[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: I want to ride my bicycle, i want to ride my bike.....

Chris, 

No, sounds like a fine idea. The ducting should be all metal, however,
and smoothing with metal tape will improve the nature of the sparks, as
you will undoubtedly see when you run.

For a topload, almost anything conductive will work--generally speaking,
the larger volume the object occupies, the larger capacitance it will
possess, and usually, the sparks will be longer, assuming a proper
re-tune. There are better shapes than others, and (as you will see) the
smoother and rounder the better. The optimal shape to maximize
smoothness and roundness is naturally a sphere. However, a toroid is
better in this application because it works to protect the upper part of
your secondary by overhanging them and moving the charge density out
away from the windings, farther than a sphere would, and therefore it is
harder for sparks to breakout from the windings as well ( this is
grossly simplified--comments welcome)

In experimenting with tune and topload, I have placed many things on
L'il sparky, including but not limited to pots and pans, a wok (both
right-side-up and upside down) a bike wheel, foil pinwheels (Ion motor)
metal rods, CD's (Barry Manilow, etc) and offending insects found in the
apt. (Jumped-up Bug-zapper)

One last note, make sure that you make a good connection between the
wheel and the ducting, and remember, the surface is going to be
conducting all of your energy. I would reccomend making a cardboard disc
to go on top of your spokes, covered with foil and metal-taped to the
ducting. 

Good luck

Wells
> 
> Original Poster: "christopher boden" <chrisboden-at-hotmail-dot-com>
> 
> Geek Group useless idea #182
> 
> Project-1 is getting closer to completion everyday and so we figured it is
> time to build the torus.
> The idea is to remove the tire from a 20" Bicycle wheel and replace it with
> metal ducting. It would be attached to the wheel with either ty-wrapps or
> small loops of naked wire, I'm not sure which would be better.
> Has anybody done this before? It seems so simple I'm sure there's got to be
> some esoteric reason why everybody isn't doing this. I've heard everything
> from carving toroids from styrofoam to papermache wrapped in al foil....so
> what's the catch? Where am I screwing up on this one?
> Also is there any particular type or size of ducting to use? I would assume
> that the plastic-wrapped slinky would be a bad choise (fire, toxic fumes and
> all that) I've seem metal, but it's gotta be expensive. What's the best? How
> do I attach it to itself at the end?
> Just how important is it to achieve the great state of Zen flatness for the
> surface?
> 
> The Toroid Buddha
> Christopher A. Boden
> The Geek Group
> 344 Ionia SW
> Grand Rapids MI
> 49503
> (616)-574-4065
> 
> The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth!
> 
> _______________________________________________________________
> Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn-dot-com