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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rachel Hellenga <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, May 28, 2013 at 12:16 PM
Subject: Re: sparky
To: Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: eric siegel <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask]


I forwarded Eric Siegel's intriguing request for lightning ideas to the
Workshop 88 listserv (hackerspace in Glen Ellyn, IL).  I'm forwarding some
ideas from their listserv to ours in case they are of general interest.
Also, Eric Siegel noted that he was looking to cover about 6' square.

On a related note, it would be cool to find a simple way to poll lots of
hackerspaces at once with the many wacky technical queries that come up on
the Association of Science-Technology Centers listserv.

Cheers!

Rachel


On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 10:57 AM, Russell Lankenau <[log in to unmask]
> wrote:

> I was thinking Jacob's Ladder as well, for traditional Frankenstein
> effect.  Do those emit a lot of RF?  Just wondering if they act as a
> spark-gap transmitter.
> On May 28, 2013 8:14 AM, "Tom M" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> I was googling borg rengenaration alcove and game up with this:
>> http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/362c/
>>
>>
>> Cool thing about this is that if you touch the glass the lightning comes
>> to your fingertips.
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 27, 2013 at 11:38 PM, Andrew Morrison <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>>
>>> My first thought was a Jacob's Ladder.  These can be enclosed behind
>>> plexiglass, and still have some Frankenstein wow factor.
>>>
>>> http://deskarati.com/2012/02/03/the-physics-behind-the-jacobs-ladder/
>>>
>>> I can put one together for you in about 2 minutes, if the neon sign
>>> transformer I have still works.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, May 27, 2013 at 10:47 PM, Tom M <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Seems like lots of interesting stuff here.
>>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_generator
>>>>
>>>> What about a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water-dropping_condenser
>>>>
>>>> Hear's a MIT lecture on it.  49 minutes of theory and then sparks.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, May 27, 2013 at 10:22 PM, P. Reich <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> A tesla coil with a solid state driver could perhaps do that.
>>>>> The high frequency electricity does not produce a shock hazard,
>>>>> but could produce a pretty nasty RF burn (think "diathermy").
>>>>>
>>>>> Ozone would be a substantial problem. You'd definitely want a
>>>>> proximity sensor, so that the coil would only run when someone
>>>>> is present.
>>>>>
>>>>> Might be an interesting "gee-whiz" circuit hack...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Paul
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *From:* Jim W <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>>>>> *Sent:* Mon, May 27, 2013 9:29:22 PM
>>>>> *Subject:* Re: ideas about creating lightning?
>>>>>
>>>>> How big?  What's the display area layout?  How loud?  How bright?
>>>>>
>>>>> Any actual discharges big enough to be interesting are probably
>>>>> dangerous, ozone-producing, and very challenging to produce reliably on a
>>>>> day in day out basis.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thunder noises sync'd to flashing lights (in quasi-random patterns)
>>>>> shouldn't be very hard.  Halloween holiday light display geeks have been
>>>>> running stuff like that for years.  At least one of those hangs out here.
>>>>>
>>>>> Jim
>>>>>
>>>>> On Monday, May 27, 2013 8:59:10 PM UTC-5, Rachel Hellenga wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  Rachel Hellenga
>>>>>> Hellenga Projects
>>>>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>>>> 312-593-0444
>>>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>>>>> From: "Eric Siegel" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>> Date: May 24, 2013 7:24 AM
>>>>>> Subject: sparky
>>>>>> To: <[log in to unmask] com>
>>>>>> Cc:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>>>>>> Centers
>>>>>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>>>>>> institutions.
>>>>>> ****************************** ******************************
>>>>>> *****************
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A colleague is asking for this:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "a background source of crackling lightening like emissions that
>>>>>> could be sustained from 10 am until 6 pm six days a week for eleven months,
>>>>>> not stop visitor pace makers, not require a person to stand with a rod. In
>>>>>> other words, Something supercool to give the feeling of Frankenstein's
>>>>>> cinema lab."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks in advance
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Eric Siegel
>>>>>>
>>>>>>

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