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Jacobs Ladder 240V Version

Fiddy

Fiddy

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G'day,

Here's the home made Jacobs ladder running off mains power.

A word of warning about this one, if you become part of the secondary circuit, its highly likely you will be killed.........to death.


Specs:

Primary Measurements
No load, with power factor correction capacitor, primary current = 3.15A @ 240VAC
No load, without power factor correction capacitor, primary current = 4.3A @ 240VAC
Pulling arcs, primary current = 8-13A @ 240VAC

Secondary Measurements

2.5A @ 1800-2100VAC (measured with clamp meter)


With that said, what i have is a Microwave Oven Transformer (MOT)
with 2x Microwave Oven Capacitors (MOC) in parrallel with the the secondary of the MOT.

motdaigram2.jpg


I used 2x welding electrodes for my ladder, mounted on some insulators i discounted from work :)

Photos:

motarc.jpg



Video:

Thanks for looking!

Fiddy.
 
Last edited:





Lase

Lase

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Apr 27, 2011
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That's it... I'm on the next plane :na:

I'm loving your non-laser related builds.

Lase
 
LaZeRz

LaZeRz

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I need another HV cap! My MOT is sitting in a box doing nothing :p
 
Fiddy

Fiddy

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haha, im gunna buy a few from ebay, group buy anyone :)

i also bought a local microwave for $20 which i will harvest!
 
LaZeRz

LaZeRz

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Any bet you will find atleast 2 microwaves on the curb at council pickup day :D
 
LaZeRz

LaZeRz

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Lawl, Post an ad on the interwebz. People will be happy to bring you their old microwaves.
 
Seoul_lasers

Seoul_lasers

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Fiddy said:
G'day,

Here's the home made Jacobs ladder running off mains power.

A word of warning about this one, if you become part of the secondary circuit, its highly likely you will be killed.........to death.


Specs:

Primary Measurements
No load, with power factor correction capacitor, primary current = 3.15A @ 240VAC
No load, without power factor correction capacitor, primary current = 4.3A @ 240VAC
Pulling arcs, primary current = 8-13A @ 240VAC

Secondary Measurements

2.5A @ 1800-2100VAC (measured with clamp meter)


With that said, what i have is a Microwave Oven Transformer (MOT)
with 2x Microwave Oven Capacitors (MOC) in parrallel with the the secondary of the MOT.

motdaigram2.jpg


I used 2x welding electrodes for my ladder, mounted on some insulators i discounted from work :)

Photos:

motarc.jpg



Video:

Thanks for looking!

Fiddy.
Click to expand...

I have a (very old) video on youtube also using MOTs (6) in total for a ~13-14Kv @ nearly 1A output.
The transformers were placed under oil and had all the shunts knocked out to prevent arcing over. These microwave oven xmfrs are the old Sanyo variety from the early 1980s.
Good video showing 2.5Kv @ 500mA. Yes, at that power a shock from this transformer set up will kill you instantly.
I don't suggest anyone try building a MOT pack without understanding the dangers of HV first.
You seem to be using a PVC rod to draw arcs. good idea.
 
Seoul_lasers

Seoul_lasers

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Joined
Jul 4, 2008
Messages
2,499
Points
113
Fiddy said:
G'day,

Here's the home made Jacobs ladder running off mains power.

A word of warning about this one, if you become part of the secondary circuit, its highly likely you will be killed.........to death.


Specs:

Primary Measurements
No load, with power factor correction capacitor, primary current = 3.15A @ 240VAC
No load, without power factor correction capacitor, primary current = 4.3A @ 240VAC
Pulling arcs, primary current = 8-13A @ 240VAC

Secondary Measurements

2.5A @ 1800-2100VAC (measured with clamp meter)


With that said, what i have is a Microwave Oven Transformer (MOT)
with 2x Microwave Oven Capacitors (MOC) in parrallel with the the secondary of the MOT.

motdaigram2.jpg


I used 2x welding electrodes for my ladder, mounted on some insulators i discounted from work :)

Photos:

motarc.jpg



Video:

Thanks for looking!

Fiddy.
Click to expand...

I have a (very old) video on youtube also using MOTs (6) in total for a ~13-14Kv @ nearly 1A output.
The transformers were placed under oil and had all the shunts knocked out to prevent arcing over. These microwave oven xmfrs are the old Sanyo variety from the early 1980s.
Good video showing 2-2.5Kv @ 500mA. Yes, at that power a shock from this transformer set up will kill you instantly.
I don't suggest anyone try building a MOT pack without understanding the dangers of HV first.
You seem to be using a PVC rod to draw arcs. good idea.

I'd suggest you move the Jacobs ladder away from the ground and mount it on something.
There's a good chance you'll weld the rod to the cement if it falls over.
 
Fiddy

Fiddy

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May 22, 2011
Messages
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Points
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Seoul_lasers said:
I have a (very old) video on youtube also using MOTs (6) in total for a ~13-14Kv @ nearly 1A output.
The transformers were placed under oil and had all the shunts knocked out to prevent arcing over. These microwave oven xmfrs are the old Sanyo variety from the early 1980s.
Good video showing 2.5Kv @ 500mA. Yes, at that power a shock from this transformer set up will kill you instantly.
I don't suggest anyone try building a MOT pack without understanding the dangers of HV first.
You seem to be using a PVC rod to draw arcs. good idea.
Click to expand...

Thats nice!

how far could that initially jump between electrodes?
I need more kV so the ladder runs by itself, not my me initiating the arc each time, i bought a second microwave transformer to do this :)


Its actually 2kV @ 2.5A...
Im an electrician and have a HV licence.
Im also using a wooden pole with a aluminum head.


Seoul_lasers said:
I'd suggest you move the Jacobs ladder away from the ground and mount it on something.
There's a good chance you'll weld the rod to the cement if it falls over.
Click to expand...

Its mounted on red insulators...
Weld it to the cement lol...:thinking::thinking:
 
Last edited:
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