Another closeup of 15,000 volts AC

This is another video I made, showing a closeup view of 15,000 volts AC. This is from two neon transformers connected in parallel for 15,000 volts at 60 milliamps. I just wanted to show how far the arc will jump! This is 900VA. (That's about 900 Watts, but with AC, it's different because apparent power isn't always the same as true power.) What's interesing is that if you get the gap close enough but before an arc starts, you'll hear crackling from a corona wind. You need very high voltage to do that. This is why I like neon transformers. You can't do THAT with a MOT! MOTs don't supply enough voltage for a corona wind.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• high
• voltage
• arc
• arcing
• neon
• transformer
• NST
• AC
• alternating
• current
• sparks
• sparking
• electricity

[ubuntupokemoninc]

why don't you hook them in series so you get 30kv?

[ct92404]

@ubuntupokemoninc

I don't think the insulation would handle 30,000 volts. The casing on a neon transformer is basically just filled with stuff that's kind of like tar, and it has a lot of carbon in it. Neon transformers are pretty tough and they do put up with a lot of abuse, but 30kv is a lot and I'd be worried about corona starting to slowly etch through the insulation.

The other problem is how exactly would you connect center-tapped transformers in series?

[legomaniac150]

hey, where do you find your NST's?

[ct92404]

I've had them for a LONG time. I got two of them from a neon sign shop. (They gave me one of them, and I bought another one for $40). I got the others from an electrical surplus place.

I've had them for over 10 years and they still work great.

[dannybeckett01]

ingenious sliding mechanism!

[ct92404]

hehehe...thanks :)

I just wanted to make something so there would be a safe way to adjust the gap while the circuit is still live, so I could see how far I can draw the arc out.  I use it to test my high voltage transformers.

[drewnickel]

60 miliamps is the absolute max amount of amperage a human can survive, not only is that arc awesome, it's deadly too.

[paraglidermx]

electricity is fire,its so cool!!!

[67tr876]

will 900 volts jump ? what voltage is it that it starts to jump ?

[Riskteven]

I didn't know those signs use that high voltage!

[uN1Qu3DZ]

@Babis995 if you only touch it with one hand, no. but it will give a nasty shock and leave burns.

[67tr876]

o am sorry to hear :(

[Babis995]

if you touch the arc will you die?