A Home built Van de Graaff generator

A Van de Graaff generator is an electrostatic machine which uses a moving belt to accumulate very high electrostatically stable voltages on a hollow metal globe. The potential differences achieved in modern Van de Graaff generators can reach 5 megavolts. The Van de Graaff generator can be thought of as a constant-current source connected in parallel with a capacitor and a very large electrical resistance. Video made at a meeting of the Fairhaven, Massachusetts Repeater Weather Net. 146.490Mhz Ham radio repeater. Ron k1ci.

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[tikifish28]

@howcin its that wire that is going from the top to the bottom of the sphere, its a HEAVILY insulated wire that i connected with bare wire to the bottom and then goes up to the top and is insulated it acts like a capacitor and makes the charge much greater, otherwise you would not see those bright and long sparks.

[tikifish28]

what is that wire looking thing that goes from the top to the bottom of the generator? is it heavely insulated wire like in the 300k plans?

[howcin]

Dang how did you get the spark on that to be so big. I have a four foot tall one I made using a four foot belt and PVC to accumulate charge. Any ideas on how I can improve that?