"Zapper" circuit for electricity demo

[John Doe]

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

 

[Baphomet]

"John Doe" <john@doe.invalid> wrote in message
news:53MMb.9841$Qq.9467@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from
static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

You might try a Van De Graaf Electrostatic Generator
http://www.angelfire.com/ak/egel/vande.html

 

[Baphomet]

"Baphomet" <no.spam@no.spam.us> wrote in message
news:1007rj9glp43ucd@corp.supernews.com...

"John Doe" <john@doe.invalid> wrote in message
news:53MMb.9841$Qq.9467@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from
static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

You might try a Van De Graaf Electrostatic Generator
http://www.angelfire.com/ak/egel/vande.html

ALERT! Please be advised that while this is a very interesting site, it
introduces 3 - 5 spyware tracking cookies. Keep your anti-spyware signatures
current and sweep after each visit.

 

[Chris]

"John Doe" <john@doe.invalid> wrote in message
news:53MMb.9841$Qq.9467@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from
static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

If you're an educator, I hope you're getting parental consent first. Even
though it's a mild charge, I'd hate to have some aggravated parent confront
you afterwards.

 

[CWatters]

WARNING - THE FOLLOWING MIGHT BE DANGEROUS - USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I've seen a circuit that uses a 9V battery, a 9 VDC motor and a mains
transformer (eg 110V Input 9V Output) . You connect the motor and battery in
series with the secondary winding and the primary winding becomes the high
voltage output.

It works as follows: The commutator in the motor interrupts the DC current
from the battery to make crude AC and the transformer (acting in reverse)
steps it up to high (and possibly dangerous voltages).

Warning - NO part of this circuit is, or should ever be, connected to the
household mains supply.




"John Doe" <john@doe.invalid> wrote in message
news:53MMb.9841$Qq.9467@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from
static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

 

[Bob Stephens]

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 06:16:33 GMT, John Doe wrote:

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

Firstly, I wouldn't touch this idea with a ten foot pole, but you might
consider using a buzzer to simulate the shock with vibration - a modified
dildo?

Bob

 

[Watson A.Name \"Watt Sun]

John Doe wrote:

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from
static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

You can use a buzzer that runs off 1 or 2 cells. It usually has a
shocking voltage across the contacts when they open. You should put a
resistor in series with the electrodes, to limit the current. I would
guess a starting point would be a hundred k ohms in series with each
electrode. But the shock depends on how moist the skin is, so it may be
difficult to get a consistent level of 'tingle'.

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
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goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
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Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
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@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@
F
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[Watson A.Name \"Watt Sun]

Baphomet wrote:

"Baphomet" <no.spam@no.spam.us> wrote in message
news:1007rj9glp43ucd@corp.supernews.com...

"John Doe" <john@doe.invalid> wrote in message
news:53MMb.9841$Qq.9467@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from

static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

You might try a Van De Graaf Electrostatic Generator
http://www.angelfire.com/ak/egel/vande.html


ALERT! Please be advised that while this is a very interesting site, it
introduces 3 - 5 spyware tracking cookies. Keep your anti-spyware signatures
current and sweep after each visit.

Do we use a broom to sweep, or what? ;-)


--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@
F
o
d
d
e
r

f
o
r

s
t
u
p
i
d

n
o
t

e
n
o
u
g
h

i
n
c
l
u
d
e
d

t
e
x
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m
s
g

 

[Mark Fergerson]

John Doe wrote:

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from
static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

When I was in school the usual demo invovled a
war-surplus hand-cranked field telephone generator. Class
held hands in a line, kids on the ends of the line touched
the generator terminals.

You will likely have a hard time finding such today, so
consider mounting a good sized permanent-magnet DC motor to
a board and adding a handcrank (may need some voltage
multiplying to get it to the "feelable" level). That way you
can teach about motors and why they make poor generators as
well.

And yeah, investigate the liability issue with
administration.

Mark L. Fergerson

 

[cpemma]

CWatters wrote:

WARNING - THE FOLLOWING MIGHT BE DANGEROUS - USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I've seen a circuit that uses a 9V battery, a 9 VDC motor and a mains
transformer (eg 110V Input 9V Output) ...

The first shock I ever had was holding wires from an old steam radio choke
onto a 1.5v cell and it was *NOT* a mild tingle.

