Make your own Lightning Globe! by NK5
Featured

Step 5: Test it out!

Now it's time to hook it up and test it out!

Refer to the Monitor Hack Instructable for instructions on how to connect the aluminum wire to the anode. Be sure to pay attention to the part where you carefully discharge the high voltage!

The ground wire needs to go to ground, of course. The easiest place to attach the ground wire to is the inside of the monitor at the same place the high voltage was discharged to.

Turn it on and test it out!

If everything is nice and tight, there should be a great lightning show around all sides of the globe.

If it's arcing to the stem, you'll need to turn it off and trim the screen on the bottom some more.

Watch the video to see it in action:

 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
nerd7473 says: Oct 26, 2011. 1:02 PM
this is a good project
ctrlx says: Sep 28, 2010. 6:49 PM
For the most part Edison was a businessman, he would employ people and call their inventions "his" because they worked for him. He tried to do the same to Tesla, but Tesla told him to "Stuff it" and Tesla went off on his own......Edison did NOT invent the light bulb! Please have a look at: http://www.coolquiz.com/trivia/explain/docs/edison.asp
....I wish more credit would be given to Tesla, just look at the things around us that we take for granted: AC power, High Voltage coils (what gives car engines spark to run), Radio (Marconi used Tesla's ideas).....the list goes on and on.....Nikola Tesla, Man Ahead of His Time.
lis.tesla says: Jul 21, 2011. 7:30 PM
i , as well, admire Tesla and his inventions and do recognize all his many woks in fact every science project in school had to do something with Tesla or one of his genius ideas thanx
Lil6lil says: Jun 12, 2010. 9:56 PM
help!!!!! do you actually need a pc moniter for this to work or is there something else that will work??
speakerman9 says: Jul 6, 2010. 11:44 PM
Try a neon ballast. The voltage is lower (15KVDC), but, in a smaller bulb, it should give you the desired result.
Quantinuim says: Jun 18, 2010. 12:01 AM
You can use any kind of screen that is based the cathode ray
Derin says: Dec 14, 2007. 11:18 AM
look u can also connect it to the filament and super bright lightbulb!
Derin says: Apr 14, 2008. 9:37 AM
im takin that back super quick explosive
daemonfist says: Mar 21, 2010. 1:39 PM
I am guessing it was super bright for a few milliseconds...hopefully you weren't hurt...


Nickola Tesla 101 says: Mar 1, 2008. 2:18 PM
If you want some really nice sparks you should switch your power supply with a neon transformer.
rocketman221 says: Dec 19, 2009. 7:31 PM
A neon transformer will burn a hole through the glass in 10 to 15 seconds. I used a 12KV 60mA transformer.
Mudbud says: Jul 31, 2009. 9:51 AM
that would be cool. I wonder does the voltage have to be 30,000V? p.s Tesla made the lightbulb 20 years before the factories "invented" them. GO TESLA!!!!!!
history323 says: Oct 22, 2009. 2:02 PM
umm hate to burst your buble but Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb.
ctrlx says: Jul 25, 2011. 12:19 PM
Proud to say, he did NOT invent the light bulb...do a little research and you will find that the light bulb was patented 50+ years before Edison patented his "IMPROVED" light bulb design......not invented, just improved and existing design......For the most part Edison was a shrewd businessman and had people working from him that did a lot of the inventing.....
lis.tesla says: Jul 21, 2011. 7:32 PM
bubble hasn't been busted yet. gimme proof that he invented it before tesla
Rhamkota says: Jan 5, 2011. 5:52 PM
Actually Humphry Davy invented the light bulb. Also to the rest of you Nickola Tesla had really nothing to do with the light bulb.
ctrlx says: Jul 25, 2011. 12:26 PM
Well yes, Tesla had something to do with the light bulb, when he lit up the Pan American Exposition of 1901, he did not want to use the Edison based light bulb (screw in base) do he came up with his own design, pin style connectors......Edison was pissed....
Rhamkota says: Jul 26, 2011. 5:35 PM
Yes, I know that, but that had nothing to do with the evolution of the lightbulb.
Eddiepers says: Oct 24, 2009. 7:50 PM
ummm hate to burst yours but edison perfected the art of making the lightbulb

