diy lightning wand a handheld van de graaff genera

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http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/

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DIY Lightning Wand a Handheld Van de Graaff Generatorby yardleydobon on February 28, 2010

Table of Contents

DIY Lightning Wand a Handheld Van de Graaff Generator ...............................................................................

Intro: DIY Lightning Wand a Handheld Van de Graaff Generator .......................................................................

Step 1: Materials and Tools ...................................................................................................

Step 2: Motor and Bottom Roller ...............................................................................................

Step 3: Bottom Comb and Battery Holder ........................................................................................

Step 4: Belt ...............................................................................................................

Step 5: Column, Upper Roller, and Collector ......................................................................................

Step 6: Complete Assembly ..................................................................................................

Step 7: Fiddling and Debugging ................................................................................................Step 8: FUN ..............................................................................................................

Related Instructables ........................................................................................................

Comments ................................................................................................................
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Intro: DIY Lightning Wand a Handheld Van de Graaff GeneratorMost instructions for building a Van de Graaff generator (VDG) are for tabletop models; however VDGs grounded through a person work well enough to make a handheldversion possible. The Fun Fly Stick, a popular toy, is an example of a handheld VDG. This instructable will show you how to make your own handheld VDG capable ofproducing sparks up to an inch long with a few common items.

WARNING: Keep the VDG away from all electronics, including pacemakers, hearing aids, and the cell phone you forgot was in your pocket. A VDG is an ESD monster!

Step 1: Materials and ToolsMaterials[1] 3/4" Schedule 40 PVC pipe[1] 3/4" PVC Tee[1] 3/4" PVC Cap[3] 3 1/2" x 1/4" Rubber bands (No. 64)[1] Super Glue[1] Hot Glue[1] 3 ft 16 AWG Stranded Wire (can be taken from old extension cord)[1] Motor (like Radio Shack #273-223)[1] 4xAA Battery Holder (like Radio Shack #270-391)

[1] Wooden Dowel[1] Aluminum Foil[1] Aluminum Can[1] Wide-mouth Plastic Bottle like a 32 oz Gatorade bottle[1] Paper clip[1] polyvinyl chloride electrical tape (Scotch 3M 33+ and 35 both work)[1] Teflon tape[1] glass bead [url:http://www.artbeads.com/czech-glass-rondelle-9mm.html]

ToolsPocket KnifeCan OpenerWire stripperSawDrill or Lighter, Nail, and ScrewHot Glue GunAlligator Lead or Stiff Wire hooked at the endPaper clip

Before starting, wash your hands and prepare a clean work area. The three enemies of a VDG are oil, water, and dirt. Therefore you should clean and thoroughly dryevery part before construction. Use nonsoapy water only since soap can leave a conductive film. Before touching the rollers or belt wipe your hands to remove anyexcess oil.
http://www.artbeads.com/czech-glass-rondelle-9mm.html


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Step 2: Motor and Bottom RollerThe motor doesn't quite fit in the PVC Tee. Cut about 18 in of electrical tape; then cut this strip lengthwise. Now wrap the strips around the end of the motor closest to theterminals. Add or remove bits of tape until the motor fits.

To create the bottom roller, cut a narrow strip of polyvinyl chloride electrical tape and wrap it around the motor's shaft. The best way to get the tape to wrap around theshaft is by pinching the tape to the shaft and rolling it between your thumb and index finger. You also want to crown the roller (make it thicker in the middle) by pullingyour index finger slightly to the right for a couple turns then pushing back to the left for a couple more turns repeatedly as you roll on the tape. A crowned roller will keep

the rubber band from slipping off the roller. Add a bit of super glue to the end of the tape strip to prevent it from unrolling, also add a little super glue to the edge of theroller to bind all the layers of tape together. I tried making rollers out of Teflon tape and silicone rubber, both of which are lower on the triboelectric series, but a rollermade from electrical tape was easiest to work with. I did not know what material the generic black electrical tape I had was made from, so to be positive the bottom rollerwas vinyl electrical tape I used blue 3M 35, but 33+ should work well too.

Step 3: Bottom Comb and Battery HolderNow you need to drill a hole in the Tee for the bottom comb. You can also make a hole with a heated nail, and use a screw to widen it. Do this in a well ventilated area.See the pictures below, for proper placement of the hole. Next, cut a length of wire about 8 in long and strip 0.25 in of insulation from each end. Insert the wire into thehole and tape it to the Tee like the picture shows. Not taping the wire at the hole will allow you to adjust the distance of the comb from the roller so that you can find theoptimum distance once you have the generator built and running.