(it doesn't hurt a bit...till you let go)

 

[Baphomet]

"Watson A.Name "Watt Sun - the Dark Remover"" <NOSPAM@dslextreme.com> wrote
in message news:bu1mna$5j40q$2@hades.csu.net...

Baphomet wrote:

"Baphomet" <no.spam@no.spam.us> wrote in message
news:1007rj9glp43ucd@corp.supernews.com...

"John Doe" <john@doe.invalid> wrote in message
news:53MMb.9841$Qq.9467@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger
of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from

static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity
from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

You might try a Van De Graaf Electrostatic Generator
http://www.angelfire.com/ak/egel/vande.html


ALERT! Please be advised that while this is a very interesting site, it
introduces 3 - 5 spyware tracking cookies. Keep your anti-spyware
signatures
current and sweep after each visit.

Do we use a broom to sweep, or what? ;-)

Watson -

I e-mailed the website contact but it bounced back. A 9mm. hollow point
sweep might be in order.

 

[Active8]

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:31:56 -0700, nunya@biz.ness said...

John Doe wrote:
Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from
static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

When I was in school the usual demo invovled a
war-surplus hand-cranked field telephone generator.

The army still had 'em 18 years ago. They were as effective for
prisoner interrogation as they were for commo devices.

Class
held hands in a line, kids on the ends of the line touched
the generator terminals.

You will likely have a hard time finding such today, so
consider mounting a good sized permanent-magnet DC motor to
a board and adding a handcrank (may need some voltage
multiplying to get it to the "feelable" level). That way you
can teach about motors and why they make poor generators as
well.

And yeah, investigate the liability issue with
administration.

Mark L. Fergerson

--
Best Regards,
Mike

 

[Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun]

In article <100bj3ftm17sieb@corp.supernews.com>, no.spam@no.spam.us
mentioned...

"Watson A.Name "Watt Sun - the Dark Remover"" <NOSPAM@dslextreme.com> wrote
in message news:bu1mna$5j40q$2@hades.csu.net...
Baphomet wrote:

"Baphomet" <no.spam@no.spam.us> wrote in message
news:1007rj9glp43ucd@corp.supernews.com...

"John Doe" <john@doe.invalid> wrote in message
news:53MMb.9841$Qq.9467@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger
of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from

static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity
from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

You might try a Van De Graaf Electrostatic Generator
http://www.angelfire.com/ak/egel/vande.html


ALERT! Please be advised that while this is a very interesting site, it
introduces 3 - 5 spyware tracking cookies. Keep your anti-spyware
signatures
current and sweep after each visit.

Do we use a broom to sweep, or what? ;-)

Watson -

I e-mailed the website contact but it bounced back. A 9mm. hollow point
sweep might be in order.

Would a 357 magnum do? That's all I have...

--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@

 

[Baphomet]

"Watson A.Name - Watt Sun, Dark Remover" <alondra101@hotmail.com> wrote in
message news:MPG.1a703d784aa0f641989b3a@news.dslextreme.com...

In article <100bj3ftm17sieb@corp.supernews.com>, no.spam@no.spam.us
mentioned...

"Watson A.Name "Watt Sun - the Dark Remover"" <NOSPAM@dslextreme.com
wrote
in message news:bu1mna$5j40q$2@hades.csu.net...
Baphomet wrote:

"Baphomet" <no.spam@no.spam.us> wrote in message
news:1007rj9glp43ucd@corp.supernews.com...

"John Doe" <john@doe.invalid> wrote in message
news:53MMb.9841$Qq.9467@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that
will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched.
I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the
danger
of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors).
Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful
than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from

static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts
(available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea,
but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity
from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a
better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.

You might try a Van De Graaf Electrostatic Generator
http://www.angelfire.com/ak/egel/vande.html


ALERT! Please be advised that while this is a very interesting site,
it
introduces 3 - 5 spyware tracking cookies. Keep your anti-spyware
signatures
current and sweep after each visit.

Do we use a broom to sweep, or what? ;-)

Watson -

I e-mailed the website contact but it bounced back. A 9mm. hollow point
sweep might be in order.

Would a 357 magnum do? That's all I have...

