High Voltage + Moist Sand = Glass Fractals

Hackerbot Lab's Fulgurite foundry is a Cooper 10kVA 34.5kV two-bushing pole transformer plugged it into a bucket of moist sand.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Tesla
• HBL
• Hackerbot Labs
• science
• physics
• electricity
• lightning
• fulgurites
• artificial fulgurites
• sand
• high voltage
• fractals
• Lichtenburg
• Lechatelierite
• moist sand
• mineraloid
• Amorphous
• glass
• cooking with lightning

[Ayomide345]

this is why you don't pick on nerds in the 21'st century.

[yoyoj3d1]

@Ayomide345 That and I can put your hand in my quarter shrinker.

[ultimutwar]

What kind of sand did you use, I'm interested in attracting lightning to make fulgurites, but I'm not sure on what type of sand. I've heard that quartz(silica) sand, or beach sand, is the best. But, my mind is open enough to try different types

[yoyoj3d1]

@ultimutwar I use quartz sand. Its like $10 for 50 lb at home depot. My first fulgurites were out of "play sand" which is a dark grey instead of whiteish. In my opinion they looked like cat-poop, so I switched to the white quartz sand.

We've also done experiments zapping garnet powder (rich purple stuff). The hope was purple fulgurites... but alas, it seems as tho the chemistry that makes garnets red either gets burned off or something. They ended up black and quite cat-poop looking again.

[yoyoj3d1]

@ultimutwar Attracting lighting is tricky. A bolt's path is apparently un-affected by stuff on the ground until the bolt is just 50 feet above the tallest objects in the area. In practice, this means if a bolt was going to hit your beach, you can put metal rods in and get 'em to go where you want. If a bolt doesn't get near enough your beach... rods won't help.

Now rockets... that's where its at. Simple rocket. Coil of thin wire. Like they do at the University of Florida to call down lightning.

[TheAluminiumklorid]

Beautiful fulgurites, really cool transformer you got there

[yoyoj3d1]

@TheAluminiumklorid Why thank you. We <3 the pole pig.

[yoyoj3d1]

@lexmark136 Thank you; I've worked hard to become so.

[haloexpert96]

Where can I find a distribution transformer like this? I can only think of scrap yards but any advice would be appreciated.

[SSGVET1970]

@yoyoj3d1 Great video...I only recently found it. Very interesting!

[darksinthe]

NOW you need to make a glass fractal FOREST!!!!! WOOOO!!!!! lol

[ChumpusRex]

@RODALCO2007 Couldn't you just "borrow" one of the big ones from work. :) LOL

[RODALCO2007]

Very nice experiment. nice structures.

I haven't got a 34.5 kV transformer but will have a go at 6 kV with electrodes closer together

[yoyoj3d1]

@cml4456 Awesome. I haven't seen it yet, but its the biggest pop culture reference I have access to.