The Radio Shack motor is meant to run at 1.5-3V, but if you use rechargeable batteries you can run the motor at 3.6V without too much trouble. A higher motor voltagecauses the motor to turn at a higher RPM which results in more HV at the collector. I didn't have a 3xAA battery holder so I made a dummy battery out of a piece ofwooden dowel cut to the same length as a AA, wrapped that in aluminum foil and insulated the sides with electrical tape. Hot glue the battery holder to the side of theTee.

The Radio Shack motor has very thin brushes and lacks in construction quality. It gets the job done, but I'm positive there i s a better motor out there waiting to take itsplace. Suggestions for a new motor a more than welcome.


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Step 4: BeltA longer belt causes a larger charge separation which means a higher voltage will result at the collector. Turning three rubber bands into one long rubber band is easywith a pair of scissors and super glue. Brand new rubber bands are a bit stiff, so stretch them out to loosen them up. Now cut each rubber band. Try to make a verystraight cut, so that when you glue the ends together they will make good contact. Place a drop of super glue on a piece of paper and spread it around with a toothpick.Now dip the end of one rubber band in the glue and adjoin it to the end of another rubber band. Don't overlap the edges; you want to directly affix one cut end to theother. Also don't use too much glue; you don't want a glue bond, you want the glue to heat the edges of the rubber bands so that they fuse together. Hold the edges

together for around 10 seconds and don't stretch it for 30 seconds. A proper bond can be stretched quite far, much further than required for the VDG. Repeat, until you'vemade one large rubber band, minding not to twist it.

TipsToo little glue is better than too much. Even if the bond doesn't occur along the entire edge, you can still see what the proper bond should look like before trying again.Don't be afraid to mess up. The bound sets quickly, so you know right away whether the result is any good, and if it's not just trim the ends and try again.You should use brand new rubber bands; old dirty rubber bands aren't worth the trouble.

Step 5: Column, Upper Roller, and CollectorThe column is a piece of 3/4" PVC that holds the upper roller and supports the aluminum can collector. Cut two lengths of PVC; the column will be 11 in, and the handle 4in. Now drill a hole 0.5 in from the top of the column. Remove any burrs from the PVC. Wash and dry to remove any PVC dust.

The upper roller is a 9x6 mm roundelle Czech glass bead purchased from artbeads.com. Artbeads.com has no minimum order with free shipping, but please don't takeadvantage of them by spending less than a dollar; buy a few beads. The axis for the roller is made from a paper clip that has been straightened and formed into an Lshape. Stick the paper clip through the holes in the column and trim the excess. Now curve the axel inward slightly. Wrap a little Teflon tape around the axel, and slip thebead over it. The slippery Teflon tape will prevent the paper clip from grinding the bead. Now tape two narrow strips of electrical tape on either side of the bead. You canuse a wire stripper to cut away excess tape. These bumpers keep the bead from sliding to the left or right on the axel when you wave the VDG around. The holes in thecolumn are of course too small to pass the bead and bumpers, so you must insert the assembly in the end of the PVC, hook the bottom of the L into one hole, then pushthe other end of the axel into the other hole.

To make the upper comb, cut 8 in of wire, strip 0.25 in from one end, which will be the upper comb, and 1 in from the other. Shape the wire around the column like thepicture shows, then tape the wire to the column. Spread out the comb's strands and twist together the strands on the other end. The comb points at the roller when thegenerator is running, but can be easily moved out of the way to remove the upper roller assembly.

The collector is made of an aluminum can with the lid removed. First remove the can's tab. The aluminum can's lid can be cut out with a sharp knife but using a handheld
http://www.artbeads.com/czech-glass-rondelle-9mm.html


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can opener is much safer and leaves fewer sharp edges. Use a paper napkin to keep the wheel with teeth from puncturing the can. The can opener should be used likescissors to remove the lid; don't twist. The collector's support is made from a Gatorade or similar bottle. Trace the circumference of a piece of PVC onto the bottles lid.Remove the material from the l id within the circle. Place the aluminum can onto the bottle and trace a circle around the bottle where its neck meets the can. Cut the neckoff the bottle using the l ine as reference. Don't cut exactly on the line, but leave a littl e excess, which can be trimmed away later if necessary. Screw the lid back onto theneck of the bottle and insert it onto the column starting from the bottom.

