Category Archives: High Voltage
N2 TEA Laser Build – Part 4: Circuit & Safety Wiring
Circuit & Safety Wiring. The most critical step now is the wiring. We need to complete the Blumlein circuit and, most importantly, prepare the wiring for the Safety that makes this kit more suitable for classrooms, etc… Triple-Threat Safety Imperative: READ THIS FIRSTTHIS PROJECT INVOLVES THREE DISTINCT LETHAL/HARMFUL HAZARDS. DO NOT ATTEMPT REPLICATION WITHOUT ADVANCED HIGH-VOLTAGE EXPERIENCE AND PROPER VENTILATION.1. Lethal High Voltage: The circuit is lethal. NEVER touch the circuit when power is applied. All components must be contained within a grounded, non-conductive enclosure with safety interlocks before operation.2. Harmful UV Radiation: The laser emits deep ultraviolet () light (around ). This radiation is invisible, damaging to the retina, and can cause skin burns. NEVER look into the beam or at the spark without certified UV-blocking eye protection.3. Toxic Ozone Production: The high-energy discharge generates ozone () gas (a toxic air pollutant). Operation must be limited to short bursts and always performed in a well-ventilated area or under forced exhaust. Classroom Use: Replication in any educational setting requires direct, professional supervision and a fully interlocked safety enclosure system.
N2 TEA Laser Build – Part 3: Capacitor & Switch Math and Fab
In Part 2, I showed you the core components. Now it’s time to prove with math that these components will actually generate a powerful pulse, and then design the two parts that achieve the nanosecond speed: the capacitor’s size and the Spark Gap’s structure, and get the design mostly in place for initial powerup and test.
N2 TEA Laser Build – Part 2: The 10 kV Concept
N2 TEA Laser Build – Part 2: The 10 kV Concept – Okay, I’m ready to pull back the curtain! I’m building a Nitrogen (N2) TEA (Transversely Excited Atmospheric) Laser. This is a high-performance physics experiment that relies on a single principle: speed. We use 10,000V to create an electrical pulse so fast it tricks the nitrogen gas (present in the open air, in this case) into emitting an invisible UV laser beam.. More here: https://techbravo.net/n2-tea-laser-build-part-2-the-10-kv-concept/
N2 TEA Laser Build – Part 1: What Is That?
[latexpage] The workbench is getting weird this week. (Yes, that’s my Thunder Laser engraver, I know, I know—it’s not supposed to be a workbench! 😅) This is the first in a series of posts where I break down the science and build a ‘Trophy-Worthy’ high-voltage device. I’ve got steel, copper, aluminum, magnets, switches, some wiring, […]
The Flamethrower
Intro Okay so this isn’t actually laser related (though I could add a red dot pointer to it i suppose!) but it involves high voltage, fire, and more… so the boys and I are going to build a flamethrower. We will go over legalities and use cases as well as best practices of design, build, […]
The First Jacob’s Ladder
I have completed my first Jacob’s Ladder. You can click the image to the left to see a high resolution picture in a new window. I made this unit from a 6kV 30mA non-current limited transformer from an old neon beer sign. The arc ionizes the air and creates plasma. The hot plasma rises and […]
The Second Jacob’s Ladder
A DC laser power supply would not be ideal for a tesla coil, but… I am going to make a bigger Jacob’s Ladder out of it. And, yes… I have zapped myself once already… like a dummy… I’ve had all sorts of anomalies with HV but never really tried to capture it. Okay, […]