4 ms·
That'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
by madaxe_again 11y ago
That'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!