Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!sco!johnd
From: johnd@sco.COM (John DuBois)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Creating effective bolts of lightni
Message-ID: <2155@scorn.sco.COM>
Date: 8 Feb 90 01:01:09 GMT
References: <7183@latcs1.oz.au> <7200050@silver>
Sender: news@sco.COM
Reply-To: johnd@sco.COM (John DuBois)
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Lines: 28


In article <7200050@silver> commgrp@silver.ucs.indiana.edu writes:
...
+Try stringing a very fine wire in the intended path of the lightning 
+bolt, zigzag a couple of times.  At the appropriate moment, 
+connect it to 115VAC and fire a strobe simultaneously.  
+(Experiment first, preferably outdoors!)

	 Use iron wire rather than copper for the best brilliance.
+
+Test flash-powder elsewhere before using it in a performance;  
+the only time I used it for a (non-church) stage effect, it 
+filled the auditorium with sulfurous smoke which persisted for 
+hours and annoyed subsequent occupants.
+--

	 Special effects flash powder (the type sold at trick shops) usually does
not contain any sulfur, just potassium perchlorate and powdered aluminum/
magnesium.  It has fairly non-irritating smoke.  Sulfur-containing flash powder
is mainly used for explosives (firecrackers, etc.)

+
+Frank Reid     W9MKV @ K9IU    reid@ucs.indiana.edu


	John DuBois	
	johnd@sco.com	
	spcecdt@ucscb.ucsc.edu