There are 10,000 videos showing how to do this on TH-cam, even I have one on my channel. Please do not assume this man is responsible for the tragedy. Anybody smart enough to disassemble a microwave and assemble this demonstration is well aware of the dangers involved. It must have been a very unfortunate mistake. Im sure if this kid was still alive, he would laugh at himself, I know I would! I know many electrical engineers, and projects like these inspired them to learn more. Keep learning, stay safe.
+TheBackyardScientist Quote:( Please do not assume this man is responsible for the tragedy.) I don't think this person is being blamed. However I see all sorts of videos using a MW transformer, and don't like the idea. The reason is the high current they can put out. You can build a Jacobs ladder with a high voltage source having a current of about 30 milliamps. An example of such a source would be a neon sign transformer. A Microwave transformer can put out roughly 20 times that amount of current, generally between 500-700 milliamps. The voltage is actually lower but the current is much higher, making it more dangerous.
When I was 18, I used a 15,000v 60ma neon transformer to make a Jacob Ladder. That was the first time I ever saw a spark looking like flames. Never got shocked by one, thankfully.
Please don't take the video down. There is a warning in the description and you warned them in the video a few times. If you don't know what you're doing, don't try it! My daughter loves science and loves watching these videos.
+kinoglaz777 yup, paired with this article is really ironic, overall the part of the smell >_< www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2016/04/20/ohio-boy-electrocuted-while-conducting-youtube-experiment/83275354/
***** look up carl brutananadilewski soundboard prank call on youtube, one of the funniest things i've ever seen. the one where he calls the insurance companies, it's in 3 parts.
If you want to be less risky use a ZVS driver and a fly back transformer for a consistent higher voltage arc, but at a lower current(usually no more than 60mA) it can be lethal but it is more than safer than the 500mA MOT
Maybe you could have a small servo with a nail on the end to make contact with the wire so you could end up with a microcontroller controlled jacobs ladder!
I'm in the US, our mains here is 120v but MOT's basically follow the same design principles. Some questions about earthing ("grounding" in North America), though... 1) Aside from connecting the base of the transformer to the second copper pipe/wire, should it also be earthed? (By means of using a 3-wire cord instead of a 2-wire cord) 2) I've seen the dowel & nail method used before. Some folks choose to run an insulated ground wire from the nail to a grounded object such as a copper gas or water pipe, grounding rod, etc. Should I consider this? Also, out of curiosity, how do I prevent MOT's from catching fire? Should I place them in transformer oil, or will this damage the MOT? Or is it simply not possible to stop an MOT from overheating? If this does not work I suppose I can spend some $$ and purchase a 10kV current limited neon sign transformer off eBay or Amazon, although my microwave is on the fritz and I'm thinking about salvaging the transformer once I replace it...
Did you try connecting two transformers in series? The first one would boost the voltage by about 10X, then next one about 10X again. That ought to spontaneously create sparks
Does'nt work that way. The insulation of the windings of the 2nd transformer will not withstand more than a few kilovolts. It would die in seconds. What you actually can do is to connect the primaries of two transformers "anti-parallel" (out of phase) to get twice the voltage (around 5 kV).
I know you're recycling but a safER option would be to use a neon sign or oil burner ignition transformer. Microwave oven transformers output 2,000 volts at 500 milliamps and anything over 100 mA has a good potential to stop your heart. Neon or oil burner transformers usually output 30mA with roughly 10,000 volts. It would hurt like hell, may burn you, but probably won't kill you, although anything above 20 mA has the potential to contract your muscles so you can't let go and cause suffocation.
How exactly does the grounding on the primary coil work? I really want to avoid using the iron shell as the ground as that could be extremely dangerous, but it would work if everything went fine. I just can’t find the center tap for the primary (but I found the secondary’s) on either of my MOTs and it’s really confusing me.
Great video and you did warn the viewers of the dangers. Like most things there is a danger of dieing. I hope most realise this and don't try blaming the uploader for the poor 15yr olds tragic death. The science and effect of this is really cool and very educational. he was absolutely clear of the dangers and precautions you must take with the insulated dry wood. If anything parents should teach their children more on the fact that if they believe something to be dangerous like this to talk to their parents about it before doing something so dangerous alone. Only people to blame is either the parents or the kid depending on the situation.
Why aren't you big on TH-cam?! 15,000 subs is barely anything but watching this feels the same as someone with a million subscribers. I know just me isn't going to affect anything, but I subscribed and I hope that you'll blow up soon (...not literally...) Keep making these awesome videos! I'll eagerly await the next one!
For "spark gap" Wikipedia says. An arc formed in air will ionize oxygen and nitrogen, which then can re-form into reactive molecules such as ozone and nitric oxide. These products can be damaging to the mucous membranes. It also says something about ultravolet radiation damaging your cornea, but I'm not sure you have to worry about either when briefly playing like something like this.
