Hi folks! This goes back to my high school electronics classes. The Jurasic period. We built this thing that had a power supply of some kind and two, I believe they were copper, rods that stuck up in the air about 16" long. When the power supply was turned on a spark would jump between the two copper rods and make its way to the top and then dissipate only to be replaced by another spark starting at the bottom. I thought it was called a "Jacobs Ladder" but I can't find any reference to this anywhere. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I sure would like to know what it's called and how to build one. A little experiment for some kids learning electronics in school. After two years of classes they only know how to play video games. lol. Thanks!
Johnny

http://members.tripod.com/~Shady_Hollow/Projects/jladder.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-a-Five-Foot-Tall-Jacob_s-ladder/

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/jacobs.htm

:Hi folks! This goes back to my high school electronics classes. The Jurasic period. We built this thing that had a power supply of some kind and two, I believe they were copper, rods that stuck up in the air about 16" long. When the power supply was turned on a spark would jump between the two copper rods and make its way to the top and then dissipate only to be replaced by another spark starting at the bottom. I thought it was called a "Jacobs Ladder" but I can't find any reference to this anywhere. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I sure would like to know what it's called and how to build one. A little experiment for some kids learning electronics in school. After two years of classes they only know how to play video games. lol. Thanks!
:Johnny

"I can't find any reference to this anywhere. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?"

You're joking, right? An internet search yields lots of information!

:"I can't find any reference to this anywhere. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?"
:
:You're joking, right? An internet search yields lots of information!
:
:Well when I typed in "jacobs ladder" in my search bar all that came up were electric ladders which I didn't know existed. Something about a movie or some play or book or something but nothing about a device with two copper wires and a transformer. Give it a try.

The Historical Electronics Museum in Baltimore, MD has a working model of one these. If your ever near there check it out . Alot of early radar as well as radio .

:The Historical Electronics Museum in Baltimore, MD has a working model of one these. If your ever near there check it out . Alot of early radar as well as radio .
:
:Thanks Andy! I was born in Baltimore during the Cretaceous era. Sure miss the blue crabs. Too bad I'm about 3,000 miles away now. Found what I needed to build one of these things. Thanks again,
Johnny