Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: ShadetreeMotorcycle on May 28, 2021, 12:28:28 pm

Title: Re: Wimshurst Machine (move over Plasma ball! Lol)
Post by: ShadetreeMotorcycle on June 02, 2021, 12:44:40 am
This must surely be the most impressive "table top size" Wimshurst generator I have seen to date, he is getting 7 inch arc's with it and also when moving the balls fairly close together,he gets what "looks" like a continuous arc!


https://youtu.be/6zd_HwgrJjI
Title: Re: Wimshurst Machine (move over Plasma ball! Lol)
Post by: ShadetreeMotorcycle on May 29, 2021, 09:49:17 am
Looks good, darkening the room will likely help the camera pick up the arc's, but then it's hard to see the engine!
  Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Wimshurst Machine (move over Plasma ball! Lol)
Post by: Damnfmaschine on May 29, 2021, 08:20:43 am
Here for your enjoyment (or not) is my example of Wimshurst driven by a Carette steam engine.
My slow camera did not capture all the sparks but enough to get the idea; the missed flashes can be heard though.
https://youtu.be/icJPKV7VGCQ
Title: Re: Wimshurst Machine (move over Plasma ball! Lol)
Post by: ShadetreeMotorcycle on May 28, 2021, 07:41:27 pm
I stumbled upon this video, it shows a couple more fun things you can do with a Wimshurst, in addition to making Arc's!



https://youtu.be/oFFPnvOPvx4
Title: Re: Wimshurst Machine (move over Plasma ball! Lol)
Post by: ShadetreeMotorcycle on May 28, 2021, 04:24:38 pm
That one looks like it makes nice strong Arc's. Interesting that some models have  single metal balls about 1/2" diameter at the electrode tips, the one Jan posted and my kit have the "snowman" shape.
   Thanks for posting Jan!
Title: Re: Wimshurst Machine (move over Plasma ball! Lol)
Post by: classixs on May 28, 2021, 01:01:23 pm
Quite a few years since RamonaSteam uploaded his Wimshurst generator driven by a steam engine, so should work perfectly well :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOb5aSGgMX0
Title: Wimshurst Machine (move over Plasma ball! Lol)
Post by: ShadetreeMotorcycle on May 28, 2021, 12:28:28 pm
This kit I Hope to power with Steam or My Tarrot Stirling, it is a working model of device invented around 1880-1883 and used to generate small bolts of Lighting (ok, just sizeable static electricity arcs) ;D
  I found after I made my purchase with the now somewhat debated paper cardstock steam engine (same manufacturer) there are higher end kits on the market, some going well North of $200
  My kit was around $30 Shipped and a reviewer pointed out that if a little care is taken with the electric connections it has made arcs up to 62mm long or approx 2 and 7/16 inches.
  The 2 rods with the tinfoil "snowman" can be adjusted and the reviewer getting 62mm was pointing the small ball "snowman head" of one at the large ball "snowman body" to get the best arc's.
  These are somewhat like the plasma ball in that best viewed with the lights Off or down low.
  Not sure of the interest level, but thought I would share yet another potential "thing" to power with our small engines!

The video is not my unit as mine is still in the mail, but I will post if it works out.

https://youtu.be/4kpDF8K1Vbk