View Single Post
oldE oldE is online now
Kantry Member
 
oldE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: N.S. Can
Posts: 7,080
OK Confession time.

When I was about 11 years old, I had a book outlining a number of projects for boys. The list included lots of wires, buzzers, bells and building an arc light.

Like any kid who grew up around equipment, I knew one should never look directly into an arc, but I figured that was no problem.

The whole thing was very simple: a (slightly flexible) wooden frame to hold the arc rods. The rods, just as the book suggested, were the carbon cores from a couple of D batteries. An old lamp cord gave me the connection to power.

When it was all set up in the basement, a slight push on the flexible frame allowed the sharpened rods to touch, which initiated the arc. It would run for about 10 - 15 seconds before blowing a fuse. Dad probably wondered why we went through a half-dozen fuses that week.

Sorry, no video from 'back in the day'.
Yes, the house is still standing.

Les
__________________
Best
Les
My train of thought has been replaced by a bumper car.
Old 06-07-2011, 03:16 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #4 (permalink)