First electrical power output from a Pyramid

[duff]

Marcel,

I like your paper model - nice!

[georgemay]

Well, I have my pyramid almost finished.  Capacitors are the only thing missing.  I guess over the weekend I will manage to make them.  My guts feeling is that Thomas was paid by 'big company' and no longer can support us.  Well, I am not mad or disappointed,  actually I am pretty happy that I have pyramid now and can do some real life testing.  Thanks to Tom I can continue what I left out more than thirty years ago.  Thank you Thomas and I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

Sincerely
George May

   

[neptune]

Today, I have cut out the plates for the main capacitor. Having thought about it,I may have to find some thicker copper, because these are less than 1mm, cut from an old scrap water tank.This capacitor is going to need a lot of precision to get it right,with only 1 mm spacing between plates. It is going to be hard to solder the wires to the plates in such a small space. A big soldering iron will be needed owing to the heat sink effect of the copper.I did consider using some form of mice dielectric,but want to keep as near to the original spec. as possible. If and when I get the job working, I will try substituting an air dielectric variable cap from a vintage radio. There is possibly some form of tuned circuit here, and a variable cap would allow optimisation of the resonant frequency.
           Thats it for now, may post later. Incidentally, if my frequent psycotech posts get on your nerves, tell me. Without feedback, I feel like a lone voice crying in the wilderness. 

[vipond50]

Hey Neptune
Great idea relating to the Variable cap. I have the converter hanging in the open to do some testing, seeing 0.266mv as of this typing. I have several variable caps i.e. 365pF and a dual gang 365pF. Hmmm.... may hook it up to see if buy adding in some possible tuning there is a E increase.
Just wanted to say thanks guy's and the work continues.

Regards
Bill

[duff]

I have the converter hanging in the open to do some testing, seeing 0.266mv as of this typing.

Bill,

Have you measured the capacitance of the converter.

If so, could you post that info...


-Duff