Materials:
2 Xerox brand Overhead Projector Sheets - free from dumpster (two packs of 100 sheets)
2 sheets Aluminum foil, generic.
4 feet Radio Shack burglar alarm window tape.
Tape (not for electronics, but all I have here)
Starting with plastic sheet, foil on top. Cut to exactly 8"x10"
Plastic is 8 1/2x11"
Conductive burglar alarm tape (sticky side against plastic, other side on foil)
Taped to secure. Repeat again with a second layer.
Runs along the entire length for uniformity and good conductivity.
Not as good as solder, but I dont want lumps.
I have mad soldering skills & was taught by
a NASA contractor AFTER I'd thought I was good already,
so I could do it "without lumps". This is just a proof-of-concept anyways.
Final 16-17nF!
After testing with a battery, it holds a tiny charge that is quickly dissipated by my meter.
I really need better tools at home. Great justification to buy more!
I will continue to experiment with dual layers and other sizes.
I can take this to work and try out on a hi-pot tester to see what the breakdown is.
I'm hoping to score 15kV at least on this!
For education or other DIY plans, try:
I'll see if I get any arcing, and at what voltage, if I do. I'm not sure exactly how far the foil sheets are away from each other at the ends of each roll.
ReplyDeletecool man - can i see a homemade laser
ReplyDeleteOh, sure. Lots of people make those...but they do it "just to do it", as it's much cheaper to buy one than to make one. I've planned on it for the future.
ReplyDeleteI'd made one in the late 1980s, which promptly burned up a few minutes into operation. I'd checked out a textbook from the library (no internet back then, was at the mercy of libraries and hobby magazines) and the schematic actually worked.
Tested today at work, put a "Megger" on it, no leakage at 1000 volts. Also found out my megger issued to me doesnt work.
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered how much capacitance can be had with 2 1000' roles of aluminum.
ReplyDelete