Thank you for the video, I actually seen it from start to end. I still have some questions that I need some answers for if you don't mind: 1st: What is that extension hanging in the air from the input side? I can see two wires probably taped together. The second question is, those poles which the spark comes in between, are they empty from inside? like tubes for example, perhaps copper tubes like in the back of the refrigerator? or what. Again, thank you and I hope you find the time to answer my questions.
+Ahmed Alian The "poles" can be either tubing, or solid wire. They also can be steel, or copper. The extra wires seen on the left side of the transformer were used to power the filament or heater inside the magnetron tube in the oven. They should not be connected together. Remember, there is a deadly amount of power here, BE CAREFUL!
Nova Flare Good question - I've never seen one used in this way so I suspect they won't work very well if at all as they output in the 100s of volts rather than the thousands.
wonderstruckwow hmm but i think the amps might be hirer allowing the current to jump. No matter i see microwaves on the street all the time for the trash man. Oh any plans for the magnetron could be interesting. Though it may just make a radio jammer lol.
Nova Flare For a spark to form in air the potential difference (voltage) across the electrodes must exceed the breakdown potential of the air. If the voltage isn't greater than that the spark can't jump, pretty much regardless of the size of the current. I think the the output current of our transformer is of the order of 0,1 A or less (but it only takes a few milliamps to stop your heart). I'm not sure about the current output from flourescent lamp transformers.
Nova Flare Just a word of warning: the ceramic insulators at each end of a magnetron's cavity (one exposed and usually one inside the can with the connections) contain beryllium oxides, don't break them up or grind them at all, the dust's carcinogenic :)
***** yeh is like the rectafiers on high capacity car battery chargers. Nasty stuff. Getting cut by one of those bastards could mess you up real good as it is also just good old fashion toxic.
+It's Wolfs live Yes it is, but can't say I've done this myself. You do indeed need a few different parts but there's a nice little video showing you how to at th-cam.com/video/cU0sLf5okZ0/w-d-xo.html. Even though you're only using a 9 volt battery you still need to be very careful with the high voltage output.
+It's Wolfs live That's the flyback transformer - it's used in a TV set to generate high voltages. I'm sure if you look on ebay you'll be able to find one. Just put the part number from the video in and have a search.
+Kennynva T. Yes, the two "filament winding" wires from the transformer go to the 2 terminals on the magnetron. The high-voltage winding on the transformer has one end grounded to the core, and the "hot" wire goes to one terminal on the capacitor. The second terminal on the capacitor has the diode connected to ground, and this terminal also connects to one of the 2 filament leads going to the magnetron, which is the high-voltage input to the tube. The capacitor and diode form a half-wave unfiltered voltage doubler. The positive-going half cycle goes from the transformer, through the capacitor, then through the diode to ground, charging the capacitor. Then the negative-going half cycle from the transformer goes through the capacitor, and gets added to the voltage already in the capacitor, effectively doubling it. The diode is now reverse-biased, so it don't conduct, causing this voltage to go into the magnetron and do its thing, returning to ground through the case of the magnetron. The filament winding on the transformer is only providing several volts AC to the filament, but it also has the high voltage DC on it, so this winding is well-insulated from any other parts of the transformer. In the Jacobs ladder in the video, there is no high voltage in the unused filament winding leads, just a few volts AC. A simple way to view this type of voltage doubler is to imagine a diode and capacitor in series, across an AC voltage source, like most power supplies. But instead of putting the "load" across the capacitor, you put it across the diode.
Thank you very much...so could you use the output of the capacitor going to the diode and connect it to the jacobs ladder...??? and it would be doubled...would that work...???
+Kennynva T. I'm not sure if that would work. Being half-wave DC, the arc would extinguish during the missing half-cycles and may not continue. And I've never seen a DC Jacobs ladder, not sure if it would work properly even with pure DC.
Great how to. I'm making a frankenstein lab for halloween and would love one of these. You said the transformer was smoking/heating up during use, is there a way to run this throughout the night without this happening?
kepler2020 I don't think you'd be able to do this with our set up. Leaving it running through the night could be a bit of a hazard anyway as the arc is more than capable of causing a fire if it should come into contact with anything flammable and then there's the risk of someone curious touching it if it's left unattended, which could be fatal. One thing we've been thinking about is to use a contact point at the base of the electrodes that is moved by a servo to close the gap and form the arc. This could then be triggered by a sensor of some description and the whole thing could be controlled by an Arduino or other microcontroller. You'd have to build in some safety to make sure that the apparatus couldn't be triggered too often and even then it should be encased so no one can touch anything and it shouldn't be left unattended.
+wonderstruckwow Thanks for your vids, I really enjoy what you share. One tip from me: You should properly ground the transformer (3:52). It will work without grounding, but due to the high voltage and thin wire there will be flashovers within the secondary coil. This destroys the transformer in no time. If in doubt, see how its done in a microwave (before blowing it up of course)
🤔 Did you you know that if you reverse the angle, and then bend the tips away and down from each other in creating a sudden bend, balls of light will shoot off the end. One rod must be a little bit longe, and you’ll need to unleash a hefty charge of static electricity to make this happen. A bank of High capacity static capacitors is required, and a trigger to release the energy all at once they are fully charged.
