how to make a van de graph machine

[Ian]

hi
i went to a friends house and they had a van de graph machine, now i am all excited to build one. I was wondering how to build one? is there any kits out there? plans? I want on that can do about 1inch sparks or so. I dont wont one that the shock can hurt you. something that can startle you now make you scream.  Please direct me to some good places.

[Simon]

if your a beginner I'd not recommend playing with anything involving high voltages, just because it is battery powered does not make it harmless

[Ian]

i would say i am not beginner

[Simon]

then "fire away", it's just that a lot of beginners get exited by the sparks and flashes and want to do it themselves without realizing HV requires a whole new frameset.

So what exactly is this machine ?

[Time]

Its just a steel brush that collects charge by running some kind of rubber or silk belt over it.  I don't think there are any real high voltage supplies in it.

I doubt there are kits for it but its so simple you don't really need one.

[Simon]

ah ! it's a static charge machine ? oh well not really dangerous at all

[Zero999]

A Van de Graaff generator is an electrostatic generator: it may be high voltage but it's low current so is inherently safe.

If it's powered from the mains the only dangerous part is the motor but that's not a problem if you use an electric drill or something pre-made.

[NiHaoMike]

One of those piezoelectric spark generators (used in gas grills) would do what you want. And they're only $5 or so new.
For longer sparks, you're looking for a Tesla coil.

[Zero999]

No a Van de Graff generator is much better than a piezo igniter because it produces a constant current continuously. A piezo igniter just produces a short pulse when the button is pressed. A Van de Graff generator can produce longer sparks than an igniter.

[Simon]

I'm just picturing a bank of piezoelectric spark generators being fired in sequence by a camshaft in order to create continuous supply 

[Ian]

no i wont to make  van de graph machine. but i need plans, because if i have leakage of electricity then it will not work

[JohnS_AZ]

Did you look online?

I just googled "build a van de graaff generator" and got about 10,000 pages. (include the quote marks)

[Alex]

Here is one of the worst I could find:

http://www.instructables.com/id/120%2c000-Volt-Van-De-Graaff-Generator/

[TopherTheME]

ah ! it's a static charge machine ? oh well not really dangerous at all

HAHA! Now who's the beginner!

[Mechatrommer]

Van De Graff could be dangerous... indirectly. you could hit something next to it, could be an soldering iron, boiled water heater, your friend's face etc, due to small shock you'll get. so be careful, make sure you operate it in stable surface area and enough open space for you to jump off, and remember to earth yourself before resuming your electronics project. the operation has been explained, rubber rubbing. hi-V lo-A stuff, we have it in our school lab.

[Simon]

ah ! it's a static charge machine ? oh well not really dangerous at all

HAHA! Now who's the beginner!

Never said I was an expert and I certainly don't specialize in HV stuff

[MrJulius]

You can get a simple van de graf machine by buying the "Fun Fly Stick" toy 

[Wim_L]

Static charges are not inherently safer. After all, static charges are the ones on a charged capacitor, and who would argue that a high capacity high voltage capacitor couldn't be dangerous?

It's true that small Van de Graaff generators usually are pretty harmless because the capacity between the charged head and the earth is very low. Other electrostatic generators such as the Wimshurst machine which are typically built with significant capacitance can be more threatening even at lower voltages than a similar size Van de Graaff.

[DJPhil]

It's true that small Van de Graaff generators usually are pretty harmless because the capacity between the charged head and the earth is very low. Other electrostatic generators such as the Wimshurst machine which are typically built with significant capacitance can be more threatening even at lower voltages than a similar size Van de Graaff.

In my experience this is sound advice.
Something I dimly remember from science tinkering years ago, "Do not mix a Van de Graaff generator with a Leyden jar." We played around with both in elementary school, but never at the same time. The Leyden jar is essentially a huge capacitor, one of the first invented. If you're only charging up your body, you're dealing with about 20pF or so. Not much to worry about there unless you've a pacemaker or a weak heart or the like.
Just my two cents.

[FreeThinker]

Ha Van De Graff Generator, one of my favorite bands from the 70's.Check out german overalls or white hammer...