Thinking of building a Jacob's Ladder with/for my kid. Aliex has plenty of the cheap PS's to drive it, but what can I salvage a flyback transformer from? I do have 1 CRT left in the house, an NTSC monitor from the 8bit days, but would rather not take it apart because I think it's worth more to the retro computer crowd. Does any other ubiquitous component (junk) have a flyback transformer in it?
Neon light transformers might you 10KV in some cases.
BTW, there seems to be a woodworking fad of using either microwave transformers or neon light transformers to etch wood. This practice sometimes ends badly for the person or bystander. Use caution.
BTW, there seems to be a woodworking fad of using either microwave transformers or neon light transformers to etch wood. This practice sometimes ends badly for the person or bystander. Use caution.
An automotive ignition coil works well if you increase the drive voltage and keep the duty cycle low.
Second the caveat about microwave transformers - easily enough voltage and power to kill instantly in these high power rated devices. Not sure a Jacob's ladder can be particularly safe anyhow, but multi-kVA high voltage discharges are not where you want to be(!)
I used an unballasted ( no series resistor) ignition coil to make a sinister device that sounded like a hive of angry bees, and would set a piece of paper on fire with its arc. It would also light up a nearby fluorescent tube.
I did the thing with the microwave transformers. Salt water for nice conduction 🙂
I only touched anything with a nylon rod of 1 meter.
I only touched anything with a nylon rod of 1 meter.