@@derholzhacker4780 It would have to be a gap of less than 1 millimeter for it to work. And don't use a stick, just use a screwdriver with a rubber handle, or even better, a probing device.
Ok, so I have a microwave transformer that has three coils. The third outputs extremely high voltage. I was able to pull a 1 ft arc off it. Now this is a lethal arc, as it tripped a 15 amp breaker. PROBLEM- It only arcs when initially shorted then electrodes pulled away from each other. I desire to make it into a driver for a ozone he generator. Question- Can I use a fluorescent light ballast between the mains and the transformer so that the output is both higher, and arcs more easily, plus isn't lethal anymore?
I should also say that I have a second microwave oven that has a good transformer & magnetron in it. so i have two of these transformers + another two magnetron emitters. Yes I know a good bit about how to be safe around high voltages, but gotta say- They still scare me!
Sadly a 15 yr old High School student in Vermilion OH attempted to make a version of this April 19, 2016 and was electrocuted. For those not in the know, electrocuted means "death by electricity", not to be confused with shocked, which is where you survive the jolt. fox8.com/2016/04/20/vermilion-15-year-old-dies-while-conducting-experiment-he-saw-on-youtube/
In the 1960s I built one when I was probably 12. I used a neon light transfer which produced a very high voltage and high frequency. I had no help from my dad who was an electrical engineer. Luckily I survived. I think I was lucky. The voltage was high enough that the spark started with at the bottom and climbed up the ladder.
NoblexSoul Not yet! If this was for regular use we'd properly insulate it all and put the electrodes in some kind of perspex cage because it really is all to easy to forget it's live.
Why not place your antennas so close to where they barely touch, and install a a turn signal switch; so that the spark may switch off and on, and may not get too hot? 💯🖖🏾👍🏾
Try putting a single strand of 28 - 44 guage copper wire at the top of each electrode It will probably just burn out immediately but it should be interesting
Really the thing about killing you is not a disclaimer, it really will, attempting to experiment with voltages like that will certainly kill you if you make just the smallest of mistakes, watch these things on TH-cam and don't try them yourself.
My friend tried this and died. I know it looks cool but please don't. Morgan was very careful and smart and still managed to get himself killed so please don't try it. Don't get mad at the guy in the video by the way he didn't mean to do it, he even put warnings up and Morgan still thought he could do it. Really you don't know.
I am sorry for your loss. But, don't let the grief make you irrational; it *can* be done, ppl have build this and survived. Maybe it's because i have a college education in electronics but still, it is not impossible! Again, may your friend rest in peace.
Hi do you have an email address & can you send it to me? My question is sort of complex.. Does this Jacobs ladder stop devices from bothering someone ? Basically how helpful is this device?
Why didn't you bend the copper rods closer together to avoid using the highly complex dowel and nail? (Since you're a teacher I proof read and edited that sentence about 3 times before posting it) xD
EweChewBrrr Ha ha - sentence seems fine to me. Yes, I might try moving the electrodes closer together but to get a spark through air at about 2000 volts we'd need them to be about 1 mm apart. Another possibility might be to drill a hole through the bottom of one of the electrodes and put a self tapping screw through it to close the gap - that way it'll be a bit more adjustable.
I guess you have to have specific interests to see the value of this, neat display but I don't see why you would build this just to watch the arc travel. Is this just something to entertain yourself with or does it have some value to it's design?
It's a piece of dynamic artwork, like a plasma ball, tesla coil or Van de Graaff generator, with the added benefit of being a cool example of some electromagnetic principles.
+leebartley1 Do you mean around about 5:45? If so, that's not a squirrel it's a funny shaped stone I've got on the window sill of the workshop. Well spotted though!
Jacob's ladder was a biblical term for a ladder or stairs, a means of elevation, for angels to get to Heaven. I assume it is called that as a play on the fact that messing around with this could kill you.
Be highly careful..the experiment looks really cool..but u need to have a very good experience in electricity and electrical equipment, as jacobs ladder operates on a very high voltage...preferably an emphasis on college physics or electrical engineering is required...a 15 year kid passed away in ohio after conducting the experiment..
There was a 15 year old boy in Ohio that just died trying to make a Jacobs ladder like this. He was electrocuted. Please take this mans advice and do not try this unless you know what you are doing.
+Valerie Feathers that story just came up on my facebook page, I think they should start taking this and other videos of this nature off before someone else does this, that hasn't heard about the boy yet. Hopefully TH-cam and other sites will be smart enough to take it down..
i plan to build something similar . since ze plug in is techicaly d.c coming from ze powerplant i thought to myself why not i build a system which can power itself yes we all hears of ze free energy theory . im taking a different approach using rather simple physics between a large wheel . a small wheel & wiring connecting to a microwave transformer which it connects to a battery bank 7 then a wall socket & into a a.c. motor . d.c supplied by a large alternator which hooks up creating a loop .. ze battery will be dead of course so whatever comes out of ze transformer is stored... its pretty complicated & i will have it done soon
i have had great success with a 12v halogen ballast and a flyback taken out of a 5" plasma ball: th-cam.com/video/T3QF07ox-sw/w-d-xo.html i think you have plenty of volts there, and there is another reason it is not sparking automatically; you need to make an air pocket below the spark point. so the prongs need to be fitted further apart, and bend over to meet each other a little above the surface.
