Homemade Lightning: Creative Experiments in Electricity [Paperback]

R. A. Ford (Author), R.A. Ford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 1996

This text on electrostatics for the hobbyist, inventor or experimenter provides information on electrical anomalies, which represent the frontier of electrostatic research. It covers theory, as well as experiments with electrohorticulture, gravitation and electricity, cold light, and electric tornadoes. This edition includes information on electrostatic generators, and complete instructions for building various types, including Wimshurst and Van de Graaf generators.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From January/February 2003 issue

Hands-on high-voltage experimentalists interested in electrostatic machines will love this book. Filled with design plans for building electrostatic generators and various high-voltage components, this book provides the necessary details to construct these devices. Like the first two editions, there are detailed plans describing the construction of a Wimhurst machine. This edition however, details a more simplified but larger and improved version than previously described. There is also now an entire chapter devoted to Van de Graff generators describing the principles of operation, construction, modifications for improvement, and making accessories. There are many illustrations and photos describing the construction of these generators as well as methods for making electroscopes, large capacitors, and an electrophorus. There are many tips and tricks revealed that show how to make various parts like high-voltage corona spheres, shorting rods, and terminals. Other topics include electrostatic motors, cold light, levitation, exploding wire experiments, and historical notes on unusual electric discharges. A revised bibliography and materials supplier list also made in this new edition.

Anyone with an interest in high-voltage electrostatics will find this book to be not only a "cookbook" for designing and building high-voltage generators but also an historical account of the Wimhurst and Van de Graff generators.

(IEEE Electrical Installation Magazine ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

*****RAVE ONLINE REVIEW!...

"Wimshurst Machine and other wonderful information. This is a must-buy book for the electrical experimenter and science/physics educator. Very well-written with unusual and unexpected material. Beautifully illustrated. Great plans for Wimshurst machine to make 14 inch sparks! Kinetic gravity and countergravitation experiments/information and more!"

"Modern, detailed view of mysterious subject. This is an area of science that seems neglected, hidden in the back room of the 'mad scientist.' However, this book details both traditional and modern means of obtaining, using, measuring & studying aspects of static electricity... All in all, a very informative, even enjoyable read for anyone interested in high-voltage electrostatics."

"An indispensable guide to anyone interested in starting out in electrostatics. It gives a wonderful overview of the principles involved, and takes the reader on a thorough tour of how to go about building both sectorless-Wimshurst and Van de Graaff generators. A must-have for electrostatic enthusiasts."

Build a Wimshurst generator or modify your Van de Graaff for creative, hands-on experiments--explore the wide-open frontiers of electrostatics.

Enter the wide-open frontier of high-voltage electrostatics with this fascinating, experiment-filled guide. You'll discover how to make your own equipment, how electricity is used in healing, and the workings of many experiments in high potential physics! Starting with electrostatic basics, R.A. Ford's highly praised Homemade Lightning entertains, instructs, and challenges. It's the only comprehensive electrostatics book packed with useful projects for serious hobbyists, students, inventors, and experimenters!

LOADS OF FASCINATING EXPERIMENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

Perfect for beginning electrical experimentation or advancing an interest in electrostatics, Homemade Lightning takes you through electrostatic generator construction and operation to prepare you for a number of unusual projects. Inside, you'll find a complete description of several types of generators, including the Wimshurst and Van de Graaff, plus specific details for experiments with
* Electroscopes
* Electrohorticulture
* Electroaerodynamics
* High-voltage capacitators
* Countergravitation
* Cold light
* Electric tornadoes
* And more

FROM THE PAST TO THE FUTURE

Featuring beautiful illustrations from turn-of-the-century science journals of Victorian-era electrostatic generator designs, Homemade Lightning provides hard-to-find information on electrical anomalies--the key to the future of electrostatic research. This is a book that everyone interested in the mystery and power of lighting will treasure. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill; 2nd edition (April 22, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070215286
• ISBN-13: 978-0070215283
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,682,818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed with info, could use more on dangers, yes, dangers, September 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Homemade Lightning: Creative Experiments in Electricity (Paperback)

The book has great info, but read a lot more then this before implementing. Dangers exist with Hi Pressure, DC voltages. Science can be fun but a fully charged 1 quart Lyden Jar, or a 2 liter plastic soda bottle Lyden Jar will knock you down. It can be lethal. Read, then read again, don't experiment alone and make sure everyone can do CPR(having number for EMTS is good too). When they tell you make your own lightening, remember the dangers of lightening. Other then that, there are process' that are downright dangerous just to make, (electrophorus). The finished product is safe enough(maybe), but the process of manufacture is tricky and dangerous.

