How to build a Five Foot Tall Jacob's ladder

Step 5 Build a case

To make sure no one grabs the pipes, build a case around them.

I cut pieces of acrylic on a table saw and attached them to the base and a small frame at the top. There is a piece of reflective mylar on the back acrylic.

Comments

[pkrouse]

I was experimenting with helium + jacob's ladders last year. I had an acrylic tube around my ladder's rods, capped at the top, glued to the bottom. I put a schraeder valve and a bleed tube in the bottom (opening in side the tube, naturally) and filled the thing up with helium. It made a *beautiful* violet arc. I ended up putting a rubber glove on the bleeder valve to handle gas expansion from the heat. I assume I had a leak somewhere, because the effect went away after a few days' time.

Also, the rods were brass, and tarnished. I thought the helium would prevent that ,but it didn't. Been meaning to repeat this with stainless steel rods and a better-constructed tube.

[brady911]

is it just me or is it true that it will produce nitrogen gas or something of the sort. and it will fill the enclosement with the gas.

[uGo]

it makes O3 ( ozone) ;)

[strmrnnr]

I just had a vision while reading this Eric.

I saw a similar ladder but with smaller, more flexible, tubing being used and the tubing was bent into curves and loops, some similar to a helical staircase. The sparks were traveling around the track of the tube in amazing patterns.

[strangespark]

I totally disagree with this safety shell! Put a nice little sign under saying "DON'T BE DUMB! DARWIN IS WATCHING!" and past that let nature take it's course.

[ewilhelm]

Post an Instructable showing us how your Jacob's Ladder without a case is superior.

[euazrw]

I have a garage full of wires do you think the case would make it safe enough to use it in there?

[chriskarr]

Yes, as long as the electronics are fully enclosed (meaning that there are no wires sprawling around near it) there should be no problem - but the arc may do some damage if you accidentally have something near the two poles.

[Prometheus]

If you have the money, 5" diameter, 1/8 " thick clear acrylic tubing is an ideal, but no matter what you use, keep spectators at least 12 inches (30 cm) away from any part of the unit. High voltage finds a fool to be an excellent path to ground, so spectate from a safe distance. Maintain no less than 6 inches or 15cm space around the entire unit from curtains/furniture/etc. when energized. If you choose to use mylar or other reflective backing, place it on the outside so that a spark cannot jump to it, or at the least your decorative work will be scorched, or even start a fire. If possible, seal the "case" to prevent a spark from leaking out between the gap in the panes of a box like the one shown above, or at least make it generously-large.