ES generator - single disc version

thingiverse

Electrostatic generator - single disc version\nSimplified ES generator with added capacitors and flashlight.\nThe spark discharge measures approximately 6.5 kV, powered by a standard 9V battery that also drives the motor to rotate the disc quickly. The disc can also be manually turned up to create rapid charge accumulation. Video: http://youtu.be/yXYd1l08RsY This video was recorded again because the initial try had excessive background lighting preventing the camera from capturing sparks properly. While it's slightly better this time, the spark capture remains limited. Listen carefully for sound effects that reveal what's happening. Conceived and built over a weekend as an initial prototype, this tiny device is a proof of concept generating substantial current at high voltage. However, use caution! More information will be shared later on improvements. Additional details: The blue wires touch the rotating disc while the green wires end in close proximity without contact. A thin copper or carbon fibre wire works best; aluminum connections on both ends result in reduced energy loss. Connections: - Blue, top left is directly connected to the aluminium plate. - Blue, bottom left connects with blue, top right - Blue, bottom right touches aluminium behind it Green wires act as the output end and connect to a capacitor parallelled with a flash light or spark gap. Discharges through these components are unhealthy for your hearing. An additional plate is attached on the back side. Key learnings: Operating at slow speed yields better results, debunking 'hyperspeed' efficiency myth. Substantial loss in charge is generated by fine blue mesh applied to each segment. For next builds: reduced discharge may mean smaller or possibly alternative machines are not necessary if design tweaks succeed.