More than adequate

 

[JeffM]

...a battery-powered "zapper" that will deliver a *mild* electric
shock
...for teaching children about electricity
The "shock" should be...continuous (unlike a zap from static).
John Doe

Previous thread about "Mystery Shock Box":
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&threadm=4263%40vdsvax.steinmetz.ge.com&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fnum%3D100%26hl%3Den%26lr%3Dlang_en%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Doff%26q%3D%2522mystery%2Bshock%2Bbox%2522%26sa%3DN%26tab%3Dwg

MYSTERY SHOCK BOX

sides 1 & 2 of box (tin can strips or foil)
+....................................
.. |
.. __________|_ |
.. | )|| |s
.. | )|| |i
.. | )|| |d
.. | )|| |e
.. | ___)|| |s
.. | |______________________|
.. | / |3
.. | | |
.. | \ very thin wire |&
.. | \ |
.. | \ |4
.. | (|) plastic sleeve |
.. | | (fits snuggly) |of
.. ------- | |box
.. --- | nail |
.. | 1.5V | |
.. | D cell | |
.. | + painted portion |
.. | + of nail |
.. | + |
.. |__________( + ) metallic "eye" |
.. + |
.. ===== |
.. |
.. __________________________________+

As the box is lifted, the tiny wire allows the nail
to drop out of the open bottom of the box.
(The plastic collar is large enough to stop its travel.)
The unpainted portion of the nail scrapes against the "eye",
making and breaking the circuit.
The magmetic field in the iron-core inductor
is formed and collapses with each make/break cycle.
As the field collapses, the resulting voltage
is applied to the opposing metallic sides of the box
causing a tingle to the person lifting it.
When the box is returned to its upright resting position,
the nail plunger is re-inserted, shutting off the current.

 

[Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun]

In article <f8b945bc.0401151503.5986e98f@posting.google.com>,
jeffm_@email.com mentioned...

...a battery-powered "zapper" that will deliver a *mild* electric
shock
...for teaching children about electricity
The "shock" should be...continuous (unlike a zap from static).
John Doe

Previous thread about "Mystery Shock Box":
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&threadm=4263%40vdsvax.steinmetz.ge.com&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fnum%3D100%26hl%3Den%26lr%3Dlang_en%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Doff%26q%3D%2522mystery%2Bshock%2Bbox%2522%26sa%3DN%26tab%3Dwg

MYSTERY SHOCK BOX

sides 1 & 2 of box (tin can strips or foil)
+....................................
. |
. __________|_ |
. | )|| |s
. | )|| |i
. | )|| |d
. | )|| |e
. | ___)|| |s
. | |______________________|
. | / |3
. | | |
. | \ very thin wire |&
. | \ |
. | \ |4
. | (|) plastic sleeve |
. | | (fits snuggly) |of
. ------- | |box
. --- | nail |
. | 1.5V | |
. | D cell | |
. | + painted portion |
. | + of nail |
. | + |
. |__________( + ) metallic "eye" |
. + |
. ===== |
. |
. __________________________________+

As the box is lifted, the tiny wire allows the nail
to drop out of the open bottom of the box.
(The plastic collar is large enough to stop its travel.)
The unpainted portion of the nail scrapes against the "eye",
making and breaking the circuit.
The magmetic field in the iron-core inductor
is formed and collapses with each make/break cycle.
As the field collapses, the resulting voltage
is applied to the opposing metallic sides of the box
causing a tingle to the person lifting it.
When the box is returned to its upright resting position,
the nail plunger is re-inserted, shutting off the current.

You should've added: make the box out of a sturdy substance, because
the holder is likely to drop it, or worse yet, throw it across the
room.


--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
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[Michael A. Terrell]

"Watson A.Name - Watt Sun, Dark Remover" wrote:

In article <f8b945bc.0401151503.5986e98f@posting.google.com>,
jeffm_@email.com mentioned...
...a battery-powered "zapper" that will deliver a *mild* electric
shock
...for teaching children about electricity
The "shock" should be...continuous (unlike a zap from static).
John Doe

Previous thread about "Mystery Shock Box":
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&threadm=4263%40vdsvax.steinmetz.ge.com&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fnum%3D100%26hl%3Den%26lr%3Dlang_en%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Doff%26q%3D%2522mystery%2Bshock%2Bbox%2522%26sa%3DN%26tab%3Dwg