Image Notes1. toothpick for reference scale only

Step 6: Complete AssemblyLoop the rubber band onto the upper roller and insert the roller assembly into its holes. Thread an alligator lead through the column, hook the rubber band, and pull itthrough the column. Pinch a loop into the end of the rubber band and hook i t onto the lower roller. Insert the column into the Tee. Look down into the column to makesure the rubber band is not twisted and everything is lined up. Point the upper comb at the rubber band. Make sure neither comb is touching the rubber band. Place thealuminum can onto the column. Push the support up until the can rests on it. Use a couple pieces of electrical tape to affix the can to the support. Later you can glue thebottle neck to the can, but make sure the hole in the bottle is large enough to pass the PVC with the upper wire attached. The end of the upper comb's wire should makecontact with the inside of the aluminum can. Place a 3/4" PVC cap onto the handle and insert it into the Tee. Grip the end of the lower comb's wire (aka ground wire)while holding the handle. Apply power to the motor. With a lot of luck you'll feel a static charge on the collector when you move your hand near.

To prevent the VDG from producing sparks you can cover the collector with a piece of cardboard. The VDG will still perform most of the same stunts including themerciless destruction of electronic devices.


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Step 7: Fiddling and DebuggingThis VDG design works well when it works, but can be very vexing when it doesn't.Don't lose heart.

If you apply power to the motor and it doesn't turn, remove power immediately.

Attach a thin strip of toilet paper to the collector. As the collector charges, the tissue paper will rise. If you've got things working well, it will rise quickly and point almoststraight up. You can also get a good idea how well the collector is charging by holding it close your ear. You will feel a stronger pull on the tiny hairs on your ear as wellas hear more static crackles and pops when the VDG is working well.

If the rubber band is too tight the motor will not turn or turn slowly. Push the column further into the Tee or remove a bit of PVC from the end of the column.

If the rubber band is too loose it will make poor contact with the rollers and not turn it as fast as it could. If the rubber band slaps around pull the column out of the Tee alittle. If the column is way too short you'll have to cut another longer one.

Make sure the combs aren't touching the belt. The combs should be about an eightth of an inch from the belt. Remember you didn't tape down the bottom comb so youcould adjust it; once you've found the optimal distance secure i t.

Van de Graaff generators will fail to work when the air is very humid. Use a hair dryer to blow out any moisture from inside the VDG.

Make sure you're touching the ground wire when you hold the handle.

When not using your VDG, unhook the rubber band so it doesn't deform and lose its elasticity.

Taping the bottle neck to the collector along with some extra tape on the bottom of the collector will help prevent losses due to brush discharge.

If you use an ohmeter to test the resistance of the inside of the can, you'll see that it has a nonconductive coating. The coating makes little difference at the high voltage aVan de Graaff generator produces, so don't bother scraping the coating off the can.

Step 8: FUNTurn off the lights. Observe corona discharge by pointing a finger at the collector; the tip of your finger should have a blue glow. Hold the back of your hand near thebottle lid to cause brush discharge. This will look like lots of litt le lightning bolts. Draw a spark from the collector by moving one of your second knuckles towards thecollector. If you've got your VDG working well you should be able to draw sparks a little over an inch long. Since dielectric breakdown of air is approximately 84kV/in(33kV/cm) this tells us the collector voltage is around 84 kV! Tape a needle to the the top of the collector and hold you're hand over the tip of the needle. You should feela cool breeze. This is called ionic wind.
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/step8/FUN/


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Ring Franklin's bells. I like to set up Franklin's bells without a grounding wire; normally the can on the right in the video below would be grounded. Without the groundingwire the tab/clapper transfers charge between the cans until both cans are at the same voltage as the VDG. Then one can turn off the VDG, set it aside, and thendischarge the second can; lo and behold, the bells start ringing again as if by magic.

Cause an incandescent light bulb to flash a violet-blue. A burnt out bulb works fine. Cover the glass with some clear tape to prevent shattering if the glass breaks.

Bend a thin stream of water.

Deflect soap bubbles.

Light a small neon bulb.

Stick paper to a wall.

Levitate Fun Fly Stick fliers.