Should you have TWO transformers , wire the inputs in ANTI PHASE and you get twice the high voltage across the two output terminals ( which go to each upright pipe ) the iron cores are connected together and a good ( safe ) idea is to connect this junction to mains EARTH ( as it would be in an oven ! ! ) ... ( tried - n - tested ) ...... DAVE™🛑
![⚡️Pocket Jacob's Ladder [DIY, High Voltage]](/img/n.gif)
There are 10,000 videos showing how to do this on TH-cam, even I have one on my channel. Please do not assume this man is responsible for the tragedy. Anybody smart enough to disassemble a microwave and assemble this demonstration is well aware of the dangers involved. It must have been a very unfortunate mistake. Im sure if this kid was still alive, he would laugh at himself, I know I would! I know many electrical engineers, and projects like these inspired them to learn more. Keep learning, stay safe.
+TheBackyardScientist Quote:( Please do not assume this man is responsible for the tragedy.)
I don't think this person is being blamed. However I see all sorts of videos using a MW transformer, and don't like the idea. The reason is the high current they can put out. You can build a Jacobs ladder with a high voltage source having a current of about 30 milliamps. An example of such a source would be a neon sign transformer. A Microwave transformer can put out roughly 20 times that amount of current, generally between 500-700 milliamps. The voltage is actually lower but the current is much higher, making it more dangerous.
Hi love your vid
30mA at a few thousand volts can still be lethal, no?
@@drdin3442 no!
@@sadderwhiskeymann 30mA can still be deadly, from my knowledge 30mA can make you grab onto it and make you not let go...
When I was 18, I used a 15,000v 60ma neon transformer to make a Jacob Ladder. That was the first time I ever saw a spark looking like flames. Never got shocked by one, thankfully.
I just made my first high voltage arc tonight and it was very cool
Please don't take the video down. There is a warning in the description and you warned them in the video a few times. If you don't know what you're doing, don't try it! My daughter loves science and loves watching these videos.
"If you like the smell of ozone in the morning" is one of the best non-quote I've ever heard...
+kinoglaz777 yup, paired with this article is really ironic, overall the part of the smell >_< www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2016/04/20/ohio-boy-electrocuted-while-conducting-youtube-experiment/83275354/
If you like the smell of burning flesh in the morning
So many videos have been taken down because of that kid that died. thanks for the warnings even tho it should be common sense
anyone that dies attempting this is to blame. don't blame the uploader.
Decca
You should try this experiment just like that kid did. I hope you get hurt.
*****
Does someone wanna tell me why my pool is filled with hotdog chunks, and dirty dishes?
*****
look up carl brutananadilewski soundboard prank call on youtube, one of the funniest things i've ever seen.
the one where he calls the insurance companies, it's in 3 parts.
+Decca well then you obviously didn't do it incorrectly resulting in death. congratulations.
If you want to be less risky use a ZVS driver and a fly back transformer for a consistent higher voltage arc, but at a lower current(usually no more than 60mA) it can be lethal but it is more than safer than the 500mA MOT
Maybe you could have a small servo with a nail on the end to make contact with the wire so you could end up with a microcontroller controlled jacobs ladder!
I'm in the US, our mains here is 120v but MOT's basically follow the same design principles. Some questions about earthing ("grounding" in North America), though...
1) Aside from connecting the base of the transformer to the second copper pipe/wire, should it also be earthed? (By means of using a 3-wire cord instead of a 2-wire cord)
2) I've seen the dowel & nail method used before. Some folks choose to run an insulated ground wire from the nail to a grounded object such as a copper gas or water pipe, grounding rod, etc. Should I consider this?
Also, out of curiosity, how do I prevent MOT's from catching fire? Should I place them in transformer oil, or will this damage the MOT? Or is it simply not possible to stop an MOT from overheating?
If this does not work I suppose I can spend some $$ and purchase a 10kV current limited neon sign transformer off eBay or Amazon, although my microwave is on the fritz and I'm thinking about salvaging the transformer once I replace it...
try a neon sign transformer. they work great and make an arc spontaneously. I've done it myself.
Yes, they're a better option but we just happened to have an old MOT to hand for this.
Did you try connecting two transformers in series? The first one would boost the voltage by about 10X, then next one about 10X again. That ought to spontaneously create sparks
Does'nt work that way. The insulation of the windings of the 2nd transformer will not withstand more than a few kilovolts. It would die in seconds. What you actually can do is to connect the primaries of two transformers "anti-parallel" (out of phase) to get twice the voltage (around 5 kV).