MYSTERY SHOCK BOX

sides 1 & 2 of box (tin can strips or foil)
+....................................
. |
. __________|_ |
. | )|| |s
. | )|| |i
. | )|| |d
. | )|| |e
. | ___)|| |s
. | |______________________|
. | / |3
. | | |
. | \ very thin wire |&
. | \ |
. | \ |4
. | (|) plastic sleeve |
. | | (fits snuggly) |of
. ------- | |box
. --- | nail |
. | 1.5V | |
. | D cell | |
. | + painted portion |
. | + of nail |
. | + |
. |__________( + ) metallic "eye" |
. + |
. ===== |
. |
. __________________________________+

As the box is lifted, the tiny wire allows the nail
to drop out of the open bottom of the box.
(The plastic collar is large enough to stop its travel.)
The unpainted portion of the nail scrapes against the "eye",
making and breaking the circuit.
The magmetic field in the iron-core inductor
is formed and collapses with each make/break cycle.
As the field collapses, the resulting voltage
is applied to the opposing metallic sides of the box
causing a tingle to the person lifting it.
When the box is returned to its upright resting position,
the nail plunger is re-inserted, shutting off the current.

You should've added: make the box out of a sturdy substance, because
the holder is likely to drop it, or worse yet, throw it across the
room.

I made some of those when I was a kid. The four sides were covered
with aluminum foil, and the top was plainly marked, Do not touch! It was
left on the desk in my bedroom, and sure enough, everyone who saw it
picked it up, as they started to say, You can't EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
then dropped it.

--
We now return you to our normally scheduled programming.

Take a look at this little cutie! ;-)
http://home.earthlink.net/~mike.terrell/photos.html

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[JeffM]

make the box out of a sturdy substance
...the holder is likely to drop it
Watt Sun

Yup. 1st one was from the Electrical Lab kit
(2.5" x 2.5" x 3.5", cardboard & foil).
Subsequent builds were 1.5" x 3" x 3.5", wood & tin can strips.

Placing it near the edge of the table == bad idea.

 

[Switch]

"cpemma" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:bu72m7$ec2m0$1@ID-109861.news.uni-berlin.de...

CWatters wrote:
WARNING - THE FOLLOWING MIGHT BE DANGEROUS - USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I've seen a circuit that uses a 9V battery, a 9 VDC motor and a mains
transformer (eg 110V Input 9V Output) ...

The first shock I ever had was holding wires from an old steam radio choke
onto a 1.5v cell and it was *NOT* a mild tingle.

(it doesn't hurt a bit...till you let go)

While connecting disconnects (temporary power to supply power distibution 3phase 208V, for
rock concert amplifiers, dimmer racks, etc..), some technicians use a VoltCon (TM) to test
if voltage is present before hooking up.

Other technicians 'lick' their fingers on one hand, and using the index finger and the "f"
finger, proceed to test the voltage across the terminals!!! (between phases, giving a
potential of 208V in a 3phase distribution system). Yes, sometimes they find that the
mains weren't turned off!! Ahhhhhhhhhh yeah. ok!! I wouldn't suggest that.

Getting a shock in any circumstance sucks.


Teaching about electricity and STATIC electricity would be more interesting, and usually,
static electricity charge that we make while rubbing across a carpet, or rubbing Amber or
what not, hey, I don't think there is much danger in it.

 

[dg]

Not exactly what you are looking for, but those clicking cigarette lighters
that use no flint contain a little gizmo that creates an electrical spark.
They are mildly uncomfortable to get zapped by. I think they make a
barbeque sparker very similar. Probably pretty safe, probably.

--Dan

"John Doe" <john@doe.invalid> wrote in message
news:53MMb.9841$Qq.9467@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...

Hi,

I'm considering buying/building a battery-powered "zapper" that will
deliver a *mild* electric shock when the electrodes are touched. I'm
*not* looking for a stunt gun. The intended us of the zapper is for
teaching children about electricity (about electric shock, the danger of
electrocution, & how electricity can travel through conductors). Safety
is the no. 1 requirement. The "shock" should be no more painful than
from a static discharge but should be continuous (unlike a zap from
static).

Does anyone have a schematic that uses easy to find parts (available
from RS)?

(I can imagine that someone will tell me the demo is a bad idea, but I
can't think of a better way to help children understand electricity from
a safety perspective than to let them experience first-hand a mild
electric shock in a safe and controlled demo. If anyone has a better
idea, I'd be interested.)

Thanks.