Kelvin's Water Dropper Thunderstorm - without drops?

[antijon]

@Leo you are correct about the need for ionization in the water dropper. The charged rings push away water ions of the same polarity before they leave the dropper. But, two things to consider- salts in the water may contribute to a gain in charge rate. I've never seen it, but I'm sure salt water would accumulate charge faster than distilled water in a dropper. And sometimes a dropper needs to be started with a charged object. Humidity can neutralize a surface charge, especially if you're using wood as insulation from ground. Because both a dropper and your design work on positive feedback, a jumpstart may help to prove if your design is feasible.

About the capacitors, I don't know. A dropper works by moving both positive and negative charge. But it'd be a miracle if you can make it work.

[LeoFreeman]

@Leo you are correct about the need for ionization in the water dropper. The charged rings push away water ions of the same polarity before they leave the dropper. But, two things to consider- salts in the water may contribute to a gain in charge rate. I've never seen it, but I'm sure salt water would accumulate charge faster than distilled water in a dropper. And sometimes a dropper needs to be started with a charged object. Humidity can neutralize a surface charge, especially if you're using wood as insulation from ground. Because both a dropper and your design work on positive feedback, a jumpstart may help to prove if your design is feasible.

About the capacitors, I don't know. A dropper works by moving both positive and negative charge. But it'd be a miracle if you can make it work.

That's a good point : Salt solutions have more ions than pure water - does salty water have more energy?
Could it be a better receptor of the Quantum Fluctuations than pure water?
Anyway, I'll put the water aside while I see if the switched capacitor idea does anything at all.
I bought 8 small zinc-plated hinges to improvise an eight-gang switch.
The four capacitors may be homemade Leyden jars, or something like that.