I know you're recycling but a safER option would be to use a neon sign or oil burner ignition transformer. Microwave oven transformers output 2,000 volts at 500 milliamps and anything over 100 mA has a good potential to stop your heart. Neon or oil burner transformers usually output 30mA with roughly 10,000 volts. It would hurt like hell, may burn you, but probably won't kill you, although anything above 20 mA has the potential to contract your muscles so you can't let go and cause suffocation.
Couldn't you put something permanent between the electrodes so that it would create one arc after another? Kind of a self starter?
How exactly does the grounding on the primary coil work? I really want to avoid using the iron shell as the ground as that could be extremely dangerous, but it would work if everything went fine. I just can’t find the center tap for the primary (but I found the secondary’s) on either of my MOTs and it’s really confusing me.
"It'll kill you if you don't know what your doing". Well I'm out!
Haha same, I wanna make a Tesla coil first which is slightly safer but more dangerous, once I make that I think I’ll be ready for Jacob
just read a boy died trying to recreate this. its all over the news. cool video.
Great video and you did warn the viewers of the dangers. Like most things there is a danger of dieing. I hope most realise this and don't try blaming the uploader for the poor 15yr olds tragic death. The science and effect of this is really cool and very educational. he was absolutely clear of the dangers and precautions you must take with the insulated dry wood. If anything parents should teach their children more on the fact that if they believe something to be dangerous like this to talk to their parents about it before doing something so dangerous alone. Only people to blame is either the parents or the kid depending on the situation.
This was way before the kid died...
I was friends with the kid, please don't do it at home without safety
Dying* jeez
Why not just put the tubing closer together at the bottom to start the spark?
Why aren't you big on TH-cam?! 15,000 subs is barely anything but watching this feels the same as someone with a million subscribers. I know just me isn't going to affect anything, but I subscribed and I hope that you'll blow up soon (...not literally...)
Keep making these awesome videos! I'll eagerly await the next one!
JamesTavRule Thanks! Glad you like the videos and we do hope to blow up soon! Thanks for subscribing.
They all died
For "spark gap" Wikipedia says. An arc formed in air will ionize oxygen and nitrogen, which then can re-form into reactive molecules such as ozone and nitric oxide. These products can be damaging to the mucous membranes. It also says something about ultravolet radiation damaging your cornea, but I'm not sure you have to worry about either when briefly playing like something like this.
Would it keep a consistent spark if I were to solder a nail to one of the posts leaving a small gap between the next one?
Great video I'm a biochemist and now I wish I was a physicist instead. Love Jacobs ladder.
How did you hook up your transformer to you power source. Do we just use a power cord that hooks up to an outlet? I wanna be smart about this
I love the smell of ozone in the morning! I'm sure there is a microwave oven somewhere down in the yard. Thank you!
Zyklon - Drake. No problem - just be careful with those high voltages.
Thank you for the video, I actually seen it from start to end. I still have some questions that I need some answers for if you don't mind: 1st: What is that extension hanging in the air from the input side? I can see two wires probably taped together. The second question is, those poles which the spark comes in between, are they empty from inside? like tubes for example, perhaps copper tubes like in the back of the refrigerator? or what. Again, thank you and I hope you find the time to answer my questions.
+Ahmed Alian The "poles" can be either tubing, or solid wire. They also can be steel, or copper. The extra wires seen on the left side of the transformer were used to power the filament or heater inside the magnetron tube in the oven. They should not be connected together. Remember, there is a deadly amount of power here, BE CAREFUL!
If you keep the bottom of the ladder 3/16 or less,ladder will work without stick. Or solder a starter tab and it lights up like xmas. Cool Vid. Thanks
very cool i may just build one. Question i think i already know the answer to but. will a florescent light transformer / ballast work?
Nova Flare Good question - I've never seen one used in this way so I suspect they won't work very well if at all as they output in the 100s of volts rather than the thousands.
wonderstruckwow hmm but i think the amps might be hirer allowing the current to jump. No matter i see microwaves on the street all the time for the trash man. Oh any plans for the magnetron could be interesting. Though it may just make a radio jammer lol.
Nova Flare For a spark to form in air the potential difference (voltage) across the electrodes must exceed the breakdown potential of the air. If the voltage isn't greater than that the spark can't jump, pretty much regardless of the size of the current. I think the the output current of our transformer is of the order of 0,1 A or less (but it only takes a few milliamps to stop your heart). I'm not sure about the current output from flourescent lamp transformers.
Nova Flare Just a word of warning: the ceramic insulators at each end of a magnetron's cavity (one exposed and usually one inside the can with the connections) contain beryllium oxides, don't break them up or grind them at all, the dust's carcinogenic :)
***** yeh is like the rectafiers on high capacity car battery chargers. Nasty stuff. Getting cut by one of those bastards could mess you up real good as it is also just good old fashion toxic.
Can you make a version where the sparks climb automatically without coaxing with the stick, and repeat over and over and over again?
I'm a little curious how many times he's been electrocuted and how badly
Hi , nice video !Is this also possible with DC like with an 9V battery(of course with a different structure or electrically parts) ?
