Comments on: DANGER - High Voltage

DANGER - High Voltage

Spike — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:28:21 -0800

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]

By: phrontist

phrontist — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:34:20 -0800

COOL!

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:40:58 -0800

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.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:44:45 -0800

A future candidate for the Darwin Awards.

By: eriko

eriko — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:00:44 -0800

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.

By: bardic

bardic — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:01:18 -0800

Very Mad Max.

By: quin

quin — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:02:43 -0800

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'

By: brundlefly

brundlefly — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:23:21 -0800

I want to be this guy when I grow up.

By: dan g.

dan g. — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:31:09 -0800

whoa. awesome.

By: suckerpunch

suckerpunch — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:40:08 -0800

I say we sneak this dude into the Sandia Nat'l Labs and let him play with the Z-Machine for a night.

By: pokermonk

pokermonk — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:54:04 -0800

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.

By: pokermonk

pokermonk — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:54:57 -0800

o anyway. that goes to say.... DO TRY THIS AT HOME! tons of fun.

By: Terminal Verbosity

Terminal Verbosity — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:32:23 -0800

Sciency goodness! Another great post, Spike.

By: Samizdata

Samizdata — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:17:23 -0800

RIDE THE BLUE PICKLE! _{(as we used to say in the Quake days...)}

By: mrmojoflying

mrmojoflying — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:26:52 -0800

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.

By: Spike

Spike — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:33:44 -0800

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.

By: Twang

Twang — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 12:32:03 -0800

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.

By: sparkletone

sparkletone — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 13:53:30 -0800

Danger, danger! High voltage! When we touch, when we kiss!