Van de Graaff Generator made from junk

Step 9 Step 8

The next and finale step is to wrap the dead light bulb in a piece of aluminum foil. The key to making the aluminum hold more of a charge is to smoothen it out as much as possible. Then you cut off any aluminum that might be touching the metal part of the bulb, and place it into the PVC pipe. Then attach the top brush wire to the light bulb. Well, that's it you now know how to build a Van de Graff Generator from junk which can give a door knob like spark or do neat tricks. Now the only thing left for you to do is super size it and send your neighbors annoying cat into the next century.

Comments

[maryamyam]

is the top wire attached to BOTH the light bulb and the upper rubber band?

[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.

[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!   >: )

[Grundalizer]

 Where is it in action?

[mstryker]

thats what she said

[Wagging your Dogma]

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

[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).

[belgvr]

what would happen to myself if i touch a BIG (really big) van de graaff generator? would I die? does electrostatic energy kills?

[lasermaster3531]

NO! every one should stop thinking that!!! static electricity is what makes your hand spark to a doorknob after walking on a carpet. it is also what lightning is, but short of that, there is no way in heck that you could be hurt by this or any other Van De Graaff. there is more risk in licking a 9 volt battery. now, on with the question. if you are insulated from the ground with a block of Styrofoam, you would charge up to the point where if you touch someone else they will get shocked. if you are just wearing shoes and not standing on styro, yow would be shocked repeatedly from your feet inside your shoes to the ground.

[Benthomash]

Absolutely! This one couldn't kill you. not even a full sized 7ft tall you could. But a bigger one with the right amount of amprege could! Think of it this way, lightning is indeed static electricity!

[knoxarama]

can you make a brush from conductive (not magnetic) copper wire strands?

[codex653]

yeah you can

[vandeegraaffsrock!!]

yo like does it like matter if u like have a like non llike dead like bulb like toatally(lol)<(~_~)>

[theXmaker]

I like...

[Sedgewick17]

I do not think so, but make sure that you do not plug your light bulb into a socket, because I read wrapping aluminum around a light bulb when it is on will turn it into an X ray tube.

[viacin]

X RAYS? ha ha ha. I havn't heard that one yet. Whoever started that must have missed science class, like all year.

[belgvr]

hahah LMAO!!

[biolethal]

like all of school... lol where did you read it though?

[jeff-o]

It really, really won't. You risk electrocuting yourself though.

[ikke_1206]

Yeah, because you can't get electrocuted by this device on its own. Lol

[jridley]

Yes, you're right. It is completely impossible to be electrocuted by this device. Absolutely impossible. You're as likely to be killed by a shock from a doorknob.

[mickdoodle]

does this make ur hair stand up or shock u

[Gifford]

interesting, but pelase try to be more clear on what your saying.

[BillyBobFett]

A nice thing to do is stick a thin strip of Kleenex or toilet paper to the top; it will raise up as the top charges up, and it gives a good indicator of how well the generator is working.

[KronoNaut]

Am I assuming correctly that you attach the top lead to the aluminum foil, and not the metal part of the bulb?