+It's Wolfs live Yes it is, but can't say I've done this myself. You do indeed need a few different parts but there's a nice little video showing you how to at th-cam.com/video/cU0sLf5okZ0/w-d-xo.html. Even though you're only using a 9 volt battery you still need to be very careful with the high voltage output.
wonderstruckwow thank you! Do you know where i could get the part is shown at 0:22 or ist it self made?
+It's Wolfs live That's the flyback transformer - it's used in a TV set to generate high voltages. I'm sure if you look on ebay you'll be able to find one. Just put the part number from the video in and have a search.
Ahh i see...ill look for one thank you! !
Hi wonderstruckwow just another question with the Transistor, in the Video it says 1307, but i only can find 13007,can i also use it?
How do you make it self igniting mate,
do you just need more transformers for a High voltage
The wires that are not connected go to the capacitor..right?? can you hook up the capacitor, and if so would it help out the voltage to be higher???
+Kennynva T. Those extra wires are low-voltage AC that powered the filament in the magnetron tube.
So the two wire go to the magnetron...and the high voltage wire..goes to the capacitor and diode in a microwave oven right???
+Kennynva T. Yes, the two "filament winding" wires from the transformer go to the 2 terminals on the magnetron. The high-voltage winding on the transformer has one end grounded to the core, and the "hot" wire goes to one terminal on the capacitor. The second terminal on the capacitor has the diode connected to ground, and this terminal also connects to one of the 2 filament leads going to the magnetron, which is the high-voltage input to the tube.
The capacitor and diode form a half-wave unfiltered voltage doubler. The positive-going half cycle goes from the transformer, through the capacitor, then through the diode to ground, charging the capacitor. Then the negative-going half cycle from the transformer goes through the capacitor, and gets added to the voltage already in the capacitor, effectively doubling it. The diode is now reverse-biased, so it don't conduct, causing this voltage to go into the magnetron and do its thing, returning to ground through the case of the magnetron.
The filament winding on the transformer is only providing several volts AC to the filament, but it also has the high voltage DC on it, so this winding is well-insulated from any other parts of the transformer. In the Jacobs ladder in the video, there is no high voltage in the unused filament winding leads, just a few volts AC.
A simple way to view this type of voltage doubler is to imagine a diode and capacitor in series, across an AC voltage source, like most power supplies. But instead of putting the "load" across the capacitor, you put it across the diode.
Thank you very much...so could you use the output of the capacitor going to the diode and connect it to the jacobs ladder...??? and it would be doubled...would that work...???
+Kennynva T. I'm not sure if that would work. Being half-wave DC, the arc would extinguish during the missing half-cycles and may not continue. And I've never seen a DC Jacobs ladder, not sure if it would work properly even with pure DC.
Can you use a pvc pipe as the dowel?
i live in the U.S., so i get 120 volts. will my transformer be ok for more than a minute?
Great how to. I'm making a frankenstein lab for halloween and would love one of these. You said the transformer was smoking/heating up during use, is there a way to run this throughout the night without this happening?
kepler2020 I don't think you'd be able to do this with our set up. Leaving it running through the night could be a bit of a hazard anyway as the arc is more than capable of causing a fire if it should come into contact with anything flammable and then there's the risk of someone curious touching it if it's left unattended, which could be fatal.
One thing we've been thinking about is to use a contact point at the base of the electrodes that is moved by a servo to close the gap and form the arc. This could then be triggered by a sensor of some description and the whole thing could be controlled by an Arduino or other microcontroller. You'd have to build in some safety to make sure that the apparatus couldn't be triggered too often and even then it should be encased so no one can touch anything and it shouldn't be left unattended.
+wonderstruckwow Thanks for your vids, I really enjoy what you share. One tip from me: You should properly ground the transformer (3:52). It will work without grounding, but due to the high voltage and thin wire there will be flashovers within the secondary coil. This destroys the transformer in no time. If in doubt, see how its done in a microwave (before blowing it up of course)
Thanks for the advice - not sure why we didn't do that!
Ground it to where?
🤔 Did you you know that if you reverse the angle, and then bend the tips away and down from each other in creating a sudden bend, balls of light will shoot off the end. One rod must be a little bit longe, and you’ll need to unleash a hefty charge of static electricity to make this happen. A bank of High capacity static capacitors is required, and a trigger to release the energy all at once they are fully charged.
Awesome! Thanks for posting this!
***** Our pleasure! Glad you like it.
Can I use a standard screw driver to start the arc?
There are other videos in which the Ladder does not require a wooden stick. Why do you need one in the UK. Is the physics different in the UK?
The transformer is a lower voltage. When using, say, a 20,000 volt neon sign transformer, the voltage is high enough to bridge the gap at the bottom.
@@hailzanzibar4881 I think I would try a smaller gap. A man could accidentally use a stick that was too damp.
@@derholzhacker4780 It would have to be a gap of less than 1 millimeter for it to work. And don't use a stick, just use a screwdriver with a rubber handle, or even better, a probing device.
