Modeled after a Nerf gun--but with 200,000 volts under the hood
Posted 10.08.2012 at 9:00 am
9 Comments
Scavenged Parts: To build his Tesla coil, Flickenger used a transformer from an old television and a battery from a lithium-ion-powered drill. A fan from an old computer server cools the spark gap. Michael Clinard
BUILDING A TESLA GUN
Cost: $800
Time: 9 months
POWER
The current flows into what Flickenger calls the “hockey puck of doom”—an end cap of PVC pipe filled with silicone. Inside the gun, a transformer from an old television and additional circuitry repeatedly doubles the current and then pumps it to a capacitor bank. When the six capacitors hold 20,000 volts, the gun starts firing. All that electricity still blew a few pucks, so Flickenger recently tested a mixture of silicone and hexagonal boron nitride that draws away the heat, preserving electrical components.
SPARKS
Once the electric current reaches 20,000 volts, it’s powerful enough to jump the gap between two tungsten wires inside the aluminum gun. Flickenger couldn’t find a housing strong enough to handle such a powerful spark, so he built his own out of heat-resistant porcelain. He also affixed a fan from an old computer server at one end to help cool the spark gap.
LIGHTNING
After jumping the gap, the current runs into the primary coil, eight loops of high-voltage insulated wire at the gun’s nose. The coil induces a current in the secondary coil, a piece of plumbing pipe wrapped in copper wire. The current flooding the wire creates a magnetic field, which induces an electrical field inside the doughnut-shaped aluminum ring at the gun’s nose. This field generates streaks of blue lightning. For the most part, Flickenger operates the gun in his lab with the lights off. It can go for about 30 minutes before it needs to cool down. “When it’s running, it makes the whole room smell like a thunderstorm,” he says.
SAFETY
The gun generates a lethal amount of current, so Flickenger typically sets it on his workbench instead of holding it himself. He grounds the device by clipping insulated high-voltage wire to the aluminum shell at one end, then to a nearby pipe or, if he’s outside, a metal stake planted in the soil. This ensures the current won’t run through the aluminum shell and into the inventor. “You don’t want to be the fuse in that circuit,” he says.
WARNING: We review all our projects before publishing them, but ultimately safety is your responsibility. Always wear protective gear, take proper safety precautions, and follow all laws and regulations.
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Now I need a bigger version of this... and a T-98... with an E.M. armor... MWAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!
Mad scientists... UNITE!!!!
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.
Mark Twain
Yes, I agree, this is To beautiful, hilarious, and inspiring. WoWzers and Kudos to the inventor! ;)
You didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.
I believe you used the word current a few times when you meant voltage. You would be doubling the voltage in transformers and voltage would reach 20000 volts, not current, current is measured in amperes. It is possible in a step down transformer to reduce the voltage and increase current capability but a van der graf generator,or this gun would work on high voltage and low current.
smaller version inside of an iphone
"iphone taser"
I think PS should be embarrassed to publish an article in which the author apparently doesn't understand what he is writing about. The sloppy use of "current" and "voltage" with no mention of "power" renders the entire description of this device technically meaningless. The article states "The gun generates a lethal amount of current, so Flickenger typically sets on his workbench instead of holding it himself." It might give someone a very unpleasant electrical shock, but would it generate a lethal current? Probably it would be more like a shock from a Taser ... very unpleasant but not lethal. Otherwise state what "lethal current" could be expected.
its an interesting gun. i never see this kind of gun before this gun is result of hard work i am surely want this gun foot long sparking is new invention in guns.
its an interesting gun. i never see this kind of gun before this gun is result of hard work i am surely want this gun foot long sparking is new invention in guns.
http://www.swordsswords.com/crossbow.aspx
nice job back guess what i found!
Daniel Eindhoven sent in his latest creation, this is one killer looking coil gun! The laser effects are fantastic. If you love coil guns make sure you have a look at our top 5 coil gun list.
"Fully semi-automatic, up to 14 shots.
Capable of delivering over 18J kinetic energy, and speeds up to 110km/h! (42 gram projectiles).
It’s a single stage gun, using a 8800uF(4×2200) capacitor bank with max 400v (704J).
Max shot efficiency is 2.8% but reaches almost 4% at lower voltages.
Charge time for 300v (12J kinetic energy 396J capacitor bank) is 8 seconds for the mains connection,
and when using the internal batteries about 90 seconds. It also has a Digital voltage display.
Coil overheat after 14 shots at 300v.
Total weight: 5 kilogram.
Total spend: ~~ 100 Euro
Construction time: ~~40 Hrs"
talk to me if you want to find out were i found it