DANGER - High Voltage

March 30, 2007 3:28 PM

Don't try this at home. Watch in awe, bedazzlement, and concern as a lone Australian (with no professional training) builds tesla coils, lasers, railguns and exploding wires -- in his own garage. [Previous mad science on MeFi]
posted by Spike (17 comments total)

COOL!
posted by phrontist at 3:34 PM on March 30, 2007

Yikes, that is one hairy garage, and amazing gizomos he's making. Wonder how his neighbors feel about all the sizzling, popping, crackling and lightning bolts coming out of there?

TeslaMania is one of my fave sites, especially the beautiful cobalt blue Lichtenberg figures. Not so fun to be on the receiving end of a bolt of electricity though. Ow.
posted by nickyskye at 3:40 PM on March 30, 2007

A future candidate for the Darwin Awards.
posted by ericb at 3:44 PM on March 30, 2007

A future candidate for the Darwin Awards.

Probably not -- if you build multiple large Tesla coils, you either learn HV safety, or you die very very quickly.

The fact that he's gotten to exploding wires -- which means high *power*, not just HV -- means he's learned more than enough to stay alive.
posted by eriko at 4:00 PM on March 30, 2007

Very Mad Max.
posted by bardic at 4:01 PM on March 30, 2007

Aww man, and here I was hoping it was a guy in rhinestone studded clothes.

Sigh. I guess I'll just have to settle for some extremely dangerous looking DIY high-voltage projects. And if I must, I suppose I can be made to tolerate the photos of a guy completely surrounded by sparks, in what can only be described as electric porn.

Understand though; I'm enjoying this completely under protest.

Next time someone mentions 'bedazzling', there better be some rhinestones, or at least Elizabeth Hurley playing the devil. I'm just sayin'
posted by quin at 4:02 PM on March 30, 2007

I want to be this guy when I grow up.
posted by brundlefly at 4:23 PM on March 30, 2007

whoa. awesome.
posted by dan g. at 4:31 PM on March 30, 2007

I say we sneak this dude into the Sandia Nat'l Labs and let him play with the Z-Machine for a night.
posted by suckerpunch at 4:40 PM on March 30, 2007

there's a whole subculture that builds this kind of stuff (just google any item and construction for plans); it's the electric version of siege engine construction (which I participated and almost died in for a few years in college). interestingly enough, i've always randomly met other guys doing this kind of thing at church.

deus ex machina and all that.

thanks.
posted by pokermonk at 4:54 PM on March 30, 2007

o anyway. that goes to say.... DO TRY THIS AT HOME! tons of fun.
posted by pokermonk at 4:54 PM on March 30, 2007

Sciency goodness!

Another great post, Spike.
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 6:32 PM on March 30, 2007

RIDE THE BLUE PICKLE!

_{(as we used to say in the Quake days...)}
posted by Samizdata at 8:17 PM on March 30, 2007

Jesus H. Christ - do *not* browse this site in the quiet dark with the speakers accidentally turned up. Nothing like the sound of loud electric death for a quick jolt of adrenaline.
posted by mrmojoflying at 8:26 PM on March 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

Jesus H. Christ - do *not* browse this site in the quiet dark with the speakers accidentally turned up. Nothing like the sound of loud electric death for a quick jolt of adrenaline.

Sorry, I didn't notice that or I would have put a warning in the post. Sometimes I take for granted the things NoScript saves me from.
posted by Spike at 8:33 PM on March 30, 2007

A future candidate for the Darwin Awards.

What they said about Robert Goddard, no doubt.

When I was 16, I got nipped *once* by 600 vdc. For decades after that I played with HV transformers without incident. You learn fast. It HURTS.
posted by Twang at 12:32 PM on March 31, 2007

Danger, danger!
High voltage!
When we touch, when we kiss!
posted by sparkletone at 1:53 PM on April 1, 2007