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Here is possibly a world's first low voltage and World's Smallest Jacob's Ladder.It uses a very low voltage (20V AC) from an old train track transformer. I would have made a 10,000 V one but my parents found the plans so yeah. It starts at a (aprox.) .5 mm and ends at a .5mm gap at most. IF the wires are postioned right it will climb about 1/2 inch at most, most of the time not at all.
The reason why the arc move up (atleast in bigger ladders) is because it heats up the air lowering the resistence in the air.
You will have seen these in scary movies with mad scientists except ours is a little safer, cheaper and on a much smaller scale!
I finally was able to add it at my school here it is:
Also sorry for the last part, it is suppose to read "Make your own at instru..."
This didn'y cost me anything because I had everything just laying around, to buy it all it would cost you $3-$50 depending on how much of the materials you have.
Caution: Electicity at any voltage can be harmful but yet useful, build at your own risk, not mine. Electricity does hurt, i have found that out the hard way. Don't keep running too long otherwise the small transformer will over heat because it is not designed to run something like this!
The reason why the arc move up (atleast in bigger ladders) is because it heats up the air lowering the resistence in the air.
You will have seen these in scary movies with mad scientists except ours is a little safer, cheaper and on a much smaller scale!
I finally was able to add it at my school here it is:
This didn'y cost me anything because I had everything just laying around, to buy it all it would cost you $3-$50 depending on how much of the materials you have.
Caution: Electicity at any voltage can be harmful but yet useful, build at your own risk, not mine. Electricity does hurt, i have found that out the hard way. Don't keep running too long otherwise the small transformer will over heat because it is not designed to run something like this!
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Signing UpStep 1The materials
Here is the list of materials you will need:
Materials
-22 guage wire non insulated (2 paper clips could work)
-Pliers (to adjust wire, not needed)
-Screw Driver (to abjust wire)
-Tape (electrical works best)
-Wire Cutter(optional)
-old train transformer or any transformer that puts out less than 100Volts(could be more but then it wouldn't be low voltage,would it)
First cut the Wire into two 2-4inch pieces with the wire cutter.
After that bend the wire to create little hook to get screwed onto the transformer (as seen in pictures). You will need two of the bent wire thingies.
Materials
-22 guage wire non insulated (2 paper clips could work)
-Pliers (to adjust wire, not needed)
-Screw Driver (to abjust wire)
-Tape (electrical works best)
-Wire Cutter(optional)
-old train transformer or any transformer that puts out less than 100Volts(could be more but then it wouldn't be low voltage,would it)
First cut the Wire into two 2-4inch pieces with the wire cutter.
After that bend the wire to create little hook to get screwed onto the transformer (as seen in pictures). You will need two of the bent wire thingies.
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9W = 20Volts*Amps
Amps = 9VA/20V = 0.45A
Ppl who are comparing this to a carbon arc welder are correct.. There is a difference between 'breakdown voltage', and the sustaining voltage of a spark..
The author is correct about the heated air from the short circuit lowering the resistance.. Its actually a negative resistance relationship, so without that transformer limiting to half an amp, that would grow out of control even at lower voltages with unlimited current..
If you're letting the short circuit at the bottom remain after ignition, you're killing your performance since you're limited to 0.5 A..
Break that short circuit after its done its job of heating the bottom enough to lower the breakdown voltage of the air, and more current will be available to pass through the spark gap you've formed, and more heat will be created above the spark due to the cathode fall rather than heating air that doesn't need to be heated anymore.. Thus allowing further separation, and a higher climb..
Most low voltage sparks use a momentary HV spike to breakdown the air so its already ionized and capable of conducting lower voltages.. If you read a bit on inductive kick, or buck-boost converters you'll see how easily this can be done with your current transformer and a coil of wire.. You can easily get that transformer to make HV sparks.. And unless you used them to charge HV capacitors, they would be fun and safe like static electricity.. All in all safer than your current setup which could burn your house down..:)
Your parents are wise to disallow neon sign transformers.. Those are dangerous because they are capable of supplying alot of current at HV where as what I'm describing carries 'very little'..
Look into flyback transformers for a decently safe and fun HV source.. They're much higher voltage than NST's, but supply much less current..
Be careful harvesting flyback's from crt's though.. Like I said, capacitors + HV = BIG THREAT.. There are big caps in a tv/monitor that can remain charged with alot of HV even after its unplugged.. Read up on crt safety/discharging if you decide to upgrade..
You can find the voltage info on the third step.