@@hailzanzibar4881 ....Thank you. 1 mm sound about right.
Can you daisy chain multiple transformers to get higher voltage?
Eddy Hidayat Possibly, haven't tried it though.
Everyone please don't try this unless you really do know what you are doing. Be careful.
+How2Save01 Don't do it unless you know what you are doing or you will probably die is a pretty stiff warning. At least to anyone rational.
Stop saying this!! He gave plenty of oh so plenty warnings!
Ok, so I have a microwave transformer that has three coils. The third outputs extremely high voltage. I was able to pull a 1 ft arc off it.
Now this is a lethal arc, as it tripped a 15 amp breaker.
PROBLEM- It only arcs when initially shorted then electrodes pulled away from each other.
I desire to make it into a driver for a ozone he generator.
Question- Can I use a fluorescent light ballast between the mains and the transformer so that the output is both higher, and arcs more easily, plus isn't lethal anymore?
zdw306 I should think using the ballast would be a good idea, but haven't tried it myself.
I should also say that I have a second microwave oven that has a good transformer & magnetron in it. so i have two of these transformers + another two magnetron emitters.
Yes I know a good bit about how to be safe around high voltages, but gotta say- They still scare me!
zdw306 Yes - you've only got to make one mistake!
I didn't really receive this lesson well in class, but is this just an electrical arc, or is this a plasma?
***** An arc occurs due to the electrical breakdown of a gas. You then get a plasma discharge through the gas so it is kind of the same thing.
Sadly a 15 yr old High School student in Vermilion OH attempted to make a version of this April 19, 2016 and was electrocuted. For those not in the know, electrocuted means "death by electricity", not to be confused with shocked, which is where you survive the jolt.
fox8.com/2016/04/20/vermilion-15-year-old-dies-while-conducting-experiment-he-saw-on-youtube/
+markmarcie2 I hope it encourages other young, future scientists to take warnings and disclaimers very seriously. They're no joke.
If you put a lighter at the bottom the fire will create plasma and you still have an automatic jacob’s ladder!!
How do i safely do this?
So many memories of shopping at Fry's with my dad.
In the 1960s I built one when I was probably 12. I used a neon light transfer which produced a very high voltage and high frequency. I had no help from my dad who was an electrical engineer. Luckily I survived. I think I was lucky. The voltage was high enough that the spark started with at the bottom and climbed up the ladder.
Transformers don't change the frequency. Glad you're still with us!
No fried wonderstruckwow today because he knows proper safety precautions
NoblexSoul Not yet! If this was for regular use we'd properly insulate it all and put the electrodes in some kind of perspex cage because it really is all to easy to forget it's live.
Why not place your antennas so close to where they barely touch, and install a a turn signal switch; so that the spark may switch off and on, and may not get too hot? 💯🖖🏾👍🏾
...I used an Old Neon Sign Transformer!.....I think it's about 22 Kv on the output!
Try putting a single strand of 28 - 44 guage copper wire at the top of each electrode
It will probably just burn out immediately but it should be interesting
Mitchell Kuske Might give that a go but might be better at the bottom so that any arc formed can travel up the electrodes.
Cool... make sure that you get it on video and tag me in the vid plz
Ohh and I would discharge it after u turn it off
Mitchell Kuske We haven't got a capacitor in this circuit so no need to discharge after it's switched off.
K
Really the thing about killing you is not a disclaimer, it really will, attempting to experiment with voltages like that will certainly kill you if you make just the smallest of mistakes, watch these things on TH-cam and don't try them yourself.
I believe the Jacob's ladder was used in hospitals too!
My friend tried this and died. I know it looks cool but please don't.
Morgan was very careful and smart and still managed to get himself
killed so please don't try it. Don't get mad at the guy in the video by
the way he didn't mean to do it, he even put warnings up and Morgan still thought he could do it. Really you don't know.
I am sorry for your loss.
But, don't let the grief make you irrational; it *can* be done, ppl have build this and survived.
Maybe it's because i have a college education in electronics but still, it is not impossible!
Again, may your friend rest in peace.
That was beautiful man
Thanks for helping me how to make a time machine! :D
It's not a time machine
@@4walls764 No, you can use it to make a time machine! :O
Hi do you have an email address & can you send it to me?
My question is sort of complex..
Does this Jacobs ladder stop devices from bothering someone ?
Basically how helpful is this device?
What? It’s not helpful, it just looks cool, that’s all.
How many neurons do you have?
Amazing video. Very educational. :D
instead of using the nail to lessen the gap between the two rods, why don't you just make the gap smaller at the base.
my brother's an electrician
so i'm guessing he'll know how to do this-
because I don't wanna die :)
Why didn't you bend the copper rods closer together to avoid using the highly complex dowel and nail? (Since you're a teacher I proof read and edited that sentence about 3 times before posting it) xD
EweChewBrrr Ha ha - sentence seems fine to me.
