Be a Scientist: Bottle Electricity.

This is a quick-and-dirty method for making a Leyden Jar (an early form of capacitor) from my old friend, the 35mm film cannister.

Step 1 Tools and materials.

Tools:

Something sharp.

Scissors.

Glue stick.

Materials:

35mm film cannister

Aluminium (kitchen) foil

Wire

Sticky tape

Optional:

Proper wire strippers.

Comments

[Higgs Boson]

So to charge it using the CRT you would just rub the wire connected to the inside foil on the screen? could you charge a leyden jar with a fly back transformer or would it have to be an electrostatic generator?

[Kiteman]

You know when you switch a CRT on or off, and you hear a crackle? Wave the back of your hand near the screen, and you can feel the static make the hairs move on the back of your hand. That's when you "wipe" the wire across the screen.

As for a flyback, I'm afraid I don't know - I've never tried it.

[freeza36]

how else can i charge it?

[Kiteman]

Which ones have you tried?

[freeza36]

ballons don't work for me. I have yet to try my old tv

[vishal11]

Wat ll charge it

[Kiteman]

See step five - if you don't have a high-voltage source, use an old CRT or balloons.

[Electorials]

nice tutorial!
it works perfectly ;)

Thanks!

[Kiteman]

Thank you!

[think3000]

could you charge it with a plasma globe?

[lunchweek]

Thank you, great instructable. I built two of these yesterday and they're working great!

[Kiteman]

Cool, glad you like it.

[geeklord]

does a CRT monitor charge it very effectively???

[skuitarman]

put tin foil on the front of the screen then brush the wires on the tin foil, but be careful you can get A pretty nasty shock

[beehard44]

i'll revamp this leyden jar with that method but with a 1.5l soda bottle

[geeklord]

O, good idea. I thought about doing that with a plasma globe.

[freakyqwerty]

Did you try that method?

[Kiteman]

Yes - switch it on and off, then brush one of the wires over the screen. Repeat that a couple of times (more if you made a large version.

[2743]

BUT, what would happen if we hold the tin foil onfront of the crt tv screen with our bare hands?

[Kiteman]

The charge earths ("grounds") through your body instead of charging the jar.

[Coffee bean]

this applies to tube tvs right?

[Kiteman]

Yes - "CRT" stands for Cathode Ray Tube.

[Coffee bean]

thanks i was pretty sure.

[pocholox8]

could i use aluminum tape?(pls answer asap)

[Kiteman]

That should work.

(Sorry about the delay, I've been away for Christmas)

[yoyoyolilay]

 wait, what source? do you just rub the wires together? or do the wires have to be connected to something?

[the_burrito_master]

get a pvc pipe and an old t-shirt rub the pipe over the top wire. it works much better than destroying your crt tv.

[Kiteman]

Have you not read this?

...try switching your CRT TV or monitor on and off whilst brushing the screen with the centre wire, or rub balloons on your jumper and stroke the bare wire along them them pick up charge.

[NicOmbra]

Jumper?

[Kiteman]

Not easy...

[AlphaRomeo]

how about using a gas lighter - I suppose that it self is generating good are, isn't it

[AlphaRomeo]

would it be better to use some rubber gloves or stand on some wooden platform to save oneself getting hurt?

[Kiteman]

Not with this little thing - you hardly get a kick off it - but, with a big one, rubber gloves wouldn't hurt.

[AlphaRomeo]

I have been checking various high voltage instructables - can someone add safely measures that one should take - of if those are already explained - can we have the link please

[droyce4596]

the biggest safety measure in my opinion would be don't let both of your hands touch a conductive material at the same time just in-case it has a charge in it. Because the most dangerous shock is from hand to hand because it goes across your heart which could potentially stop your heart.

[Kiteman]

With this particular leyden jar, no special measures are required.

[yoyoyolilay]

 do you have to have a battery or something to charge this? or do the wires do the trick? and do they have to be a certain kind of wire?

[Kiteman]

The high-voltage source does the charging (see the second paragraph of step 5).

The wires - anything will do the job, as long as it is slightly stiff so that you can position it.

[woody558]

This is the best leyden jar on instructables! It can create small sparks in 90% humidity!

Thanks Mr. K

 

[Yashknowsbetter]

Hey kiteman!
I just finished with my first Leyden jar! And it's working!Thanks a ton,for this 'ible.
Just had a few doubts.
Why does it get charged by static electricity in particular and not by a 9v dc power supply?
Thanks once again!