Stepping Down a Wimshurst

[Foggy-Notion]

Hi,
Can I use a spark plug to pulse the
current from my wimshurst machine?

I know it is only in the miliamps but it is
like 20,000volts worth, can I pulse it and
run it through an ignition coil backwards
like a step down transformer?

Well, I'm sure I can, and can get a useful 12 volts
out of the other end but, what's the best way to
pulse it?

Any ideas,
1920s mechanical means or RadioShack Gadget

I've heard capactitors might step it down too?
but will caps increase current with each step
down of voltage, the way transformers do?

I've forgotten alot.
I use to run a board called "electric~junta"
years ago using the name Johnny Cool Pants,
but they shut me down, good to see that more
people are in it now, ...Damn the torpedos.





.

[Foggy-Notion]

Awww man, you guys think I'm kidding huh?
Seriously, does anyone know a good cheap way to pulse High Voltage DC?

Thanks

[Steven Dufresne]

Hi @Foggy-Notion,
Sure you can use a spark plug; it's just a small spark gap. It does have a lot of sharp edges so you might as well use the existing spark gap and adjust it to however small you want.

Regarding the current a Wimshurst machine, it's microamps, not milliamps.

I haven't stepped down my Wimshurst machine but I have stepped down my small Van de Graaff machine:
http://rimstar.org/sdenergy/testa/testatika_magnets_hv_to_dc.htm

There's another topic here at overunity.com that starts out asking the same thing as you and with some discussion. Probably best to just go there:
http://www.overunity.com/index.php?topic=7669.0
-Steve
http://rimstar.org   http://wsminfo.org

[mscoffman]

Build a Optical Cubic Haloruhm out of square glass solar-cells (a five sided cube)
directed inward and lower a converted CFL fluorescent lamp down into it, lit by your
Wimhurst's HV caps. If you want more gain daisy chain some additional CFL's and
repeat the process...I think this will work.

:S:MarkSCoffman

[Foggy-Notion]

"Micro-amps"?  They ran x-ray machines with that?
Well anyway I've heard a Wimshurst can expediate plant growth.
(Was on a suppressed patent over at Rex Research)
Gotta be good for something,

I was trying to be lazy and build a poor man's Testatika.
Guess I'll have to rethink this.