Check out Prof. Bunsen's Fun Fly Stick video for various demostrations of a handheld VDG's powers.

Bill Beaty's website describes some other interesting VDG stunts.

_NOT FUN _ Giving a shock to someone who isn't expecting it sounds like good fun, but it's a bad idea. Though the current and pain will be minimal, the surprise of the shock couldcause a person to jump back reflexively and hurt themselves. It's also possible you could destroy an expensive or essential electronic device they have on them.

You can make a CFL bulb glow, but you probably shouldn't. Once I was making a CFL glow while holding it in my hand when I received a shock much brighter, louder,and more painful than anything I've received from the VDG by itself. Unlike an ordinary fluorescent tube a CFL has an integrated starter and ballast. This circuitrycontains capacitors which will charge slowly from the VDG, but will release that charge all at once with the result being a higher current and a bigger shock. If the shockdoesn't harm you, the surprise of it could cause you to drop the bulb releasing mercury and broken glass into your surroundings.
http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/emotor/vdgdemo.htmlhttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/step8/FUN/http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/step8/FUN/http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/step8/FUN/


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Never charge a capacitor with a VDG unless you understand the risks involved. A VDG is a high voltage but very low current device. A capacitor can have high voltageand supply a potentially deadly current.

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The World'sSimplestElectrostaticMachine byinnovationview

120,000 VoltVan De GraaffGenerator byTool UsingAnimal

How to Make aTable-Top Vande GraaffGenerator byDevCoder

Leyden jar ofDOOM! bynickademuss

Comments

50 comments Add Comment view all 70 comments

Adum24 says: Feb 14, 2011. 3:54 PM REPWhat would happen if I had my phone in my pocket while using this. What exactly does it do to cell phones?

peacefoots says: Mar 5, 2011. 6:36 AM REPi was using it with my phone for 3 hours and didnt do anything to it

yardleydobon says: Mar 5, 2011. 12:29 AM REPhigh voltage is bad for electronics. it will destroy a MOSFETs oxide layer ruining the chip. of course people generate high voltage static electricity all thetime and cell phones are designed to cope with this, but why risk i t?

whiteboyninja says: Feb 8, 2011. 2:20 PM REPAbout how much does it cost to make?

yardleydobon says: Mar 5, 2011. 12:10 AM REP$15 or less depending on how much stuff you already have. $15 if you have absolutely none of the materials.

peacefoots says: Feb 8, 2011. 7:51 PM REPit cost me considering i had the rubber bands and soda can 12.00
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yardleydobon says: Mar 5, 2011. 12:11 AM REPsounds like you got it completed. great!

peacefoots says: Mar 5, 2011. 6:35 AM REPyeah it works great and i won 3 in a science fair with

peacefoots says: Jan 27, 2011. 2:36 PM REPi have a metal orb that would be perfect for this but it has a 1/8 inch hole. Does that matter and if so how could i make the hole bigger?

Mr. Bricoleur says: Jan 14, 2011. 11:56 PM REPdo you think small ID vinyl tubing for the bottom roller (maybe some cellophane tape to thicken the motor shaft up a bit) and a small ID nylon spacer on topwill work as well? i took a look at the triboelectric scale and these are opposites. Plus, it's all I have around. I can't find the electrical tape.

Dreistein says: Dec 14, 2010. 3:07 AM REPi have the exact same bead just green

wareneutron says: Nov 7, 2010. 10:48 PM REPnext time i make it own

jpoopdog says: Oct 11, 2010. 10:43 PM REPtechnicaly speaking, could this produce a near constant arc, that could be used to ignite gas in a potatoe launcher?

jpoopdog says: Oct 11, 2010. 10:37 PM REPi dont mean to complain or anything, but, theres not quite enough images orf the vdg generators internals, perhaps if you cant get some more photos, trysome illistrations, i stil dont get how it works because i dont see what it looks like inside, you know what i mean

fundash says: Sep 28, 2010. 8:06 PM REPCan I simply modify a fun fly stick to be more powerful???

yusuf786 says: Sep 14, 2010. 6:00 AM REPwow cool wish i had one looks l ike i got to do i t soon

M4industries says: Jun 28, 2010. 8:08 AM REPI saw a commercial for this once. The ad boasted it used "Weird Science" to do all the things it claimed to do. It said nothing about electrostatics or it being aVDG. It really is frightening when the youth of America can recognize Ronald McDonald at age 4, and know how to update a Twitter status, but they don'tknow how their own toys work.

lasermaster3531 says: May 10, 2010. 5:04 PM REPin step 8, you said the dielectric breakdown of air is 84kv/inch or 3.3kv/cm, but it is really 8.4kv/inch or 3.3kv/cm. please fix.

yardleydobon says: May 21, 2010. 11:36 AM REPIt says: "Since dielectric breakdown of air is approximately 84kV/in (33kV/cm) this tells us the collector voltage is around 84 kV!"

