About 150 grams barium nitrate, 50 grams magnalium, both +100 mesh. Mixture was tamped loosely into a toilet paper tube. The initial pop is due to the black powder ignitor blowing a hole in the top. As you can tell from the darkening background, it was about as bright as an alien abduction! Although this mixture is known to strobe, I think the packaging kept it burning fairly smoothly instead. A loose pile burned characteristically.

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A tour of my new induction heater. This is a work-in-progress between two designs, a low power unit which can run from 120V, and a high power unit good for 10kW or so. The control circuit is well overbuilt in comparison to the output stage, because I'm testing pieces as I build them.

The major difference between this and previous models is the output network, which is series resonant, driven through a power transformer. The network response is so much nicer now, and inverter power factor is actually usable. Power output is already more than I've ever had before, especially from a 120V test. Compare the last section of this clip to my previous test.

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I recently built this high voltage power supply. But what good is a high voltage power supply? So I put a small CRT on it. Of course, I need deflection, which is easy to provide. And then synch. And, oh what the hey, let's put composite video into it too. All of a sudden, I've breadboarded a TV!

Picture is bad because the horizontal oscillator is out of phase and probably recieving interference from the high voltage supply (which runs seperately). Contrast is low (and fixed) because the video amp is weak (and not adjustable). Still, it's a picture!

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4kW homemade induction heater melts a 17mm steel socket. Crucible used melts under strain and allows molten steel to escape. Power drawn = 2kW, actual time = 3 mins.

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