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Student arrested for making disposable camera Taser
The capacitors inside disposable cameras pack a pretty big wallop and it's recommended that you act very carefully around them. If you don't you'll get zapped. And if you set it up so that someone else could get zapped you might even get arrested like this 14-year-old kid from Connecticut.
link
via boingboing
Comments
12 years ago
So what exactly are the "not dumb things" that one can do with their homemade taser-from-a-disposable-camera ? (I can think of lots of other non-dumb things to do with the disposable camera itself.)
Reply 12 years ago
Ignite a cannon?
Drive a plasma ball?
Make dead frogs' legs twitch?
Drive an electrostatic motor?
Make 900 soldiers dance?
Reply 12 years ago
I dunno. The ~300V on a camera flash is only "high voltage" compared to batteries. Your electrostatic motors and such require that 10kV+ version of "high voltage." But then, those are all "non-taser" things anyway...
Reply 9 years ago
you mean tesla coils?
Reply 12 years ago
Wow, you're just full of links aren't ya?
Reply 12 years ago
or just learn the principles behind HV potential storage....learning can be fun without being harmful to one's self or others.
12 years ago
Oh, crap! You don't think that the "Instructions available on the Internet" are from this site, do you?!?!?
Reply 12 years ago
They could easily be from here.
[https://www.instructables.com/forum/student-arrested-for-camera-tazer...-are-dangerous/ Check this other thread for a related discussion.]
Reply 12 years ago
if they are, i doubt ibles is in any way liable. the ibles have disclaimers, but should be switched to:
this device uses high voltage and can cause injury and death. neither instructables, its affiliates or the designer of this device are in any way liable for personal or property damages causes by use or misuse of this device. this device is considered illegal in some countries, such as Canada. do not break the law. this device is classed as a weapon. be careful. do not take this device to school, or flash it in public.
Reply 12 years ago
"...flash it in public."
That is especially unwise in cold weather...
Reply 12 years ago
Oh Kiteman.... What will we do with you?
Reply 12 years ago
probably send him to a comedy fest.
Reply 12 years ago
as long as he is not flashing anything ;-)
Reply 12 years ago
Like what?
Reply 12 years ago
not clicking....not clicking....im in school....i dont want to risk i...... i want to know what it is.....damn my curiosity........ironically, this reminds me of cow poetry................
Reply 12 years ago
Do not resist the influence of Kiteman...
Kiteman would not lead you astray...
You hope...
Reply 12 years ago
now my curiosity is even worse. exept the link is to omygreetings, so now im even more suspicious
Reply 12 years ago
Have you looked yet?
Reply 12 years ago
no. im sure its smut. and the price to exorcise my pc if the link infects it is way to much at future shop.
Reply 12 years ago
. Go for it! No guts, no glory. . If you survive, let us know and I'll try it.
Reply 12 years ago
i will try it later today, on the linux platform. that way, i cant get the virus the link contains.
Reply 12 years ago
Wicked grin
Go on....
Reply 12 years ago
:-)
Reply 12 years ago
Nice! Didn't see that one coming!
Reply 12 years ago
Although disclaimers are pretty much essential now, I find it pretty sad that people can't accept responsibility for their actions.... :-/
Reply 12 years ago
yeah i know. the kids lucky though. here in quebec, hed have been tazered for sure.
Reply 12 years ago
Thanks, i used this dissclaimer on my instrutable ;D
Reply 12 years ago
no problem.
Reply 12 years ago
Add some capitalization, maybe a different color, and slap it on top of all of them. That'll be sure to keep the Feds from knocking on the door of the Instructables HQ!
Reply 12 years ago
i should add
observe all safety precautions for handling high voltages, including, but not limited to, a proper discharge probe and ground connection. by in any way, manner or form proceeding to the next step, i consent to this disclaimer, will waive instructables or its affiliates of any liability and am aware of the safety risks involved
12 years ago
i already posted this thing
Reply 12 years ago
Yes you did. By the time I realized it there was already some discussion here as well so I left it.
12 years ago
Ooooooohhh..... good thing he didn't use it... Intructables might have gotten a nasty little lawsuit if it turned out he got the design from here...
Reply 12 years ago
not if they used the disclaimer i posted above
Reply 12 years ago
Yah, i guess so. Eh, half the time i don't think before i post...
12 years ago
I went to three different photo developing booths (Wallmart, target, and wallgreens) and they all said they got an email saying they are not allowed giving away disposable camera shells because of this news story. :(
12 years ago
I've actually heard of this happening before. If a student actually brought one of these to school. Then he's an idiot. Because schools freak out over everything. But he's not going to kill anyone, trust me, done shocked meself once or twice, or a couple dozen times before. The only people that could possibly be seriously injured or killed are people with pacemakers.
Reply 12 years ago
I will say that as both a former teacher and youthful troublemaker I can see both side of the story. I will say that I have seen kids use eye droppers to drip concentrated acid on the necks of other kids (I couldn't stop them in time). I've also had kids put pencils into the electric sockets near their desks. You name it, I've probably seen it. The problem is that kids lack judgment (a lot of adults do too, just watch Cops.) However, the role of a school adult is to keep all of the kids safe, in spite of the collective stupidity and random chance of real danger. There are a number of heart diseases that can be thrown into an acute episode by a relatively low voltage whack across the chest. And don't forget other neural illnesses (epilepsy.) Then there is the hole horseplay aspect. There might be a game of tag (and I would admit it sounds like a lot of fun, honestly) but it could be dangerous if the device is activated on God knows where. I also had students who didn't see the harm in bringing guns to school. So yes, schools can appear to overreact. However, if you think we are uptight, you should have an irate parent in your face about some stupidity another child did to their own offspring. One of my favorites was a very thorough pimp like slap on the ass of a female student when she bent over. And God Almighty help you if the media gets involved. Go easy on us. We care about children. There are no other compelling reasons as to why we put up with the stress we do.
12 years ago
Our society tends to mistake the "unluck" of the draw, for real dangers, I think. Our greatest danger, IMHO, is not learning what is dangerous or worse yet, not learning what is stupid. We are liable to do dangerous and stupid things if we are not aware of what they are. I have had a 10,000 vDC power supply, and one 100,000 v supply for quite a few decades now. What is it with "don't do dumb things with these" do people not understand? *sigh*
Reply 12 years ago
> Our greatest danger, IMHO, is not learning what is dangerous or worse yet, not learning what is stupid. We are liable to do dangerous and stupid things if we are not aware of what they are. . Amen! . It was a drizzling rain when we got home with my daughter's first motorcycle/dirt bike. I encouraged her to ride around in the yard and go as fast as she could. I figured she was better off learning that she could (and would) crash on soft, wet grass at 10-15mph rather than 10 foot up a pine tree at 40mph. When she started, she was a typical, invincible, I-can't-crash teenager. After about the second good spill, she figured it out for herself; much better than me telling her. When we finally got rid of the bike, the headlight and turn signals were busted, lots of dents and dings, &c, but The Daughter is still healthy.
Reply 12 years ago
We may not heed when Papa tells us the stove is hot, but we never ever place our hand back on the burner ever again, when we disregard his warning; that is for sure.
12 years ago
It's not in any way Instructables' fault if the kid found plans here. This is only one of many websites where you can find links to that stuff *Cough* Totse*Cough*
It's his stupid fault for bringing it into school. and telling people it's a tazer.