HVC-1

Boom! The classic potato gun harnesses the combustion of flammable vapor. Show us your combustion spud gun and discuss fuels, ratios, safety, ignition systems, tools, and more.
User avatar
PCGUY
Owner
Owner
United States of America
Posts: 1434
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:54 pm
Location: Illinois
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 26 times
Contact:

Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:53 pm

<div align="center">HVC1

Provided By Fiebig - <a href="http://www.geocities.com/fiebigspudguns ... udguns/</a>

The HVC1 Ignition System is possibly the best way to ignite your propellant, right next to the stun gun. It employs a circuit including a big capacitor and an ignition coil. Rather than completely make this circuit from scratch, you can start with a pre made circuit board in an everyday item, and you can get them for free, disposable cameras. Spent disposable cameras are available pretty much any place that develops film. I go to Cord camera just because they are the friendliest to work with. All you have to do is go in and ask them for used disposable cameras, usually they will have loads and will give you all of them for free.

I'm not going to put plans for the chamber construction on this site because it is just a basic chamber with a project box and ignition coil on the side. I will however show you how to wire the circuit board with the ignition coil.

I think it best to show you my version of the chamber before explaining the wiring and such, so below left is a picture of the HVC1 ( H high V voltage C chamber Version 1 ) fully put together, and right, a close-up of the project box and coil.

<img src="http://www.spudfiles.com/official_pics/ignitionleft.jpg">

<img src="http://www.spudfiles.com/official_pics/ ... gniter.jpg">

The circuit board fits nicely into a 2" x 2.5" x 5" project box. The project box and coil can be strapped to the chamber using pipe straps or whatever you want to use. On the project box I have a key switch (Main power), a pushbutton (Safety discharge), and a AA battery holder. On the handle I have 2 pushbuttons (Charge and trigger).

OK, I think we can now take a look at the circuit board. So go ahead and open up one of your cameras (On Kodak Max cameras there should be a little clamp thing on the side opposite where the film goes, you can open it up with a screw driver). Be very careful not to touch the circuit board and especially the capacitor!!! If you do you run the risk of getting one hell of a shock. The camera may need a little gentle persuasion to get the case off. However, once it's off it should look something like this.

<img src="http://www.spudfiles.com/official_pics/INSIDECAM.jpg">

The circuit board colour may be different but all the connections are pretty much the same. Once you have the case taken off, the first thing you will want to do is remove the battery and discharge the capacitor. The battery is on the underside and you should have no problem removing this. The capacitor needs to be discharged so you don't shock yourself while you're working. Take a screw driver, pliers, anything metal with a plastic or rubber handle and touch it to the two terminals. The whole idea is to short out the capacitor so there is no charge to shock you. When you short out the capacitor there will be a big spark.

<img src="http://www.spudfiles.com/official_pics/CAPDIS.jpg">

OK now that you have discharged the capacitor you can go ahead and take out the circuit board. To make this a lot easier pop off the whole lens assembly. Just lift it right out and go ahead and look at it.

<img src="http://www.spudfiles.com/official_pics/HVCPCBMAP.jpg">

As you can see this can become quite confusing... But I would start out by soldering appropriate lengths of wire onto your buttons and switches and planning out where they all will go. Once you have that all figured out drill your holes in your project box and wherever else you need to. stick the wires through in appropriate order and eventually into the box. Now comes the annoying part. Solder all the wires to their appropriate contacts. Once everything is all soldered in, test it just to make sure everything is working ok before you close it up. Once you have it working properly, close it up and strap the coil and box on however you want. Pipe straps are always good but you could use anything that will hold good and tight.

As you can see the spark from this system is big. very big.

<img src="http://www.spudfiles.com/official_pics/ignitionleft.jpg">

<img src="http://www.spudfiles.com/official_pics/ ... nright.jpg">

<img src="http://www.spudfiles.com/official_pics/bigspark.jpg">

Unfortunately this system can be somewhat unreliable. Since the capacitor needs to charge to fire, pressing the trigger too early is a common problem. Also shorts in the wiring are a problem. Overall, when this system works, it works very well. However, when it doesn't work, it is annoying and takes some time to figure out what's wrong. I would recommend this system before moving up to stun gun ignition, but not for use as your main chamber.

