Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)

[Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 14:16:35 -0500
From: Charles Brush <cfbrush@xxxxxxx>
To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)

>
>>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2004 13:42:18 -0800
>>From: John Pepper <jspepper@xxxxxxx>
>>To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
>>Subject: Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)
>>
>>Greetings All,
>>
>>I have recently completed a functioning pumped Van de Graff using a 20"
>>waterscapes gazing ball.   Using the small tooling hole as a guide I laid
>>out a
>>circle for the belt/support hole.   A small dremel with a cut off disk and
>>a bit
>>of patients were used to cut the hole with satisfactory results.  The
>>hardest part
>>was getting the edge rolled in on the hole.  I managed to get about a 3/4"
>>radius
>>at best.  I tried making special tools and using heat but that stainless
>  >is tough.



Sounds like a nice machine!  How does it perform?  Are there any
photos of it posted anywhere?  This thread has gotten me really
interested in building one myself.   The last Van de Graaff I built
was in grade school about  26 years ago.  I had little mechanical
skill and the thing didn't work at all.  These days I think I could
do a bit better, and I have a nice 50kV DC supply that would
probably be perfect for charging the belt.

Has anyone here ever tried to build a Van de Graaff with a belt like
those used by pelletrons?  The belt would not be easy to build, but I
wonder if there is any sort of a device that uses a chain that could
be modified with insulated links.  Here's some info on pelletrons for
anyone interested:

http://www.pelletron.com/charging.htm

Zap!

Charles Brush