craynerd
Harmless
Posts: 17
Registered: 7-10-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Spark in a test tube...
Hi guys,
I know this seems a rather trivial request in comparison to the majority of high tech. posts you get on here but I’m desperate.
I went to a science and tech. museum today and they had this cool contraption. You turned a wheel, generating electricity, supplying electricity to
electrodes in dil. sulphuric acid. This electrolysis produced H2 and 02, you then proceeded to press a button which caused a spark to ignite the
mixture and shoot a rocket into the air. This was micro scale, don’t get any big ideas, it was all very simple.
Anyway, my point is I want to try and replicate something similar. I can generate electricity for the electrolysis and then can even collect the gases
in a test tube. The bit I am struggling with is actually producing a spark safely to ignite the mixture. What’s the easiest way to produce a spark
at low voltage? The best method I have so far is sending a low voltage down some iron wool, but its a poor method since it needs replacing each time.
Any ideas?
cray
|
|
|
Waffles
Hazard to Others
Posts: 196
Registered: 1-10-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
In many barbeques, self-lighting propane torches…any device that ignites open flame (your gas stove likely has something similar, though not with
the button) they have a button (usually red) to ignite it.
What happens, is when you press the button, you flex a piezoelectric crystal, and it snaps back to its original position, and a charge is generated.
Basically, take any of the above apart. Get the button, it should just be its own little plastic cylinder with the button on one end and a wire coming
off the other end. Test this for yourself: cut the wire (or use as-is), press the button, and a spark comes off the end. Shock yourself, shock other
people (people will tire quickly of this and the clicky noise of the button), make little sparks against metal things- and for your purpose, use to
ignite rockets  . Talk about 'water-powered'…
\"…\'tis man\'s perdition to be safe, when for the truth he ought to die.\"
|
|
|
mericad193724
Hazard to Others
Posts: 121
Registered: 4-6-2006
Location: New Jersey, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: why do you care?
|
|
Yep, Waffler gave you the easiest way. Most Barbecue Grill lighters cost about $10 dollars new, just buy one of those cheap Cigarette lighters that
have a clicking mechanism to ignite the flame instead of the thing you role to generate sparks. The one you press has a Piezo device...it will only
cost you a few dollars.
Take a look here for something similar:
http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/echem/echem.html#bomb - The device generates H2 and O2 gas and ignites them shooting water out of tubes.
Modify it to shoot whatever you want.
Good Luck
Mericad
|
|
|
craynerd
Harmless
Posts: 17
Registered: 7-10-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Brilliant, thanks guys. I know exactly what you mean, we use to take them out of lighters as kids and go around shocking each other with them lol !
 Never even gave them a thought!
Brilliant, i`ll let you know how it goes!
Cray
|
|
|
Waffles
Hazard to Others
Posts: 196
Registered: 1-10-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by mericad193724
Yep, Waffler gave you the easiest way. Most Barbecue Grill lighters cost about $10 dollars new, just buy one of those cheap Cigarette lighters that
have a clicking mechanism to ignite the flame instead of the thing you role to generate sparks. The one you press has a Piezo device...it will only
cost you a few dollars.
|
Heh, the only problem with one of the lighter ones is that- there is no wire. At least with the self-lighting propane torch, you have a couple inches
of wire between ignition and your fingers…
\"…\'tis man\'s perdition to be safe, when for the truth he ought to die.\"
|
|
|
mericad193724
Hazard to Others
Posts: 121
Registered: 4-6-2006
Location: New Jersey, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: why do you care?
|
|
There is usually only one wire, if there is none just solder one on! You can just add a length of wire to the sparking wire on the Pizo if it is too
short. They are dirt cheap...look in a trash can if you are really dirt poor .
Notice there is only one wire since it is an electrostatic discharge.
[Edited on 26-10-2006 by mericad193724]
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