Provided By Fiebig - <a href="http://www.geocities.com/fiebigspudguns ... /</a></div>
Last edited by PCGUY on Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Yes, I am the guy that owns & operates SpudFiles (along with our extremely helpful moderators).
CBRAY1618
Private
Private
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:48 pm

Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:56 pm

Wow. That is neat i will have to try that. Thanx for the How to.
User avatar
fred_roux
Private 3
Private 3
Posts: 46
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:29 pm
Location: Québec (canada)

Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:41 pm

can it work without the coil ???...and the charge switch..does it's a momentary switch or a switch that "click" and stay on
Cool
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 6:46 pm

Fri May 06, 2005 5:18 pm

What coil are you using? I think this sounds like a good idea to try make one, its looks easy too.

Is this system much better than a BBQ ignitor? i got a BBQ now, and it doesent fire each time, and stunguns is not alowed in my country (Norway)
Cool
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 6:46 pm

Sat May 07, 2005 5:30 pm

I found a camera like this one, and i cant figure out where to make the connections, i'v found where to put the trigger only. I'v tried to connect the charger button, but i think i'v connected it wrong, since my capacitor wont charage. And the beatery is getting extremly hot.

Could you show me where to connect on the camera i have?
Cool
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 6:46 pm

Sat May 07, 2005 7:13 pm

I got it to work now :D didnt have to add any wires except the wires to the coil.

I'v found out that if i have a button for the batery, so i can turn it on/off, and a button to the + pole on the coil, its much more easy. Just turn the batery on, wait a few seconds, and then turn the switch to the coil on, and ZzZapPp.
Cool
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 6:46 pm

Sun May 08, 2005 5:40 am

Today i managed to shock myselfe with the coil, and i cant recomend it to anyone!! :oops: It hurt like hell!
spudshot
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 1036
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2004 7:16 am

Sun May 08, 2005 7:31 am

nice going, make sure to have the electrodes on your temples next time :P oh and you can edit posts, you dont need to make a quadrupile post
Image
User avatar
CS
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1837
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:32 pm
Location: Southern Utah

Donating Members

Wed Jul 13, 2005 6:58 pm

Ok i dont get this your gun uses two leads that go into the chamber and this guy uses three leads http://www.angelfire.com/80s/sixmhz/camera.html . How did you do yours? Is it the same wiring or is it different wiring. IM CONFUSED :? !

Edit: There is two wires from the flash tube then one from the flash tube reflector. Did you connect two, leave one out, or run a wire twice? Or am wrong all the way around. Im so confused.
User avatar
saladtossser
Sergeant 3
Sergeant 3
Posts: 1234
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:40 am
Location: Toronto
Contact:

Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:26 pm

i think the middle is the ground
"whoa... I thought pimpmann was black..."-pyromanic13
User avatar
iamthewalrus
Corporal
Corporal
Posts: 559
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:28 pm
Location: Iowa (SO BORING!!)

Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:46 pm

COOL, i feel ur pain, i just took apart a camara and managed to shock myself with the capasator. lol. hurt more then when i got a shock taking flyback wires out of a tv. electrics hate me. lol
i got connections with the modfia, watch who ur talkin to noob.


talk to me on AIM at iamthwalrus3
User avatar
saladtossser
Sergeant 3
Sergeant 3
Posts: 1234
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:40 am
Location: Toronto
Contact:

Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:50 pm

short it out before u touch it
"whoa... I thought pimpmann was black..."-pyromanic13
User avatar
iamthewalrus
Corporal
Corporal
Posts: 559
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:28 pm
Location: Iowa (SO BORING!!)

Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:52 pm

lol, that advice is a little to late to save my poor litttle finger, lol. im wearing rubber gloves from now on
i got connections with the modfia, watch who ur talkin to noob.


talk to me on AIM at iamthwalrus3
User avatar
beebs111
Corporal 4
Corporal 4
Posts: 807
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2005 3:08 pm
Location: massachussets

Wed Nov 09, 2005 2:56 pm

can u guys tell me where to get an ignition coil other than over the internet? i dont want to order online...... but i want to do this ignition design
User avatar
saladtossser
Sergeant 3
Sergeant 3
Posts: 1234
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:40 am
Location: Toronto
Contact:

Wed Nov 09, 2005 6:47 pm

a car in a junk yard...
"whoa... I thought pimpmann was black..."-pyromanic13
Post Reply