Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!motcsd!hpda!hpcuhb!hp-ses!hpcea!hpnmdla!hpsad!frankb
From: frankb@hpsad.HP.COM (Frank Ball)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: HV Cap Fun!
Message-ID: <1840005@hpsad.HP.COM>
Date: 30 May 89 05:02:26 GMT
References: <4924@m2c.M2C.ORG>
Organization: HP Signal Analysis Division - Rohnert Park, CA
Lines: 24

*Subject: HV Cap Fun!
*
*  I just picked up a couple of 14ufd 25KVDC caps and am looking for something
*to do with them...  I'm looking for good demonstations, experiments, etc.
*I figure these guys could be used for a nice spark-gap demo or perhaps 
*vaporize wire.  
*
*  If you've got any ideas, let me know!

Here at work they keep electronic parts in "anit-static" plastic
bags.  There are a couple of varieties-one of which is a plastic
coated with a vary thin (somewhat transparent) layer of nickel.
While 25KV will normally arc about 1/2 inch-it can create an arc
about 10 inches long over the surface of one of these anti-static
bags.  After you have done this hold the plastic up to the light
and you can see the tracks from the arcs:  they vaporize the
metal off of the plastic.



Frank Ball 2LR-O               frankb@hpsad.HP.COM
Hewlett Packard                (707) 794-4168
1212 Valley House Drive        fax:  (707) 794-4452
Rohnert Park CA 94928-4999     I'm the NRA.