Yes, I might try moving the electrodes closer together but to get a spark through air at about 2000 volts we'd need them to be about 1 mm apart. Another possibility might be to drill a hole through the bottom of one of the electrodes and put a self tapping screw through it to close the gap - that way it'll be a bit more adjustable.
this guy needs alot more subs lol like 2 mill
Ausintune Spread the word!
:)
Just use a couple of 220 to 5v transformers backwards and feed it with pulsed DC...
Run compressed air between copper rods from bellow
That's great dude
Put a flame between the two rods and the fire will create plasma, making the use of the stick pointless
Use a small candle to start the plasma stream.
Wonderful. Build a steadycam.
reminds me of the old black and white Flash Gordon weekly show from TV when i was a Kid
Nice! I wanna make one ,but my won't let me
Clash With Ethan It is potentially very dangerous - maybe start off with something a bit less lethal?
Yeah
I guess you have to have specific interests to see the value of this, neat display but I don't see why you would build this just to watch the arc travel. Is this just something to entertain yourself with or does it have some value to it's design?
It's a piece of dynamic artwork, like a plasma ball, tesla coil or Van de Graaff generator, with the added benefit of being a cool example of some electromagnetic principles.
Much safer is to use ZVS Flyback design, MOT's are DANGEROUS NO CURRENT LIMIT!!!
Use a neon-light transformer ~5KV and you won't need the nail.
freshman kid died in OHIO doing this
thats y i looked this up
Prayers to his friends and family
I looked it up for this reason
I used a car ignition coil that started by ittself with out needing to be "primed".
Me 11 years old trying to make Jacob's ladder😂
Thanks
Had to come here to see how its made. A 15 year old just died not to far from here trying to make one of these.
vermillion kid from ohio?
+Movh yea, crazy
thats why I came to the video
+Lance Strahm I just heard about that, wanted to see what it was.
same
Kid just died trying out this experiment
AC/DC hahahahah
did anyone notice the squirrel looking through the window??
+leebartley1 Do you mean around about 5:45? If so, that's not a squirrel it's a funny shaped stone I've got on the window sill of the workshop. Well spotted though!
Is that how a spark plug works
A teen died doing this experiment so watch out maybe you should finish college first before attempting this
Don't try this at home kids.
literally! so sad!
An INPLIX is a place where you can learn how to make it yourself much cheaper.
no problem,
Don't stand in water while playing with this stuff.
Why is it called a Jacob's Ladder tho?
Jacob's ladder was a biblical term for a ladder or stairs, a means of elevation, for angels to get to Heaven. I assume it is called that as a play on the fact that messing around with this could kill you.
@@TheOfficialDjProduct Lol good point
Americans have an expression. Yankee ingenuity. What is the expression for British ingenuity?
Be highly careful..the experiment looks really cool..but u need to have a very good experience in electricity and electrical equipment, as jacobs ladder operates on a very high voltage...preferably an emphasis on college physics or electrical engineering is required...a 15 year kid passed away in ohio after conducting the experiment..
Some 15 year old kid just died trying to do this
+Surggeeo 12 thats why I'm here
+Surggeeo 12 The same info brought me here
+Surggeeo 12 Ik. :P saw it on tomonews an hour after they posted a video on the boys death
I know, he was my dads cousins son. 😭😭😭😭
+Surggeeo 12 Darwinism at work
U r so smart!
There was a 15 year old boy in Ohio that just died trying to make a Jacobs ladder like this. He was electrocuted. Please take this mans advice and do not try this unless you know what you are doing.
+Valerie Feathers that story just came up on my facebook page, I think they should start taking this and other videos of this nature off before someone else does this, that hasn't heard about the boy yet. Hopefully TH-cam and other sites will be smart enough to take it down..
You can't censor the internet. As much as I think this is a tragedy the kid knew full well he was working with electricity.
i plan to build something similar . since ze plug in is techicaly d.c coming from ze powerplant i thought to myself why not i build a system which can power itself yes we all hears of ze free energy theory . im taking a different approach using rather simple physics between a large wheel . a small wheel & wiring connecting to a microwave transformer which it connects to a battery bank 7 then a wall socket & into a a.c. motor . d.c supplied by a large alternator which hooks up creating a loop .. ze battery will be dead of course so whatever comes out of ze transformer is stored... its pretty complicated & i will have it done soon
Im usin a 10,000 volt trancformer
Damn where did you get that from
i have had great success with a 12v halogen ballast and a flyback taken out of a 5" plasma ball:
th-cam.com/video/T3QF07ox-sw/w-d-xo.html
i think you have plenty of volts there, and there is another reason it is not sparking automatically;
you need to make an air pocket below the spark point. so the prongs need to be fitted further apart, and bend over to meet each other a little above the surface.
Should you have TWO transformers , wire the inputs in ANTI PHASE and you get twice the high voltage across the two output terminals ( which go to each upright pipe ) the iron cores are connected together and a good ( safe ) idea is to connect this junction to mains EARTH ( as it would be in an oven ! ! ) ... ( tried - n - tested ) ...... DAVE™🛑
You can make it yourself, just loook and learn from INPLIX .