Large Jacob's Ladder

step 1Parts

The main component of a jacob's ladder is some source of high voltage. For this you need to find a neon sign transformer (NST) that has a 8 - 15 kV 30mA output. I got a Franceformer 15 kv 30 mA NST on eBay for $50.
Other things you will need:

• 2" ABS pipe (30")
• 2" ABS female T-joint (x2)
• 2" ABS male adapter (x2)
• 14 gauge copper wire
• .5" acrylic rod (x4 in 6" lengths)
• can of expansion foam
• hot glue
• small rubber bands (x2)

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DISCLAIMER

Jacob's Ladders - especially large ones using line powered transformers - can be both deadly, destructive, or both.

We will not be responsible for damage to equipment, your ego, blown parts, county wide power outages, spontaneously generated mini (or larger) black holes, planetary disruptions, or personal injury that may result from the use of this material.

Introduction

What is a Jacob's Ladder?

A Jacob's Ladder is the type of high voltage "climbing arc" display seen in many old (and usually bad) Sci-Fi movies. Jacob's Ladder come in all shapes, styles, and sizes. Here is info on a common type that is easy to construct with readily available parts. However, read the section: Jacob's Ladder SAFETY before attempting to power any high voltage project of this type.

How Does a Jacob's Ladder Work?

The simple explanation is that an arc starts at the bottom and due to the fact that hot air rises, tends to move up the diverging rods until they are too far apart for the voltage provided by the power source. A more complete explanation is given below:

While it is true that warm air pushes the arc up the ladder, there is also the typical 'high leakage' or reactance curve of the transformer contributing to the effect. The transformer will happily arc across the bottom as long as Paschen's Law will allow. Once this arc is struck the current in the arc will actually increase to the transformer's preset limit. The heat is also creating higher resistance.

Normally the transformer would try choke the voltage down as current increased. But just above the arc exists a path that the transformer can easily maintain and which in fact will lower its current. Voila.

At the top of course we are not only at the upper limit of the transformer but it is also where the current is very low and so all the fun breaks apart only to reignite down below.

A very interesting variant existed in the 1930's which used separate horizontal electrodes at various points along one side instead of a continuous vertical line. Each electrode is attached to a separate neon unit. They are tied together and return to the HV transformer. The convection current was optimized by placing this in a housing with vents at the bottom and top. The result is an animator with no moving parts.

The downside is the nitric acid that gets produced so keep it away from things that may be corrode.

Jacob's Ladder SAFETY

WARNING: See Safety Guidelines for High Voltage and/or Line Powered Equipment before firing up any Jacob's Ladder or other high voltage or line powered project!

Make sure that no one can come in contact with this - particularly curious onlookers. Separating the potential victims from any possible contact with the high voltage is really the only foolproof way of protecting against fools or the unaware - and you from a lawsuit. People not familiar with high voltage phenomena (or aware only through grade-C sci-fi movies) can be incredibly naive.

A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is of no use in protecting against HV contact since the secondary of a neon sign transformer is isolated from the line but its centertap is usually connected to the case - which should be grounded. However, a GFCI would be a good idea in any case when you are working with line connected equipment.

12,000 volts will jump approximately anywhere from 3/8 to 3/4 inch in dry air, with sharp points and edges generally but maybe not quite always favoring longer distances. This distance occaisionally varies unpredictably with humidity. Don't forget that 12,000 VAC is approximately 17,000 V peak. Neon sign transformers have current limited outputs - 30 mA is typical - but that is still highly dangerous - lethal under the wrong conditions.

You can build a small Jacob's Ladder using a high voltage transformer of lower capacity or a DC-AC inverter using a TV flyback transformer. While these would be less dangerous, there is little room for carelessness when working with any type of high voltage device. Even if there is no resistive path, the stray capacitance can permit enough AC current to flow to give you a painful experience!

Electrical discharges in air are also a producer of ozone which may be a health hazard. See the section: About Ozone Production. They also can produce significant Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) so the FCC may come calling if you run the thing for an extended period of time.

Building a Jacob's Ladder

Basic Components

There are only two major parts to a basic Jacob's Ladder: a high voltage power source and a pair of rods arranged in a narrow V configuration on an insulated and fireproof support.

You will need 12 to 15 kVAC at 20 to 30 mA. However, the exact values are not at all critical. A neon sign (luminous tube) transformer is the usual source for this power though an oil burner ignition transformer will work in a pinch (some say better and cheaper) or you could build an inverter type power supply.

• Luminous tube transformers can be obtained used from sign shops or demolition companies. The cost will be anywhere from free to $50 or more depending on size and condition and whether the seller has a use or other buyers for this sort of equipment.

