Experimental Arc Furnace

An idea from a 1933 Popular Science magazine. It works rather well for only 10 amps. We can't take it up any higher because our breakers are 15 amps and the wire is only 14 gauge. It still can melt iron ore, borosilicate glass, fire brick, and when an arc is struck underwater, it starts electrolyzing the water very quickly.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• 1933
• arc
• electricity
• electrolyze
• experimental
• furnace
• melting
• popular
• science
• water
• iron
• ore
• modern
• mechanix

[BenHutchinson1]

2 things.

1: What is the ellectrode material?

2: Are you wearing arc-welding goggles? You should be.

[antiquekid3]

@BenHutchinson1 Sorry to be so late to respond, but the electrodes are some arc lamp electrodes purchased from eBay. They are sheathed in copper, which isn't the best if you want to keep the metals you melt pure. And yes, of course I'm wearing arc-welding goggles. And two pairs of gloves. And being careful, as always! Electricity and fire are two quite dangerous things!

[Pyromadness]

hiya. im going to use a current imited as a hv supply. can i use like two lightbulbs in series to the mains 230v input to limit current? i thought the resstance of the bulbs would only reduce the voltage not the amps. help someone! lol

[antiquekid3]

You basically want a circuit in which you can short the arc rods together and draw the most current without blowing a breaker. You can achieve this with light bulbs or a toaster, or even an inductive load. Does this help?

[Collserra]

How did you connect it to the house mains?

- Awesome work by the way!

[antiquekid3]

Well, besides the electrical outlet, I had to connect it through the resistive ballast shown. This resistive ballast has to "suck up" the current since you are basically shorting the circuit when using the furnace. I'd recommend trying a toaster oven for the resistive ballast. Or go really fancy and make an inductive ballast! Thanks!

[g11690102]

i think i'm running the setup backwards to you. i have high voltage and low amps. i am needing insulator ideas.

[andrew80s]

You can connect this via a plug in RCD devices which will protect you against touching live and getting a shock to earth but will *not* protect you if you are across the carbons since thats current will appear as a load current.

I fixed one carbon with a weight to hold it and made that the live/hot conductor. I was holding (via well insulated pliers) the neut(ral) side carbon.

The powers I have stated will be different in the US and other places with have line voltages of 120V.

[andrew80s]

The series resistance is to limit the current, you do not want to short the supply line out!

I made an arc using a 2400W kettle as the resistance giving a max of 10A from the UK 240V mains. Unless v. large bulbs wont give you much current.

Before you strike the arc you the full mains voltage across the carbons, this is potentially lethal!

When arcing the voltage will drop to around 30-50V I believe, the current is mainly limited by the series resistance. 10A is pretty bright it seems.

[kdjfnvjvd]

haha wow this is awesome as hell!!! ur smart too! good stuff!!

[laurdy]

a kettle would probarbly work best

[Pyromadness]

ok so the lightbulbs will reduce the current so the reaker wont trip and the voltage stays the same? (no drop in voltage across the lightbulbs?)

ty