tesla invented the lightboub
speakerman9 says: Jul 6, 2010. 11:47 PM
And Edison had one heck of a time doing it. He wanted the bulb to be DC run, which put far too much stress on the fillament. And, the bulbs were no brighter or safer than candles at the time.
history323 says: Oct 26, 2009. 1:31 PM
dude no Im fairly positive he invented the lightbulb- yes he "perfected" it but those perfections were what made it work. Ive got nothing against tesla he kicks edisons butt but edison invented the lightbulb.
ZaderMan says: Nov 2, 2009. 9:58 AM
You are both WRONG.
I'm a Canadian, so I should know this.

In 1875, Edison purchased half of a Toronto medical electrician's patent to further his own research.  That researcher was named James Woodward.
Woodward and a colleague by the name of Matthew Evans, described in the patent as "Gentleman" but in reality a hotel keeper, filed a patent for the Woodward and Evan's Light on July 24, 1874.
Working at the Morrison's Brass Foundry on Adelaide St. West in Toronto, they built the first lamp with a shaped rod of carbon held between electrodes in an glass bulb filled with nitrogen.
Woodward and Evans were treated as cranks and subject to much public ridicule.  "Who needs a glowing piece of metal!!"  They attempted, with very little success, to form a company to raise money to refine and market their invention.  (Where is the federal government when you really need them?)
In 1876, Woodward obtained a U.S. patent on his electric lamp and, in 1879, Edison considered it sufficiently important to completely buy out the patent from Woodward, Evans, and all their Canadian partners.  Woodward sold a share of his Canadian patent to Thomas Edison in 1885. 
Thus the electric light bulb became American.

So it was us! The Canadians that made the lightbulb.
I don't know where you guys are coming from, but this is the TRUE story. I even put a story in the Newspaper about it.

--ZaderMan
mikeb270 says: Jan 7, 2010. 3:48 PM
Then you sir are guilty of spreading propaganda!
history323 says: Jan 9, 2010. 10:00 PM
haha yeah
but still edison perfected the carbon filament that had never been invented before! Thats what (along with a vaccum creates a light)
ZaderMan says: Jan 7, 2010. 4:13 PM
It's not Propaganda! Look it all up! All of the history behind the light bulb. I know this. I did research on it for weeks.
mikeb270 says: Jan 10, 2010. 4:24 AM
ahhh lol,  I would not concern myself with the light bulb for weeks but if its your pleasure so be it....... YAWN....zzzzzzz...night - nite!
ZaderMan says: Jan 10, 2010. 4:03 PM
May I ask, how much do you know about the lightbulb? Seeing as you haven't even said anything about it yet...
mikeb270 says: Feb 1, 2010. 2:52 AM
frankly to be honest and I do not want to start a fight but does it really matter what country invented what give me a break.
mikeb270 says: Jan 17, 2010. 2:45 AM
history is that!!!,
I do not need to be historically Correct to construct one just understand the why behind the construction. lab work does NOT = Book smarts and Book smarts does NOT = actual getting hands dirty lab work.
steveastrouk says: Nov 6, 2009. 10:33 AM
Edison also tried to enforce his patents against the English man, Joseph Swan, and was so unsuccessful, he had to form a joint company with Swan to market in the UK..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Swan

