Quite A number of (Years or Moons ago) depending on how you keep track of
time, someone came to one of the hamfests in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in a
large box
type of truck, and mounted on top of the truck was a CAPACITOR CANNON of
sorts.

I think that I need to clarify a bit - apparently the capacitors did not
really explode, but SNAPPED IN DISCHARGE STATE causing a louder than life
noise, and could be recharged to do it continuously.

At a push of a button this object sounded like a number of VERY LARGE CHERRY
BOMBS going off in succession.

Yes - it was an attention getter.

Does anybody else remember this device and or have a schematic for it?

73's

Did they use the cap as an ignitor/sparker for a carbide cannon?

"John Doe" wrote in message
...
Quite A number of (Years or Moons ago) depending on how you keep track of
time, someone came to one of the hamfests in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in a
large box
type of truck, and mounted on top of the truck was a CAPACITOR CANNON of
sorts.

I think that I need to clarify a bit - apparently the capacitors did not
really explode, but SNAPPED IN DISCHARGE STATE causing a louder than life
noise, and could be recharged to do it continuously.



Alas, doing so today would get one arrested as a terrorist,
or for making improvised explosive devices. They went
after kids around here for filling old soda bottles with water
and dry ice so they'd pop and explode.

"Uncle Peter" wrote in message
...

"John Doe" wrote in message
...
Quite A number of (Years or Moons ago) depending on how you keep track
of
time, someone came to one of the hamfests in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in
a
large box
type of truck, and mounted on top of the truck was a CAPACITOR CANNON of
sorts.

I think that I need to clarify a bit - apparently the capacitors did not
really explode, but SNAPPED IN DISCHARGE STATE causing a louder than
life
noise, and could be recharged to do it continuously.



Alas, doing so today would get one arrested as a terrorist,
or for making improvised explosive devices. They went
after kids around here for filling old soda bottles with water
and dry ice so they'd pop and explode.


A bit in the same direction; the Crofty bomb. A bottle with a solution of
caustic soda and aluminium foil. (Crofty is a local brand of toilet cleaner,
consisting of mostly caustic soda pellets) Easier to obtain than dry ice ;-)

Wim

Well - I would like to thank everyone here and off line - who submitted a
story about getting rid of power line noise, transformers & other hardware
falling from top of poles, bottles exploding, etc, but nobody has answered
my question yet!

What I am looking for is the object described, to make NOISE. Not
interference type of noise on a receiver, especially during contests and the
like, but as an attention getter!

Also, this unit would have NOTHING to do with cannons or other types of
units set to actually explode say "gunpowder or the likes" that would cause
a harmful explosion to damage any person or property!

I have a specific need for an item as of such!! Originally I said that it
might sound like a bunch of Cherry Bombs going off, maybe I should rearrange
the wording and say it sounds more like the noise coming from the muzzle of
a machinegun!

73's

"Wim Ton" wrote in message
...

"Uncle Peter" wrote in message
...

"John Doe" wrote in message
...
Quite A number of (Years or Moons ago) depending on how you keep track of
time, someone came to one of the hamfests in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in a
large box type of truck, and mounted on top of the truck was a CAPACITOR
CANNON of sorts.

I think that I need to clarify a bit - apparently the capacitors did not
really explode, but SNAPPED IN DISCHARGE STATE causing a louder than life
noise, and could be recharged to do it continuously.
---------------------------------------------

Alas, doing so today would get one arrested as a terrorist, or for making
improvised explosive devices. They went after kids around here for
filling old soda bottles with water
and dry ice so they'd pop and explode.

A bit in the same direction; the Crofty bomb. A bottle with a solution of
caustic soda and aluminium foil. (Crofty is a local brand of toilet cleaner,
consisting of mostly caustic soda pellets) Easier to obtain than dry ice ;-)

Wim

"John Doe" wrote in message
...
Quite A number of (Years or Moons ago) depending on how you keep track of
time, someone came to one of the hamfests in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in a
large box
type of truck, and mounted on top of the truck was a CAPACITOR CANNON of
sorts.

I think that I need to clarify a bit - apparently the capacitors did not
really explode, but SNAPPED IN DISCHARGE STATE causing a louder than life
noise, and could be recharged to do it continuously.

At a push of a button this object sounded like a number of VERY LARGE
CHERRY
BOMBS going off in succession.

Yes - it was an attention getter.

Does anybody else remember this device and or have a schematic for it?

There is, or was a site on the internet that had these sorts of high energy
items. Tesla coils, magnetic coin mashers, capacitive discharge banks (which
sounds like what you are describing) etc.

Basically you are going to charge up a whole passle of high voltage caps
then short the output so that you create a minature lightning bolt, thus the
boom. Too dangerous for me. Not to mention the amount of magnetic pulse you
are going to let off right close to the audience's cell phones, laptops,
handhelds, etc. I wouldn't want the bill for repairing everyone's
electronics after you scramble them.

thanks, John.
KC5DWD

Look up Marx Generator on Google and see if that descibes the circuit.
Often used to simulate lightning discharge.

John Doe wrote:

Quite A number of (Years or Moons ago) depending on how you keep track of
time, someone came to one of the hamfests in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in a
large box
type of truck, and mounted on top of the truck was a CAPACITOR CANNON of
sorts.

I think that I need to clarify a bit - apparently the capacitors did not
really explode, but SNAPPED IN DISCHARGE STATE causing a louder than life
noise, and could be recharged to do it continuously.

At a push of a button this object sounded like a number of VERY LARGE CHERRY
BOMBS going off in succession.

Yes - it was an attention getter.

Does anybody else remember this device and or have a schematic for it?

73's





--
Joe Leikhim K4SAT
"The RFI-EMI-GUY"©

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

"Follow The Money" ;-P