From the wikipedia article on high voltage : "The dielectric breakdown strength of dry air, at Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP), between

spherical electrodes is approximately 33 kV/cm."(33 kV/cm)*(2.54 cm/in) = 83.82 kV/in

From the Physics Factbook : ""The dielectric strength of air is about 3 106 V/m"

3 106 V = 3000 kV, 1 m = 100 cm(3000 kV/100 cm) = (30 kV/cm) = (30 kv/cm)*(2.54 cm/in) = 76.2 kV/in

No correction will be made, as no correction is necessary.
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2000/AliceHong.shtmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_voltage#Sparks_in_airhttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/yardleydobon/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/yardleydobon/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/lasermaster3531/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/lasermaster3531/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/M4industries/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/M4industries/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/yusuf786/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/yusuf786/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/fundash/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/fundash/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/jpoopdog/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/jpoopdog/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/jpoopdog/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/jpoopdog/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/wareneutron/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/wareneutron/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Dreistein/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Dreistein/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Mr.+Bricoleur/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Mr.+Bricoleur/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/peacefoots/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/peacefoots/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/peacefoots/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/peacefoots/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/yardleydobon/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/yardleydobon/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments


11/13


lasermaster3531 says: May 24, 2010. 2:53 PM REPokay, I concede that the dielectric strength of dry air between large spherical electrodes is 33kv/cm, but I have a 6,000 volt cockroft-walton voltagemultiplier that can spark 1.5 centimeters, thus proving that the dielectric breakdown of air can fluctuate greatly according to the shape of yourelectrodes and the dryness and pressure of the air. judging from the fact that most people's hands are not smooth spheres of metal, the spark lengthof this vandegraaf generator is probably extended due to the brush discharge effect. the skin on a person's hand is generally kind of rough on a smallscale and this can cause a lower voltage to jump considerably farther.

EbolaZaire says: May 11, 2010. 10:34 AM REPI'm having a really difficult time keeping the first roller in place. If anybody knows, what can I use to to keep the paperclip in place inside of the PVC?

yardleydobonsays: May 21, 2010. 11:55 AM REP

I never had a problem with the paper clip moving around. Did you tape the paper clip to the PVC? You could take the eraser from the end of a pencil andstick that on the end of the axel that's opposite the bend, then wrap tape tightly from the eraser, around the PVC, around bend and back around to theeraser a few times to secure it the paperclip firmly in place. This will make disassembly more of a pain though.

A wandering roller is the biggest problem with this design. Try fine tuning the tightness of the belt by pushing/pulling the column in/out of the Tee a little.You can also try twisting the column to give the belt a bit of a twist.

It's nice to hear from someone that's actually trying to make it.

EbolaZaire says: May 22, 2010. 8:38 PM REPThen you'll be glad to hear that it works with flying colours! I made it, and it worked beautifully. I added some electrical tape on the rims of the lowerroller, because I kept having issues with the belt.

yardleydobon says: May 24, 2010. 10:13 AM REPGreat! Make sure to give your knuckles a rest. Those zaps can really add up. Try i t out with a light bulb too; that's the coolest!

pie R []ed says: May 16, 2010. 12:55 AM REPI am a steampunk and already have a fun fly stick. I didn't know it was a van de graph. I will probably make a longer belt and turn it into some sort ofgadgetry.

screaminscott says: May 2, 2010. 10:53 AM REPHere's a tip on cutting the rubber bands to join them. I f you overlap the ends a bit, then cut through both of them, the ends will match up without you havingto worry about the cuts being perfectly straight.

elelove says: Apr 10, 2010. 8:59 PM REPIt's a clever idea to create the roller!

dombeef says: Mar 8, 2010. 5:40 PM REPDo i need the coke can on it or can it be without it?

