Static grass in my water bottle.

[peteski]

So I just built one of these.

Question to those who have built one. If I touch the clip lead to the screen shouldn't I get a spark?

I get no spark, but if I touch both leads I get shocked. My flyswatter version sparked like crazy.

There should be a spark. Maybe your high-voltage generator is very weak (defective)?

[wcfn100]

So I just built one of these.

Question to those who have built one. If I touch the clip lead to the screen shouldn't I get a spark?

I get no spark, but if I touch both leads I get shocked. My flyswatter version sparked like crazy.

I plugged mine in and I get a small arc.  Dumb question but the screen is attached to the other wire?  Mine's just a spade connector that I stick in the screen and it falls out on occasion.

Jason

[Chris333]

So far the wire is not connected to the screen at all. I'm just touching the wires together. Testing before I close it up.

I read one time where the polarity was backwards. I'll try that.

[John]

Well I have to say the static water bottle worked good on the layout, here's a couple of shots, note foreground, watched a lot of YouTube vids. today on different methods, layering is going to take some practice.

What awesome scenery.  I'd like to see more pictures of your layout.  Like Gary said start a built thread.

[peteski]

So far the wire is not connected to the screen at all. I'm just touching the wires together. Testing before I close it up.

I read one time where the polarity was backwards. I'll try that.

If you are getting shocked then there is some voltage generated (maybe around 100 Volts at very low current), but not enough to give a visible arc.

Those "ion generators" are usually transistorized circuits. If you wire them backwards they usually just fry.

[Chris333]

Backwards made no spark.

Guess my generator that has been sitting around for years is bad.

[peteski]

Here is one:
http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G20840

4-6kV might be a bit of an overkill for this application. Fly swatters usually generate 2-3kV.

And this one is probably way too potent for a static grass applicator. 15kV (15,000V) is a VERY high voltage you shouldn't be messing with. 
http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G20855

Or you can just pick up a fly swatter from Harbor freight and use that circuit.

[Chris333]

I have a working fly swatter:


Just heard this type was more powerful.

[Chris333]

Soooo I putzed around with this today. The old generator and new one have different wires on them. Any one know how to wire the new one.

Old one is black with 2 red and 1 black wires
New one is white with 2 white 1 red and 1 black


 

[peteski]

Are you sure that the new generator puts out DC (not AC) high voltage?  Usually DC uses different color wires where the new one seems to use white wires.

But OTOH, does the polarity really matter for this application?

The old one probably had a common negative (thin black wire). The wires with thick insulation is the high voltage (positive).

The new one seems to have separate wires for the low voltage (thin black and red) and the high voltage is on the white wires?  JUst guessing here. Doesn't it come with any sort of diagram or instructions?

[Chris333]

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G20840

No other information available, just connect (+) to red and (-) to black. White wires are output.

So black and red are the input power?  And the 2 white wires go to the screen and the pin?

[peteski]

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G20840

So black and red are the input power?  And the 2 white wires go to the screen and the pin?

Yup.

Not much info there either: Brand new. No other information available, operates on 9VDC up to 12VDC at 20mA and produces -4KV to -6KV. just connect (+) to red and (-) to black. White wires are output.

[Chris333]

Cool. That actually makes it easier to wire. No thinking 

[Chris333]

Well I hooked up the power to a wall wart that was giving 13 volts and tried to spark the 2 white wires together... nothing. I've spent like $50 bucks on ion generators that aren't working and my $5 fly swatter is still running. 

[fire5506]

Before I toss it I'd try using the black as the ground. The older Ion generators had 3 wires,1 red +, 1 black -/ground and a different color. I'd see if it's still the same just 2 high voltage hot leads. Some of them caution about touching the hot wire to ground as you can burn them out. I'd try it with some static grass between them.

Richard