Sm0ky2's modified Voss Machine

[sm0ky2]

For those of you building Leyden Jars::


9-15% acetic acid vinegar makes a much better electrolyte
than saltwater or baking soda water , or even borax


Only use Carbon electrodes inside the capacitor or you WILL create
Toxic metal salts, which must be disposed of properly.
Don't get it on you!


Aluminum acetates are approved for human and use "should be safe"
but the ionic salts in these capacitors can reach
%'s that still may be hazardous.
Also, depleting your electrolyte lowering capacitance and increasing
resistance over the lifetime of the Leyden jar.


Carbon is mostly inert and safe for this use.


Enjoy!

[sm0ky2]

These two water bottle capacitors are only filled with 2 oz vinegar each


With a spark gap the machine is running at a steady 49 Hz


The lamp still flashes very visibly (like a mad scientist lab)
(Most of the light in the picture is from the Sun, not the lamp!)


Closing the sparkgap controller further does not increase the frequency
So I have to assume this is the frequency the machine is outputting.
At this RPM.


Impedance matching the lamp raises the freq of the lamp into the low 50's Hz
Spark gap freq cuts in half and the lamp makes this weird clicking,
Smoother light but dimmer


Drawing a load from the terminals seems to make the light brighter at times
But is other wise unaffected by the pretense of a load.


Lap is connected in series between the outer foil of the two capacitors
and is operating on the voltage potential between the two outer foils
This in and of itself means I suck at building stuff and that my machine
is charging at two different potentials.


I already kind of knew this because the + is weaker than the -
More precise construction can eliminate this
But it's kind of kewl that I can light a lamp from it...


Probably can do the same with a whimhurst or whatever
By unbalancing one of the capacitors

[sm0ky2]

I am able to light 2 lamps now


One is across the spark gap terminals
The other is between the outer capacitor plates.
At first I thought it was some sort of 'net' difference between the charges
But I think the lamp is lighting from the drop in voltage upon discharge
Not entirely certain at this point.


But! I am lighting 2 lamps from the machine now, fairly brightly

[sm0ky2]

Added the Dollard variable capacitance circuit
and the lamps are lighting brightly now.
Almost able to hone in on the 60 Hz

[sm0ky2]

I have a design for Version 4 of the Ion Generator


I have included a brief history of the modifications
from the original Voss design in the video below
As well as a description of the new machine


https://youtu.be/dEqTdzncyV8