Steve
hellstudios says: Mar 29, 2009. 4:51 PM
I just bought a mini one for $6.... well I bought a neon light for my computer but it came smashed in the mail...so I got to playing around with the transformer, and got a good 1 inch constant spark. and this ible gives me ideas for a mini lightning bulb.
gosub says: Feb 19, 2009. 9:17 AM
In my humble opinion and 2 cents worth experience. it does not worth the work it involved. Plus it is tricky, dangerous for youngster and certainly the bulb would not survive falling from a table. So i am surprised to see such a reckless built not moderated.
kirbyswarpstar says: May 19, 2009. 3:35 PM
"WARNING Just like my Monitor Hack instructable, this makes use of some very high voltage. It could be potentially lethal, especially if you are standing in a puddle of water." forget to read that at the start of the instructable
ClueNeeded says: Mar 12, 2009. 10:19 PM
gosub, your attitude makes me sad. You seem to wish for a world of perfect safety and one in which no active parenting is required. My parents bought me chemistry sets when I was small. The 'real' kind you can't buy anymore; with glassware, actual (and potentially dangerous) chemicals, and experiments intended to achieve worthwhile results. The authors of the various devices on this website have always, as far as I can tell, explain the possible dangers. That is all that is required. A parent or parents that do not keep involved in their kids activities are responsible for any mishaps. This is something you don't understand, I know, so that is why I mention it. Enforcing or encouraging ignorance, as you propose, is not a good alternative. Dumbing-down people (& kids) makes for more not less accidents. That is, what you don't know or understand WILL hurt you. Involving oneself in the education of youngsters IS moderating the activity; not banning the activity and the knowledge there by gained. Perhaps encapsulating our children in shatterproof, opaque containers is what you think to be the best approach. The results might keep them safe, but at the cost of making them useless members of society
history323 says: Oct 22, 2009. 2:06 PM
Dude I totally agree with you im sick and ttired of all this protect everyone from all harm crap. I mean it's your own body! I think that things should be kept in hand - just enough so people don't kill themselves
 Im 14 and make all sort of dangerous things like thermite but ever since ive been burned I have never been reckless with that stuff again! Experiences teach you not safety.
  "Whatever dosent kill you just makes you stronger"
muttyfutty says: Sep 6, 2009. 9:51 PM
Speaking as a 14 year old I have to totally agree with you! I currently own a MOT, NST , 8 or 9 flybacks use the soldering Iron, fiddle with power supplys and HV caps. and never got electricuted (apart from the bug zapper) and I have to say it did me alot of good, how will children even wire a plug if you contiue to smother us in a cotten wool sociaty?
its sad, in England children are no longer allowe to play conkers without goggles, and skipping is banned, labled as a tripping hazzerd.

have you touched a hot stove? how do you know what a hot stove is untill you have burnt yourself? children learn by triel and error!
hats off to you ClueNeeded for putting is straight
static says: Jan 9, 2010. 2:05 AM
 My young hardware hacking friend, you are dangerously confusing legitimate safety warnings with frivolous regulations. In that you where able to make your comment you have never been electrocuted. There's a difference in receiving a non-lethal electrical chock and being electrocuted, something called death. electrical equipment and High Voltage can be worked around safely. I have no way of knowing what role dumb luck has played in your safety to date, but please don't let your first real lesson be your last. In the event you haven't receive instruction or read how to work safely around electricity seek out that information.  The US Navy's Naval Electrical Engineering Training Series is about as good as it gets for written material and is free off the web Google neets. Children and adults learn by instruction first, only the stubborn or dimwitted learn by trial and error after receiving instruction. 
muttyfutty says: Jan 9, 2010. 5:14 PM
Yes, You are totally correct about electrocution, I happened to notice the error too late and had no way of changing it...
But I Disagree with your views about my own safety. I can assure you that I did not dash into High voltage with no other Knowledge on safety other than dont touch it! I Did a large amount of research on each HV and nonHV projects and I can Garentee that "Dumb Luck" Played a role in neiether my safety nor my safety in the future. In fact the only role dumb luck played, was probably when I happened to come across a old Microwave in my relitives car, waaaaaayy back in England (but thats a different story :P)
I respect your Opinion But I also respectfully disagree.
Thanks,
          Mike


UbuntuNinja says: Nov 27, 2009. 8:13 PM
I am 14 as well and own 3 flybacks though I will probably accumulate more as I move away from conventional electronics and more into HV stuff.  I was screwing with a camera flash board the other day and it zapped me across the chest (fortunately nothing bad happened) and since then I have been much more cautious with HV stuff.
zoltzerino says: Jun 17, 2009. 1:23 PM
Words of absolute wisdom.

I'm being serious.

