Is there a circuit for charging metals?

[tendor]

Without moving macroscopic parts... No van de Graaff generators or piezo-something - just normal circuit that would used a battery at one point and on the other there would be macroscopicly charged electrode. :-)

 

[berkeman]

Without moving macroscopic parts... No van de Graaff generators or piezo-something - just normal circuit that would used a battery at one point and on the other there would be macroscopicly charged electrode. :-)

What voltage do you want to charge to? What is the geometry of the 2 pieces of metal that you want to charge to that voltage difference?

 

[tendor]

Nothing big, few volts (but as much as could be efficiently squeezed out of it). Well ground and spoon for example... Purpose would be to charge a metal object attached to the electrode.

 

[berkeman]

Nothing big, few volts (but as much as could be efficiently squeezed out of it). Well ground and spoon for example... Purpose would be to charge a metal object attached to the electrode.

You can just use a battery or power supply. if you connect the + lead of a 9V battery to the spoon, and the - lead to the ground, you've charged the spoon up to 9V with respect to the ground.

What is the application that you have in mind?

 

[tendor]

Well yes, sorry I didn't rule this out from the start. I had in mind something little bit more stockpiling, so let's take it to as high voltages as possible (until it starts leak out too quickly by ionization of its surroundings).

I will probably disappoint you but I just want efficient way for macroscopic charging for further experiments.

 

[sophiecentaur]

You would need a very high voltage in order to charge any 'common' object appreciably (they have Low Capacitance). If you want to store large amounts of charge at low voltages, you need a capacitor (A structure with two 'plates' of large area and separated by a very small distance).
But high voltages (and even humble capacitors) can be very dangerous for the uninitiated. Be careful.

 

[tendor]

I remember all that from electrodynamics courses, the engineering point is difficulty here, I think I've never heard of electrostatic generator completely without mechanical parts.

 

[berkeman]

Well yes, sorry I didn't rule this out from the start. I had in mind something little bit more stockpiling, so let's take it to as high voltages as possible (until it starts leak out too quickly by ionization of its surroundings).

I will probably disappoint you but I just want efficient way for macroscopic charging for further experiments.

I remember all that from electrodynamics courses, the engineering point is difficulty here, I think I've never heard of electrostatic generator completely without mechanical parts.

How do you think a traditional CRT charges the face of the display to several 10s of kV?

I'm not sure we want to be teaching you how to charge things to high voltages if your understanding of electricity and electrical safety is not very great yet...

 

[jim hardy]

not sure what you want to accomplish..

There exists a standard for testing carpet's electrostatic behavior

'don a pair of shoes with soles made from chrome tanned leather, take ( i don't recall how many steps of what length, but around ten feet) and touch an electrostatic voltmeter'...

In a humid place like S Florida it doesn't work well, but in Idaho winters it's quite an effective demonstration.

 

[tendor]

How do you think a traditional CRT charges the face of the display to several 10s of kV?

I'm not sure we want to be teaching you how to charge things to high voltages if your understanding of electricity and electrical safety is not very great yet...

High voltage transformer and vacuum tube, long time ago. Ok that could work, but it's a bit violent for my taste.

If I planed to kill myself with my own stupidity, it wouldn't be your fault, but don't worry at this point I'm here just to bounce of ideas (or gain them would be more precise right now).

 

[meBigGuy]

A tesla coil?

 

[sophiecentaur]

A tesla coil?

A Tesla transformer is a AC (rf) source.

 

[DrZoidberg]

You could use a 12V air ionizer.
They consist of a voltage converter like the ones used in photoflash chargers attached to a Cockroft Walton voltage multiplier.
Or an electric fly swatter, they work in the same way but with lower voltage.