Typical ratings: 12,000 to 15,000 VRMS current limited to 20 to 30 mA. Larger ones are available - up to 60 mA or even 120 mA - but this is not required. More information on neon sign transformers can be found in the chapter: The Home-Built Laser Assembly and Power Supply of Sam's Laser FAQ.

• Oil burner ignition transformers can be removed from discarded oil burners. These will probably be free for the asking at your local HVAC company. However, you will likely have to disassemble the disgustingly icky burner assembly and properly dispose of the unwanted parts as part of the deal.

Typical ratings: 8,000 to 10,000 VRMS current limited to 10 to 25 mA.

• Both neon signs and oil burner ignitions may be powered by solid state inverters in some cases. These are likely suitable as well - and higher tech!.

Inverter voltage and current ratings will be similar to their transformer counterparts, above. However, since the frequency of operation is in the 10s of kHz range instead of 50/60 Hz, behavior for the Jacob's Ladder will differ somewhat. For example, if they run on filtered DC (internally), there will be none of that 50/60 Hz buzz associated with those classic sci-fi movies! Perhaps, more of a starship engine sound. :)

• A small Jacob's Ladder can be powered from the types of high voltage inverters described in Various Schematics and Diagrams. However, since these only produce a couple of mA, the result will not be quite as spectacular.
• I DO NOT recommend the following: microwave oven transformers, utility pole transformers, and 100 kVA substation transformers :-). See the section: Why NOT to use Microwave Oven Transformers for additional comments if you are not yet convinced.
  • Microwave oven transformers produce only about 1,500 to 2,500 VAC which is too low. Several in series would be required but this is an extremely dangerous and unwieldy arrangement. They can supply AMPS of current which is an instantly lethal situation, are not current limited to anything that would conceivably let a human survive (0.5 AMPs or more), and do not have the required insulation for such operation.
  • Utility pole and substation transformers. Aside from requiring a fork lift or 10 ton crane to move, I don't think the power company would be happy if one of these were to disappear one night :-). It goes without saying that these would even be overkill (no pun...) for the State electric chair.

Construction

Take a pair of thin metal rods - the steel wire from old metal coat hangers works quite well. Straighten them out and mount them on an insulated non-flammable support with a gap of about 1/4 inch at the bottom and 1 to 3 inches at the top forming a narrow tall 'V'. Mounting locations should not be in the path of the rising arc. Since the electrical forces on the rods will tend to pull them together, adequate support especially at the top is critical unless a moving sculpture is the desired result. :) A free-standing metal coat hanger wire will not be rigid enough. Again, the support must be non-flammable and not in the path of the arc.

Connect the high tension output of the transformer to the two rods using high voltage insulated wire unless the routing is such that there is no chance of arcing where you don't want it. DO NOT use automotive ignition cable for this unless it is the non-resistive type. Some adjustment of the spacing at the bottom (to get the arc started) and at the top (to determine when the arc is extinguished and how fast it rises) may be required (but do so only with the power off!). If starting is problematic, a pair of sharp electrodes made from thin wire may be added at the bottom with a spacing just slightly smaller than the main gap. The high electric field at their points will help in initial ionization. But careful shaping of the main electrodes usually makes this unnecessary.

Depending on the voltage and power rating of your high voltage source, these dimensions may vary considerably. Spirals and other more creative configurations are also possible.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Essential line fuse, power switch, and power indicator lamp not shown. Centertap (case) MUST be connected to Safety (earth) Ground!!

A Jacob's Ladder works on the principle that the ionized air in the arc is a lower resistance than the air around it and heated air rises. The arc strikes at the point of lowest breakdown voltage - the small gap at the bottom. The heated plasma rises and even when it is an inch or more in width is an easier path for the current to follow. Eventually, the gap becomes too wide, the arc extinguishes and is reestablished at the bottom. For best results, shield the whole thing from drafts but don't use anything that can catch fire!

Clive's Gabriel Electrode to Help the Arc to Strike

You know how critical the gap between the electrodes at the bottom of a Jacob's ladder can be. Too wide and the arc won't strike, and too narrow and it won't make it all the way to the top.

Because I live in the UK I'm more or less saddled with a 10 kV limit on the maximum neon transformer available. Since the lower voltage makes the gap even more critical, I designed a slight enhancement that works really well.

It's simply a third electrode placed between the strike gap at the bottom of the vee. It is connected to either one of the main electrodes via two 1M ohm high voltage resistors.

When an arc should occur, the following happens...

1. The voltage on the middle electrode floats to the potential of the electrode it's connected to via the resistors.
2. It's easy for an arc to jump the short distance from the other electrode to the middle one.
3. When an arc has struck and current is flowing, the voltage on the middle electrode flies up due to the high resistance value.
4. The combination of high voltage at the middle electrode and the ionized path makes the arc strike all the way across.

