Low Cost Jacob's Ladder Made From A Salvaged Oil Transformer

Step 6

Stand back and energize the transformer. IF everything is set up properly, an arc will jump across the bottom and travel up the wires. If no arc is present, the bottom is too far apart. If the arc jumps across, but doesn't travel, the wires are too close at the bottom, or the wires do not diverge enough as they go up. ALWAYS disconnect the transformer from the power source (i.e. unplug it) before making any adjustments.

In this example, a piece of electrical tape holds the tops of the wires at a set distance. This isn't necessary, but it keeps the wires from bouncing around. I don't know why, but as it runs, the wires will start moving. Maybe it's some sort of induced magnetism or something.

Comments

[Koil_1]

They vibrate because the plasma you see between them is really more of a solid than most of us may think. You're right to think it has something to do with magnetism too because it does. Plasma is very magnetic and likes to be short literally collapsing in on it's self thus pulling the rods inward. In the past I've found it best to use stainless steel or tungsten rods for this. They still vibrate but not as much because of their rigidity. It's easy enough to get a good bend in them if you have a propane torch to heat the area to a bright orange.