Other then that 5 stars, great, you will develope respect for that "Humble" foot dragging on the rug static snap you give the dog on his nose. You will understand why they ground your car at toll booths, before you hand the person at the booth.

Finally this book IS NOT for children. High Schooler Seniors maybe. BUT WITH SUPERVISION, CLOSE SUPERVISION, a Lab setting is preferential, with fire extinguishers, First Aiders and people who can tell if you are about to reach X-Ray Potentials.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where's the Originality, June 15, 2003

By 

Dennis L. Bieber "wulfraed" (Sunnyvale, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Homemade Lightning: Creative Experiments in Electricity (Paperback)

There is an old saying to the effect: If you steal from one, it is plagiarism. If you steal from many, it is research.

On that basis, this is a well-researched book.

Without actually counting pages, my impression is that roughly a third of the book consists of facsimile reproductions of 100-150 year old news releases, advertisements, and journal reports. Most of the illustrations and pictures are of similar age.

The author does go into loving detail with regards to the construction of his machines -- essentially a copy of a Wimshurst with a modern drive system (dual axle-mounted motors vs one motor/crank driving a straight and a crossed belt).

The chapter on theory is only 5 pages long, and 3.5 of those are facsimile reproductions. I'm also surprised the author managed to get any output from his version of Kelvin's water drop generator -- his illustration shows the drops formed inches above the induction rings. A working device needs the drops to break loose from the water source just at the point of induction. In order for the drop to retain the charge as it falls into the collector it has to have the "repelled" charge pass from one-side, which means a continuous circuit from nozzle through source to other nozzle.

If deciding between this book, and A. D. Moore's "Electrostatics" (which was finally reprinted in 1997, 30 years after the original release), I recommend one consider "Electrostatics"

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nicely done book on electrostatics, November 9, 2006

By 

Claude Needham - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Homemade Lightning: Creative Experiments in Electricity (Paperback)

There's a lot of material floating around the web and bookstores that deals with Tesla and related topics. However, when it comes to good old fashion electro-statics, there is no where near the same volume of information. In fact, I've found four books pretty much cover the field -- at least for my money. Something to consider when contemplating a purchase of books on niche subjects such as electrostatics, books tend to go out of print rather fast. The print runs are small, and often the author or publisher will not reprint. This means, get the book while you can. It might be oop and only available on the secondary collectors market later.

Homemade Lightning (R.A. Ford) -- If you are interested in putting together an electrostatic device, this is the book for you. Lots of how-to with pictures and explanation. I think as a first book this is your best bet. And as a book for creating running examples, this is your best bet. However, I don't believe I would want to have just one book on the subject. The other three books mentioned below add their own dimension to the subject and are (in my opinion) worth the few dollars needed to create a mini-library on the subject.

Electrostatic Experiments (G.W. Francis) -- The subtitle for this book is "An encyclopedia of early electrostatic experiments, demonstrations, devices, and apparatus." The book lives up to its name. A great book for an overview of the field. I know it sounds a little silly, but the nice bright white paper and crisp illustrations are a real boon to this book. The font is well chosen and the leading is easy to read. In this book you will find reference to odd-ball experiments that other books just don't get around to talking about. For example, Eggs illuminated. (p.200) and Illumination of oranges (p.201). If you are looking for demonstrations or ideas for creating new displays for lecture or theater, this book has plenty of inspiration.

Electrostatics (A.D. Moore) -- A nice home experiments how-to book. The book is a little chatty in parts. I liked this. The author speaks with a direct, sitting across the table, style.

Static Electricity (J.H. Pepper) -- This material is extracted fom Cyclopaedic Science Simplified 1889. I use this for historical reasons and to poke around in. The book since it was written in 1889 assumes a fair degree of background by the reader. Great pictures and some nice explanations of how things work. You just need to be able to penetrate the older text.