As a student of 14 I have an active interest in all things sciency / techy etc.
I involve myself in extra curricular activities, spend my spare time on things and pay attention at school. All of which my peers do not. The state of some peoples common sense is appalling, I won't go into that.

I could go on a massive rant here but I have to to stop myself.

Oh dear...

"knowledge is the key to success" and all that.
I notice the education system "cotton wooling" us e.g.

Me: Wow *teacher* that is an amazing concept, can we explore it further.

Teacher: No we must stick to gov't boundaries and minimum requirements, the school has to be "outstanding" in its results of a-c pass grades and babble balle hodsl;ajgg.

I often wish to spend a physics lesson, chem, maths, whatever just going off on a tangent (or cosine), and exploring more engaging issues.

STOP

ZZZZ
muttyfutty says: Sep 6, 2009. 9:52 PM
so very correct i'm in the same boat as you (going of at a tangent(or cosine) LOL)
zoltzerino says: Sep 7, 2009. 1:47 PM
Oh dear, worringly trigonometry was my favourite part of module 1 maths GCSE...
muttyfutty says: Sep 8, 2009. 1:54 AM
nice, Im concidering doing my core chemistry this year, as last year i got a B on my passed paper! How old are you?
zoltzerino says: Sep 8, 2009. 9:30 AM
In the first half of the core exams, I got: chemistry A* (45/50) Physics A* (50/50) and Biology B (39/50). I shall be resitting the B1A exam when I do the second half. In lessons we are currently studying additional science.
muttyfutty says: Sep 11, 2009. 7:57 AM
WOW im impressed! mind,I did my chem papers 4 years early... What are you planning to do in uni? Wish you luck all the way!!!
zoltzerino says: Sep 11, 2009. 1:10 PM
Science / Engineering. They are the only things I'm good at, I took Catering for GCSE; purely to learn how to cook. I also took Music, which I am currently failing.
muttyfutty says: Sep 11, 2009. 5:21 PM
nice! Good luck, Wish you well!
gosub says: Mar 13, 2009. 6:36 AM
Whatever, bud.
NK5 (author) says: Feb 19, 2009. 10:31 AM
That's why it says to keep away from kids and small animals. A little common sense goes a long way. Unfortunately, someone will always do something stupid - there's no stopping that. FWIW, having stairs in your house is just about as dangerous. One little trip, and you could easily break your neck and die. Life is full of dangers. That's what makes it so exciting.
history323 says: Oct 22, 2009. 2:08 PM

indeed!
SpiroExDeus says: Jul 19, 2009. 3:41 AM
Personally I'm certainly not one of the 'cotton wool' generation. There are many things on instructables that are technically dangerous but are worth the risk. I would say this wasn't one of them. Live mains voltage on the outside of a globe? I was hoping for a proper plasma globe. They may be dangerous to build (not sure but they MAY be) but it's safe once they're finished. I'd put a plasma globe on my nightstand next to my bed. I wouldn't even allow one of these inside my house. As far as expanding the realm of science - this is hardly doing that. I certainly knew that high voltage electricity arcs if you put the contacts close enough together long before I read this instructable. Sorry. I go with gosub on this one. Despite the warning this is STILL dangerous and irresponsible. I take it you don't have any pets.
NK5 (author) says: Jul 19, 2009. 11:40 AM
Sorry. I go with gosub on this one. Despite the warning this is STILL dangerous and irresponsible. I take it you don't have any pets.

It's only dangerous and irresponsible if you actually make the project without heading the warnings.

You have more of a chance of being killed driving or riding in a car. In 2008 alone, 37,261 people died in automobile accidents. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/STSI/8_CO/2008/8_CO_2008.htm

I don't know of a single person that was killed or even injured by making this Instructable.

Of course, most people (especially kids) don't need the help of an Instructable to do something stupid that puts their life in danger. Ghost Riding, Car Surfing, Drunk Driving, getting in the car with a drunk driver, Ecstasy, Red Bull and Vodka, etc, etc, etc..

