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Thread: Made a jacobs ladder!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Cairns, Australia
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    1,896

    Default Made a jacobs ladder!

    I got a 15kV 30ma neon sign transformer a while ago, and have made a nice little jacobs ladder in a perspex box. Since i was bored tonight, I got some pics and a vid. I like the pictures

    In real life, its just a single arc going up, but for some reason the camera captured a few, giving the wall effect. You can also see the 50hz cycling in the last pic



    This pic shows 2 arcs, the one up the top didnt finish before the lower one struck.





    And a vid : http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1_8oD8UyZ7c

    EDIT: No [media] tags?


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN, USA
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    3,154

    Default

    Cool!

    Now all you need to do is add MIDI or DMX trigger capability, and set it up with the lasers....
    RR

    Metrologic HeNe 3.3mw Modulated laser, 2 Radio Shack motors, and a broken mirror.
    1979.
    Sweet.....

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    2,147,489,446

    Cool

    Very cool! I've always wanted to build one of these things, but never got up the nerve. I think I've even got a neon sign transformer lying around somewhere, but I don't think it's quite as hot as the one you had. Still, maybe I should start tinkering... (Then again, my wife would probably pitch a fit! I've got enough stuff scattered around my workbench!)

    Adam

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Stockholm, Sweden
    Posts
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    Default

    Nice!

    I built myself a high voltage generator back in high school and of course a little Jacob's ladder to go with it. Mine makes a slightly more annoying sound though due to its higher switching frequency:
    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ql_qE4Qlms

    Nothing you'd leave running in the background... it's quite loud. I don't know what'd kill you first though, the sound or the ozone. Electrically its fairly harmless though, unlike your NST, as its max current is about 2mA. I've been shocked by it a few times and it's not a pleasant experience.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 40kV_ladder.jpg  


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    2,147,489,446

    Default

    Oh WOW! I think you've just created the perfect mother-in-law repellent!

    Tocket, that thing is awesome, but the noise it makes is brutal...

    Hmmm... Maybe I should make one for Halloween next year. If I put it on the porch, the kids won't be able to stand the noise long enough to ring the doorbell. That means more Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for me!

    Adam

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    1 hr from everything in SoCal
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    2,753

    Default

    This is my high voltage baby:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvzxz2ZRr84
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4brHldJ1bo

    750,000V Tesla coil running at about 2.2KW
    If you're the smartest person in the room, then you're in the wrong room.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    2,147,489,446

    Cool

    Nice... Nothing like a good tesla coil!

    Speaking of that, have you seen these *musical* Tesla coils on YouTube? Awesome stuff...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sne_uI2Yq4
    and
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX5V_9s0Gfw&

    Adam

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN, USA
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    3,154

    Default

    I sense a potential "How to..." thread brewing!!
    RR

    Metrologic HeNe 3.3mw Modulated laser, 2 Radio Shack motors, and a broken mirror.
    1979.
    Sweet.....

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Stockholm, Sweden
    Posts
    799

    Default

    Tesla coils are quite something. I've wanted to build one since the first time I saw one. Unfortunately they're rather big as well, so it'll probably be some time before I realize that dream. There's simply no room for a tesla coil in my 33mē flat, no matter how cool it would be! When I do build one it'll certainly be solid state with modulation capability. It might not be until I retire though, and I haven't even started working yet... provided that I don't blow myself up before that.

    One thing to keep in mind when working with these high voltage "toys" though is the amount of RF interference they create. When I turn on my small 40kV 2mA generator all sorts of weird things start happening; my wireless mouse and keyboard instantly stops working, various electronic equipment turns itself on or off, the picture on the TV gets distorted and I can hear the same sound as the HV circuit generates on ALL AM frequencies of my radio. Last time I used it I even killed a channel on my surround system. Stupid MOSFETs...

    Tocket, that thing is awesome, but the noise it makes is brutal...
    Thank you, the first thing people say when I turn it on is for some reason always "TURN IT OFF!". At this point I'm typically mesmerized by the pretty purple plasma arc and not a very good listener, so it isn't long until "TURN IT OFF YOU FUCKING IDIOT, I'M TRYING TO [something] HERE!".

    Personally, I don't think it's that bad...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Ohio USA
    Posts
    562

    Default

    I had a jacobs ladder, but some fuckhead stole it from me when I had a party a few years back.... loser... I want it back NOW.......

    I did see some kind of DMX controlled HV circle type of jacobs ladder on youtube... I'll post a link when I find it..
    Lasers, Lights, Music, Action!

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