5 ms·
> Two years were required to acquire 56 of this capacitor (This project began in February, 2013). Two more capacitors were purchased as backup, in case of failu
by Already__Taken 11y ago
> Two years were required to acquire 56 of this capacitor (This project began in February, 2013). Two more capacitors were purchased as backup, in case of failure. The total cost was $2,600. The MSRP on this type (new) is approximately $850 per capacitor ($50,000 in total).
My question is who does that and cheaps out on the copper to connect them?
- madaxe_again 11y agoThat's a lot of expense on capacitors. When we made a rail gun at school, we built our own capacitor bank with big glass cider bottles. Main problem we had was the projectile (ball bearing) welding itself to the rails. Solved by rubbing them with graphite before each firing. No idea what the efficiency was, but we lodged several bearings deep in a brick wall. They made us dismantle it as it was unsafe - so we re-use the capacitors and made a tesla coil.
- pjc50 11y agoown capacitor bank with big glass cider bottles What was the construction of these - plate inside/outside made of foil?
- madaxe_again 11y agoAnodised aluminium foil, borax for the electrolyte. Think we had about 30 of them. Definitely not a portable setup!
- ethbro 11y agoLink for reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyden_jar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyden_jar
- Qworg 11y agoBe careful with Leyden Jars - they can self charge. At size (like a 5 gallon bucket), they can carry enough charge to seriously hurt you.
- hrnnnnnn 11y ago"They made us dismantle it as it was unsafe - so we re-use the capacitors and made a tesla coil." Actually laughed out loud at this.
- hatsunearu 11y agoThat graphite trick sounds pretty spiffy, thanks!
- mathgenius 11y agoAluminium is a better conductor by weight, maybe that's why?
- vonmoltke 11y agoNot by volume, though; aluminum has about 1.5 times the resistivity of copper. Aluminum also has a much lower melting point (660°C vs. 1084°C) and is also very prone to galvanic corrosion when used with other common conducting metals.