Van de Graaff Generator made from junk

This is instructions on how I built a Van de Graaff generator from junk lying about my house.(And I do mean junk.)

Step 1 Parts

Okay, the first thing you will want to do is gather all of the necessary parts. They include 1 pencil with ereaser, two dried out old click pen parts, a piece of 8in. long PVC pipe, 1 dead light bulb, 1ft long piece of 2 by 4, a elastic band, one metal paper clip, aluminum foil, see through tape, one small toy motor, 9 volt battery, and some junk wire. A good sense of humor and a few band-aids would come in handy too.

Comments

[Tobor 2.0]

Can you leave out the bottom wire? I want to know the point of the bottom wire.

[joshuaw97]

the bottom wire is to keep the generator grounded.

[swaghmare]

where does the another end of the bottom wire go????
plz reply fast.

[builder23]

I REALLY need to know if this generator works. i am doing a science fair project on electrostatic electricity, and have already tried to build one of these from another website. Somebody please respond!

[rocketbat]

LOL!" super size it and send your neighbors annoying cat into the next century" that is just what i intend to do!

[cheezy monkey]

Been there.
Done that.

=D

[yetibunny]

You could also send your neigbor with them!   >: )

[eric m]

photography here is awful.

how bout some closeups of the comb and pulley.

[Daniel Deacon]

does it have to be PVC? or could the tube be Cardboard or something else thank you :D

[JerinROX]

Hi,
Can u plz tell me how much volts will this generator produce?
and one more question if it produces high voltage then why can't we use it for electicity supply for home.
waiting 4 reply.
Thnx
-Jerin

[SLDxRaPiiDZz]

because this needs a motor, I think it produces electrostatic energy.

[JerinROX]

thank you

[tecnokid]

why do we have to have a burnt lamp instead of a working one

[Grundalizer]

 Where is it in action?

[mstryker]

thats what she said

[prncess_101]

What brushes are you talking bout?

[gmartínez schacht]

The brushes can be stranded copper wires

[gmartínez schacht]

Hey there, could youplease specify if its a broken lamp or a burned one? Also, a xmas globe culd work instead of a lamp?

[joehudy]

i bult this and it dednt work like every other vdg i tryed

[justindouthat]

has anyone gooten this design to work

[Wagging your Dogma]

This is a fascinating construction project. Have you built anything bigger?

[vinc3_76]

i'm trying to make my own VDG, and I follow ur step... but still it doesnt work...
what should I do?

[aidylgs]

I have the same problem. I built the VDG according to protocol but still NO SPARKS. Need Advice.

[slimshady13]

im trying to charge a leyden jar for a science project with an equal amount of charge. so what i mean is that if i charge it with static each one wouldnt have the same amount of charge inserted. would this work for that reaason and good tutorial.

[A.C.E.]

do you know how many volts this is? and how far can it ark? i want to make one and this seems good because it doesnt need to be plugged in haha

[sora]

if we had a working light bulb would there be any way of making it turn on and off (aka spark gap)?

[nutsandbolts_64]

planning on making a spark-gap transmitter I see.... Well, the light bulb won't be a spark gap. For all I know it's either just gonna blow out or just shine for a moment.

[Ethan B]

(removed by author or community request)

[nutsandbolts_64]

Well yeah it can hurt you, but it won't kill you. For sticking up hair, you're gonna have to be standing on some kind of insulator (no, not just the ground).

[cowgomoo]

is is the faster the motor the more power the output?

[xerxesx20]

Not quite, but speed will effect how quickly charge is built up, but for more power, a larger, smoother surface (EG: A metal ball) is the best upgrade. Electrons are lost through rough areas due to corona discharge, or the "leaking" of stored electrons into the atmosphere, eventually finding their way to ground. Using different materials in the triboelectric series can also aid the rate of charge developed, thus increasing efficiency of the charge system. To increase the efficiency of the charge storage system the "oomph" (of the spark) if you prefer. A large seamless flat, smooth and overall shiny surface (who doesn't love something shiny?!) will work wonders. :-)

[cowgomoo]

thanks!

[imadeyou]

can the bulb save lots of charges?

[kikiclint]

the amount of charge depends on the size of the sphere. I did the math a while ago, but I think for relatively dry air it is about 3 million volts per meter radius.

[jake_the_snake]

thanks for replying to my last q but i am just wondering where the other end of the wire goes, the bottom one
thank you

[jake_the_snake]

Im confused, where does the elastic band go?

[Lance Mt.]

It connects both top, and bottom parts of the PVC.

[Nicholerae]

Where do u get the motor at?

[Nicholerae]

Well u can get them at Hobby town.

[dunnos]

are you a split personality? (answering yourself)
=]