Learndy says: Mar 27, 2010. 6:43 AM REPCan't tell from experience. I am still building one. My first own van-de-Graaff-generator. It's so exciting! However, from theory I know that the chargecollector should have a smooth round surface. Any edges, corners, and dents concentrate charge which leads to coronary discharge. And you want thisdevice to collect as much voltage as possible, don't you? ; -)

I bought a coke can this morning. I'm not even sure if the pressure-standing edge at the bottom is a problem. We'll see. Don't worry, I 'll post a reportsince I am using some different materials.

--Airspace V - international hangar flying!http://www.airspace-v.com/ggadgets for tools & toys

yardleydobon says: Mar 8, 2010. 6:21 PM REPYou must have a collector, but it doesn't have to be an aluminum can. Step 6 has a picture that shows two cardboard collectors made to slip over analuminum can, but also shows a toilet paper tube that can be used alone. I f you use a cardboard collector you won't get any sparks. The Fun Fly Stickuses a cardboard collector to prevent sparking because it's a child's toy. Even with a cardboard collector you can sti ll charge metal objects by induction,which will spark.

greenninja28 says: Mar 17, 2010. 2:01 PM REPYou can buy one of those from thinkgeek.com, that looks just likethe one they have (the blue one)
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/greenninja28/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/greenninja28/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/yardleydobon/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/yardleydobon/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Learndy/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Learndy/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/dombeef/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/dombeef/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/elelove/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/elelove/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/screaminscott/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/screaminscott/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/pie+R+%5B%5Ded/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/pie+R+%5B%5Ded/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/yardleydobon/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/yardleydobon/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/EbolaZaire/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/EbolaZaire/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/yardleydobon/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/yardleydobon/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/EbolaZaire/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/EbolaZaire/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightning-Wand-a-Handheld-Van-de-Graaff-Genera/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/lasermaster3531/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/lasermaster3531/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments


12/13


13/13

codongolev says: Mar 2, 2010. 3:03 PM REPthe cfl didn't act as a capacitor. the two giant hefty capacitors inside the cfl acted as a capacitor. ouch.

yardleydobon says: Mar 2, 2010. 4:05 PM REPYes, I believe that is most probably the correct explanation. Though causing a displacement current by applying a voltage across a dielectric (glass) is allyou need to have a capacitor. I wonder i f I could get the same effect from an ordinary incandescent light bulb.

I think all of us have seen demonstrations of ordinary fluorescent tubes (just gas in a tube) lighting up when held near a tesla coil, so I don't think it takesa big leap of imagination for someone to get the idea to try the same thing with a CFL. However, this is actually a bad idea, because a CFL is not just afluorescent tube but a fluorescent tube plus a starter and a ballast. A picture I found shows two 8.4uF 250V caps plus a couple more electrolytics in theuF range.

I admit saying the CFl acted like a capacitor was lazy of me. Thanks for making me think more about it .

jcomtois says: Mar 4, 2010. 6:18 PM REPYou can disassemble the base of the CFL and remove the ballast circuitry leaving just the bulb with its leads. Connect one to ground and the other toa touchplate. Or just reconnect them to the screw-base and connect the wires via a lamp socket to hold the bulb upright. I did this to add someinterest to a grounding disc that I use to discharge myself when I get out of my computer chair, which can build up quite a charge depending on whattype of fabric I am wearing.

codongolev says: Mar 5, 2010. 12:44 PM REPha... that would be cool to explain.

"what's that?""my discharging plate.""what's it do?""this."

*gets in chair, wiggles, gets back up, touches plate, bulb lights up*"sometimes I acquire too much magic while I'm sitting there, so I have to get rid of it."

jcomtois says: Mar 5, 2010. 8:56 PM REPI posted an instructable on building the touchplate. I 'd post a link but I don't work this site often so I don't know how to point to anotherinstructable.

yardleydobon says: Mar 6, 2010. 3:54 AM REPHere's a link to it.

jcomtois says: Mar 6, 2010. 4:08 AM REPThanks, just a regular link I guess.http://www.instructables.com/id/Static-discharge-toy/

yardleydobon says: Mar 2, 2010. 4:53 PM REPI just tested an ordinary 90W incandescent bulb. I was unable to make it act like a capacitor. However, the whole bulb glows violet-blue when a sparkis transmitted. I believe this is from the argon briefly turning to plasma.

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