The world is full of danger. Life would be pointless and boring if it wasn't.
Squabywokl says: Aug 4, 2009. 7:21 PM
I got killed by doing this instructable
MrBunny says: Feb 24, 2009. 3:50 PM
Now I have a phobia of stairs....thanks BTW nice instructable :)
gosub says: Feb 20, 2009. 2:39 AM
I understand your point of view. But it is good to apprehend that kids are curious and are not aware of the dangers surrounding them. Maybe putting this build in a (bulb) fish tank or putting a label on the pictures "NOT FOR KIDS PLAY" would be a good idea. I don't think dangers make live more exciting... But hey.
thewizard42 says: Jul 12, 2010. 7:48 AM
Honestly i don't know a kid that could construct this without understanding HV, and the dangers. i might be reading incorrectly but I've never seen a child crack open a monitor for the power source and play with it. and hey, if one does and gets shocked, its their fault and they'll learn not to do so in the future. And like they say, "You don't exactly learn until you burn components." This also works with getting injured.
softairdude says: May 15, 2009. 5:06 AM
thats not gonna stop kids. they still do drugs and smoke even though ppl tell them not to.
gosub says: Jun 26, 2009. 2:57 AM
Totally agree. That is why the guy who things on line MUST think twice before showing off Lowering dangerous "cool" experiments publication can lower death to youngster. That is why I will never propose stuff like that. Anyway I will not post any more here. Let the beast play with death and childhood...
daemonfist says: Mar 21, 2010. 1:32 PM
Dude, I think the point that most people may be trying to make are that your posts imply that it is the responsibility of those posting online to take 100% responsibility of their audience.  You must realize that it doesn't work this way, don't you?

IME, the poster has only some responsibility.  They cannot be responsible for the actions of their readers, however they must ensure that they do give warnings about the possible dangers of doing such a thing.  The reader, or the parent or guardian of the reader must be the ones that take responsibility for the actions of the reader.

In the case of the latter (parents or guardians needing to take responsibility for a child readers actions) There are enough ways out there to be involved in your kids lives and guide them online.  I have been in IT for more than 10 years, and have numerous friends and family that have needed my help in this area.  Some of the best ways:
1. No computer in the kid's rooms (put it in a family area, or a shared office)
2. Combine that with Internet Filtering software (netnanny and the like), with a decent family policy of allowing the kids to come to talk to you about something that is blocked that they would like to see.  IMO, this filtering software shouldn't be used to strictly prevent kids from seeing stuff, but just as a tool to ensure that parental guidance is there when it needs to be.
3. Stay actively involved in all parts of your kids lives.
4. Ensure there are "consequences" for their actions, before they hit the serious ones (like death or dismemberment).

I have a niece and nephew and cannot wait until they are old enough to help me build potentially dangerous stuff (probably not this, but that is because of my own inexperience with HV), like bottle rockets, thermite, potato cannons, tennis ball mortars, petards, chemistry experiments, other electronics, r/c stuff (ever lose control of  plane heading toward you?), etc.  In fact I know that their father will likely be right in there with me (and their grandfather definitely will be).

-munky
thewizard42 says: Jul 12, 2010. 7:50 AM
YOU SIR ARE A WINNER.
daemonfist says: Mar 21, 2010. 1:36 PM
BTW, how is the author of this i'ble showing off (I am not trolling, I am genuinely curious)?  The author has posted videos of the results if done correctly, which are not advocating doing this, but simply showing the readership overviews of the process and the end results...afterall, "a picture is worth a thousand words".  IMO, this make the i'ble more responsible, not less.

Now if the author posted video saying "try this, it is 100% safe, look at me I am awesome, you need to do this or you will be a loser" or whatever, then that would be showboating or showing off, but I see no evidence of this in this i'ble.

- munky
christower2 says: Jan 25, 2009. 7:59 PM
Im kinda a noob at this stuff so where to i attach the ground wire and were do i attach the high voltage wire please respond in my inbox thanks in advance
The Lightning Stalker says: Oct 12, 2007. 7:37 AM
(removed by author or community request)
NK5 (author) says: Oct 13, 2007. 7:51 AM
Great site! Thanks for the link.
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!