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Ignitor idea.

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:19 pm
by paaiyan
So I've posted some pics of my ignitor before. Basically it's just an over-elaborate system for running 12 volts through whatever I feel like using as a filament. So then I was thinking filament and realized I have a bunch of old Christmas lights in my garage. I'm considering using them by gently breaking the glass so as to leave the filament intact and then hooking that up to my power source. Anyone see any problems with the idea?

I know it would be tedious but whatever.

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:48 pm
by ElasticBandit
That would work but not really, you see light bulbs are in a vacuum because otherwise the filament would just oxodise away so sure it would work, you'd just have to replace them after each shot.

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 8:36 pm
by boilingleadbath
"oxidize away"

Indeed, and it's rather spectacular when you hit them with 120v ac.
Kindof makes a popping sound, a flash, and a cloud of tungsten oxide.

...either way, I don't see much benefit to this system.
Maybe if you hit that tungsten filiment with a LARGE discharge - so you'd get a forceful explosion - but that'd be pretty complicated. (and, perhaps out of ignorance, I'd be worried about DDT)

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:12 pm
by paaiyan
All I'm worried about is it getting hot enough to glow, which I know it does. Now I didn't break the glass on it and yes I know it will oxidize. At the moment I'm just using wire from an old power cord as a filament to light it and its not getting hot enough to glow. Hot enough to burn but I want it glowing. I'm just thinking that even if these are one time use, it'll dang sure light it up.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:04 am
by shud_b_rite
Edit: Oops

Maybe you could build a heating element out of thick copper wire or something that can survive an explosion. Sure it will use more current and probably take longer to heat up but you wont have to keep replacing it.

Actually I have never built a combustion before so I don't know if my idea will work, it depends on how much current you can pump through a wire with a 12v battery. Also beware that some batteries may explode if the current being sucked out of them is too high.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:35 pm
by pyrogeek
The filament in toasters is NiChrome. If you got a short piece of that, I bet it would work. It's large enough I bet it should last a while, and you could get a toaster pretty cheap at Goodwill or some other thrift store.
I'm not sure if a glowing filament will be a reliable ignition though. And if your chamber is PVC, I'd be worried about it melting the plastic away over time.

Just my opinion here, but I think you should just get a flyback or stun gun. They work, and theres not really much better you can do.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:05 pm
by garfield
it might work. maby you sould try it and if it doesent work, that u now not to do it :?

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:09 pm
by VH_man
if you run 15Kjoules through a thin peice of wire, it explodes with enough force to allow airsoft bb's to break the speed of sound. but, scince 16 joules can kill you, and you need at least 1000 joules of capacitor energy to make it happen, i DO NOT reccomend that. try a camera flash hooked up to a transformer........ it works quite well. i use it for my coilgun.....