Hi all,

I am a magician in need of some help.

I wish to make a device which I can carry, which could be used to deliver a
safe high-voltage/low-current electric shock from my finger when the device
is concealed elsewhere on my body. The shock needs to be sufficient to make
the subject jump (due to surprise, not muscle spasms!!) although the device
must be powered by batteries so it is completely portable

I am not sure exactly what type of circuit to search for on the internet,
can anyone point me in the right direction?

Also, when giving the shock, would I feel it too. This is not a problem but
I would like to know if there is any way to avoid this.

Thanks in advance,

Jonathan

Hi All,
Being in a rather jovial sense, I would recommend a couple of
Tesla coils, a connection to the national grid and a very well insulated
electrode.

Jokes aside, a simple 555 circuit driving a small transformer with a driver
transistor should be suitable, but keep in mind that you may cause someone
enough of a fright as to send them into cardiac arrest, not really good for
public liability. As for the delivery, some insulated fine wire would be ok,
something like mod wire or the like with an insulated backing will suffice.

Paul

Hi,

Thanks for this.

When you say "for the delivery" are you referring to the delivery of the
shock. As I stated the shock is to be delivered through my finger so my
hands will be completely empty ie. no wires up my sleeve. I was hoping to
attach the unit to another part of my body.

Jonathan


"loedown" wrote in message
...
Hi All,
Being in a rather jovial sense, I would recommend a couple of
Tesla coils, a connection to the national grid and a very well insulated
electrode.

Jokes aside, a simple 555 circuit driving a small transformer with a
driver
transistor should be suitable, but keep in mind that you may cause someone
enough of a fright as to send them into cardiac arrest, not really good
for
public liability. As for the delivery, some insulated fine wire would be
ok,
something like mod wire or the like with an insulated backing will
suffice.

Paul

Dear Jonathon,
Something like that will give you a continuous
tingle, although this does sound a little like the electric fence
phenominon. You grab the fence and take the pain and ask someone close by to
shake hands with you spontaneously and laugh as they get a decent whack.

As for the practical side of things, I still recommend the earlier use of
555 / transformer / transistor. Something that delivers a smallish shock, ie
50 - 100 Volts, at very low current, less than 1 mA would be the go. Hunt
around on the net

Paul

"Jonathan Britten" wrote in message m...
Hi,

Thanks for this.

When you say "for the delivery" are you referring to the delivery of the
shock. As I stated the shock is to be delivered through my finger so my
hands will be completely empty ie. no wires up my sleeve. I was hoping to
attach the unit to another part of my body.

Jonathan

The only thing I can think of that might work like this would be a
"van der graaf"(not sure on spelling) generator, which would normally
be hooked up to a hollow metal sphere and charges it with static
electricity. Coming close enough to the sphere would cause a spark
from it to you that can hurt a bit but it isn't dangerous AFAIK. After
the initial shock, you can move closer still to touch it and become
charged yourself. Maybe you could remove the sphere and just hook the
electron generator up to yourself? The only problem being it would be
obvious you're charged (hair standing on end and things like that).

Also, I know nothing about this kind of thing, its just something I
remeber a physics teacher showing the class. I don't know how well it
could be adapted to your purpose or how safe it is.

-Extrarius

I have found some plans for this device now. Thanks for your help with this
though.

I may get back to you all though, as the instructions to wind the custom
transformer are a little bewildering.

Jonathan

"Extrarius" wrote in message
om...
"Jonathan Britten" wrote in message
m...
Hi,

Thanks for this.

When you say "for the delivery" are you referring to the delivery of the
shock. As I stated the shock is to be delivered through my finger so my
hands will be completely empty ie. no wires up my sleeve. I was hoping
to
attach the unit to another part of my body.

Jonathan

The only thing I can think of that might work like this would be a
"van der graaf"(not sure on spelling) generator, which would normally
be hooked up to a hollow metal sphere and charges it with static
electricity. Coming close enough to the sphere would cause a spark
from it to you that can hurt a bit but it isn't dangerous AFAIK. After
the initial shock, you can move closer still to touch it and become
charged yourself. Maybe you could remove the sphere and just hook the
electron generator up to yourself? The only problem being it would be
obvious you're charged (hair standing on end and things like that).

Also, I know nothing about this kind of thing, its just something I
remeber a physics teacher showing the class. I don't know how well it
could be adapted to your purpose or how safe it is.

-Extrarius

On Thu, 2 Sep 2004 18:02:57 +0100, "Jonathan Britten" wrote:

I have found some plans for this device now. Thanks for your help with this
though.

I may get back to you all though, as the instructions to wind the custom
transformer are a little bewildering.

I know virtually nothing about electronics myself, but would like to
point out a good general precaution when playing with elctricity -
never let if flow through your chest area.

Someone who knows more about this might want to tell me if it doesn't
apply in this case (Eg. too little current to be of concern), or
whatever. But I though it would be best to see some discussion on
possible risks before, rather than "after". You don't want to stop
your heart and THEN wonder whether it was a good idea. :-)

Hi All,
I have heard that the heart requires just 3 mA across it to stop,
but I think that would depend on the timing of the pulse (where the heart is
cycling) and how much voltage, ie, 3mA @ 200mV won't do it, but maybe 20+
volts might. I've personaly had heaps of 240V AC blasts and I am fine (apart
from the shakesssss, the Turettes F*** Syndrome, wandering off topic (do
you know that rain is moist?) Inability to judge parenthithees ))())))) and
spilling problems with words over 17000 letters

Any device designed to shock, like an electric fence, uses around 6KV, but
at a miniscule current. I even got bitten once by 25KV from the ultor cap in
a TV, had a break in the wire.

Paul