Lightning Generator Made Of Water (DIY Marx Generator) - Summary

Summary

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**Title:** Creating a 100,000 Volt Power Supply with Water using a Marx Generator

**Summary:**

* The project utilizes a Marx Generator to produce high voltage electricity.
* Two key components are replaced with water:
1. Fresh water acts as a high-value resistor.
2. Salt water serves as a conductive replacement for capacitors.
* The setup requires:
+ Plastic aquarium tubing
+ Water (fresh and salt)
+ A high-voltage DC power source (~15,000V, 30W)
* The generator produces up to 100,000 volts, demonstrating the principles of parallel charging and series discharging.
* Applications include studying fractal branching, similar to lightning formation.
* The project is sponsored by The Great Courses Plus, an on-demand video learning platform.

Facts

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1. **Project Sponsor**: This project is sponsored by Great Courses Plus.
2. **Water's Electrical Properties**:
* Salt water is conductive.
* Fresh/pure water is the best insulator known.
3. **Marx Generator**:
* A type of impulse generator for simulating lightning strikes.
* Capable of multi-million volt discharges.
* Fully scalable to any size.
4. **Largest Recorded Spark**: 150 meters long, achieved with a Marx generator.
5. **Marx Generator Components**:
* Typically consists of capacitors, resistors, and spark gaps.
* Can be modified to use water for two of the three components.
6. **Water-Based Component Replacements**:
* Fresh water in a plastic tube acts as a high-value resistor.
* Salt water, separated by a plastic insulator, replaces high-voltage capacitors.
7. **Device Construction**:
* Requires about 30-40 minutes to build with basic materials (water, salt, plastic aquarium tubing, etc.).
* Uses a mini high voltage flyback supply (outputs about 15,000 volts at 30 watts).
8. **Safety Precaution**: Use the "one hand rule" at all times for safety.
9. **Voltage Output**:
* Device can produce up to 100,000 volts.
* Rated at 1.6 million ohms when built to six inches.
10. **Marx Generator Principle**:
* Relies on parallel charging and series discharging.
* The total voltage output is the capacitor charge voltage multiplied by the number of capacitors.
11. **Great Courses Plus**:
* An on-demand video learning platform.
* Offers over 10,000 video lectures on various subjects from credible sources.
12. **Application of the Device**:
* Can be used to study fractal branching, similar to lightning patterns.