It's simple, but works perfectly.

I've never seen anyone use this on a Jacob's ladder before so what do I call it? How about the Gabriel electrode (in keeping with the biblical theme).

Why NOT to use Microwave Oven Transformers

Using multiple high voltage transformers from microwave ovens to construct a Jacob's Ladder is a very bad idea for several reasons:

• Microwave oven transformers are absolutely positively lethal if you or anyone else gets too close, AMPS available - especially if you are going to put them in series as would be needed to obtain adequate voltage. You might as well tap directly off of your utility's substation power bus.
• Unlike luminous tube (neon sign) or oil burner ignition transformers, they are NOT current limited to anything that will allow running on a 15 or 20 amp branch circuit so some other means of preventing your breakers (or your utility's substation breakers) from popping like cherry bombs will be needed.
• The most you will get out of a microwave oven transformer is about 2 to 2.5 kVAC. This is way to little for a decent Jacob's Ladder and putting them in parallel will not help. Therefore, 4 or 5 in series would be needed to obtain adequate voltage.
• Their insulation is not rated for series operation so one or more of the windings will see excessive voltage. There will likely be fireworks - and not where you want them.

I bet you are also going to try to run them on 220 VAC to double the output voltage as well, huh??

Similar comments apply to the use of utility pole or substation transformers.

A word to the wise: at some point, bigger is just stupid. Sorry.

Additional Information

Microwave oven transformers make excellent Jacob's Ladders and Tesla Coil drivers with a properly chosen series cap in the primary for power factor correction. One of the major problems with the hollow "E" core current limited neon sign and furnace ignition transformers is that they do not source enough current to maintain a plasma on larger Jacob's Ladders, and the current limiting makes them lousy as pulsed laser drivers as well.

However, the high current from a microwave oven transformer will source a 10" inch arc in nitrogen/oxygen mixtures once it has been started at about 1/2". There are several European web sites that show back to back microwave oven transformer powered ladders. A key problem is that you have to mount the transformers on Lucite or Lexan because the center tap is grounded on the secondary side. For a advanced safety conscious experimenter it is not a problem to use these, provided you use either 1" diameter rods of copper or carbon rods for the ladder rails. While I would not approve of just anybody playing with these either, it can be done and produces spectacular results, if you don't mind the electric meter spinning at Mach 1!

They also make nice stable cores for high current low voltage transformers when rewound, I use them to power 25 amp 3.2 volt laser tube filaments all the time with out blowing breakers.

Snock's High Voltage Page has a number of articles and links relating to large Jacob's Ladders and other high voltage projects.

And Now for the Audio Feed

One of those old(bad) movies had a huge Jacob's Ladder inside a large transparent (glass, I assume - Plexiglass wasn't around then) hollow column resonant at 60 Hz. Unbelievable sound! Always wanted to build one like this but never had the time, the big resonant column or the really huge neon sign transformer that would have been needed.

(Assuming 1,100 feet per second for the speed of sound in air, a column closed at one end would be a 1/4 wavelength resonator resulting in an actual height of about 4.6 feet for a 60 Hz fundamental. )

About Ozone Production

If the Jacob's Ladder is large, significant ozone is an inherent byproduct unless you run it in an inert gas which might be an interesting experiment though I don't know how performance will be affected.

The arc is a plasma of hot ionized gas. Molecules like O2 are broken down to the atomic level and ionized. when these ions collide with the surrounding air, they cause chemical reactions... the O can combine with nitrogen and form small amounts of nitrogen oxides, and with O2 to form ozone (O3). However, the high temps in an arc also tend to destroy these molecules too so you'd probably only produce trace amounts if it weren't for the UV given off by the arc. Ultraviolet seems to be the main mechanism for producing O3 as it can ionize in the air far enough from the arc that it will be cool enough for ozone to exist (a spark gives off UV and ionizes the air around it) A glow discharge is better at generating ozone than an arc though, since it maximizes the UV and the pressures and temps are much lower (i.e., put a conductive coating on the outside of a glass tube and a wire down the center of it, then apply enough voltage to produce a glow discharge inside the tube as you pump oxygen at low pressure through the tube. Shortwave UV lamps will produce it too (they use these as sterilizers in dairy barns).

Jacob's Ladders and the FCC

Operating Jacob's Ladders (as well as Tesla coils) are broad-band RF sources and can interfere with radio, TV, maybe cell phone, cordless phone, and other communications equipment. There have been reports of the FCC tracking down and fining people for this interference - I don't know if these stories are true but it is definitely something to think about before running your creation for an extended period of time, at least. The FCC would probably confiscate your setup as well - which would likely be more traumatic than the fine (as hefty as it might be!) Perhaps, consider a Faraday cage in addition to the Plexiglass ozone shield