every six years.
Or maybe it was seven ? Why take a chance ? You never know.

My daughter asked me to join her in dance lessons. About 15 minutes in and
the instructor said "You are, or were a drummer, weren't you ?" Guilty as charged.
My toe tapper is set to carry 4 different beats simultaneously. Makes for very
awkward dancing. I didn't have the money for a new pacemaker.

On the upside ; If your pacemaker conks out while driving the T, could you use the coils as an AED and zapp you back to life ?