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General => General Technical Chat => Topic started by: cdev on May 05, 2015, 04:04:12 am

Title: Electrical wires and carbon fiber camera tripod-why can I feel the electricity?
Post by: cdev on May 05, 2015, 04:04:12 am
I like to hike and usually bring my camera and sometimes my tripod when i do so, which is a Manfrotto knockoff which is made out of woven carbon fiber.

Basically when I am around high tension wires, (electrical power lines) my tripod "feels different" Literally, when my hand makes any movement along the length of the carbon elements, I can feel something there, its like a vibration.

Solid metal tripod.. no..

has anybody else ever noticed this?

Also, FYI, any old fluorescent tube stuck in the ground around there lights up by itself. An artist in the UK (forget his name) has done a whole series based on this ghostly effect.. (they flicker)
Title: Re: Electrical wires and carbon fiber camera tripod-why can I feel the electricity?
Post by: helius on May 05, 2015, 04:34:37 am
Also see
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/strange-electrical-sensation-from-my-laptop/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/strange-electrical-sensation-from-my-laptop/)
Title: Re: Electrical wires and carbon fiber camera tripod-why can I feel the electricity?
Post by: Dago on May 05, 2015, 09:12:22 am
Well your tripod is working as an antenna, like fluorescent lights do under a powerline.

(http://files.doobybrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/electromagnetic-fluorescent-bulb-light.jpg)
Title: Re: Electrical wires and carbon fiber camera tripod-why can I feel the electricity?
Post by: electr_peter on May 05, 2015, 09:26:04 am
Be aware that carbon fibre is an excellent conductor. CF is not the same as plastic insulator at all, it is a conductor.
You can try using tripod with plastic or glass fibre legs instead.
Title: Re: Electrical wires and carbon fiber camera tripod-why can I feel the electricity?
Post by: Zero999 on May 05, 2015, 06:25:16 pm
How tall is the tripod?

If it's shorter than a fluorescent tube and is placed on the ground, then there's no safety risk. The tiny current capacitively coupled to it is far too low to do hurt you.

Obviously don't lift it up and wave it under the wires because a spark will leap towards it and you will die.
Title: Re: Electrical wires and carbon fiber camera tripod-why can I feel the electricity?
Post by: cdev on May 09, 2015, 01:52:00 am
The tripod when unfolded is tall enough for me to look through my camera standing, so its pretty tall. but the thing is, it doesn't need to be extended (four sections per leg)  to act this way, it does it when its fully folded.


its distracting when I am trying to take a photo Nonetheless i have gotten some great photos around there in the past.

Ive seen florescent lights put up in rows in that situation - they flicker!  It was a long time ago, i don't remember if there was any discernible pattern.
Title: Re: Electrical wires and carbon fiber camera tripod-why can I feel the electricity?
Post by: NiHaoMike on May 09, 2015, 05:26:29 am
Just wait until the "free energy" people find out...
Title: Re: Electrical wires and carbon fiber camera tripod-why can I feel the electricity?
Post by: cdev on May 10, 2015, 03:08:58 am
You can actually extract tiny amounts of electricity from strong local RF. and then pipe that into a "joule thief" circuit..

Its not "free" of course, but in most semi urban areas its "available".

there are dev boards out there with real CPUs on them that can run off of very very low power like that.