Electrostatic lifter experiment replicated.
David Sinclair
I am an electrical engineer from New Zealand,
After finding the http://jnaudin.free.fr/html/lifters.htm lifter web site in
the weekend I replicated the lifter1 experiment and got stable tethered
flight.
Details are as follows.
Construction:
Construction as per the instructions, except each side 150 mm long. Cross
bars were 2mm round spruce and all wires were 0.088 mm nichrome as I had a
spool (it's very thin and very strong). Used std kitchen foil. Weight was
2g. Power was from an unmodified 14" colour TV. (normally around 23Kv)
Results:
Lifted first time, hovered in stable teathered flight. My first impression
was surprise at the large amount of air being pumped by the device. I was
standing 1 meter away and could immediately feel the draft as it hit the
table and washed out sideways.
Experiment:
I conducted the following test to see if the air was responsible for the
lift. I placed a set of digital scales under the lifter covering the whole
lifter area. I teathered the lifter to the table so when floating no part of
ther lifter or teathers where touching the scale, but all the downwash was
pushing on the scale surface.
1) With power off I manually lifted the lifter off the scales and zeroed
them.
2) Placed the lifter back on the scales and read 2 grams.
3) Powered the lifter up, checked nothing was touching the scales, reading
was 2 grams.
4) Powered off the lifter, it sat on scales again, weight 2 grams.
5) Lifted the lifter off the scales by hand, weight 0 grams.
The scale readings were stable and showed no sign of interference from the
voltage.
Conclusion:
I can only conclude that all the lift is derived from downwash of air. If
the "effect" somehow produced a directional force through space then this
would not be pressing down on the scales, however it all the force is by
pushing on the air then you would expect the result obtained. I know you
have placed a plastic bag around the device and still noticed a force. I
suspect it is because the bag is becoming charged and the effect is
transfering to the outside of the bag. The best way for you to determine
this is to fly the lifter in a large earthed metalic cage on the scales (use
balsa and foil is OK). The lifter will still fly if the cage is big enough,
but no change in the weight of the cage and lifter will be noticed as the
air is recirculated inside. (You must earth cage to stop effect just
transfering to cage)
Very interesting experiment regardless, sorry I can't give you better news.
Regards
David Sinclair
Andre
> Hi,
>
> I am an electrical engineer from New Zealand,
>
> After finding the http://jnaudin.free.fr/html/lifters.htm lifter web site in
> the weekend I replicated the lifter1 experiment and got stable tethered
> flight.
>
> Details are as follows.
>
> Construction:
> Construction as per the instructions, except each side 150 mm long. Cross
> bars were 2mm round spruce and all wires were 0.088 mm nichrome as I had a
> spool (it's very thin and very strong). Used std kitchen foil. Weight was
> 2g. Power was from an unmodified 14" colour TV. (normally around 23Kv)
Cool . What did you use as the frame? I say this because \i tried this
and it didn't work due to the balsa wood conducting somewhat .
(could see the corona along the wood!)
>
> Results:
> Lifted first time, hovered in stable teathered flight. My first impression
> was surprise at the large amount of air being pumped by the device. I was
> standing 1 meter away and could immediately feel the draft as it hit the
> table and washed out sideways.
Reply to mandoline"gtonline.net
replace " with @ to mail
Evgenij Barsukov
(Andre)
>> After finding the http://jnaudin.free.fr/html/lifters.htm lifter web site in
>> the weekend I replicated the lifter1 experiment and got stable tethered
>> flight.
>>
>> Details are as follows.
>>
>> Construction:
>> Construction as per the instructions, except each side 150 mm long. Cross
>> bars were 2mm round spruce and all wires were 0.088 mm nichrome as I had a
>> spool (it's very thin and very strong). Used std kitchen foil. Weight was
>> 2g. Power was from an unmodified 14" colour TV. (normally around 23Kv)
>
>Cool . What did you use as the frame? I say this because \i tried this
>and it didn't work due to the balsa wood conducting somewhat .
>(could see the corona along the wood!)
Interesting stuff indeed! How the hell can it work in vacuum? Maybe their vacuum
was not good enough and there were still enough ions to create trust by ion-wind
mechanism? What are other explanations?
Regards,
Evgenij
Evgenij Barsukov
(Andre)
>> After finding the http://jnaudin.free.fr/html/lifters.htm lifter web site in
>> the weekend I replicated the lifter1 experiment and got stable tethered
>> flight.
>>
>> Details are as follows.
>>
>> Construction:
>> Construction as per the instructions, except each side 150 mm long. Cross
>> bars were 2mm round spruce and all wires were 0.088 mm nichrome as I had a
>> spool (it's very thin and very strong). Used std kitchen foil. Weight was
>> 2g. Power was from an unmodified 14" colour TV. (normally around 23Kv)
>
>Cool . What did you use as the frame? I say this because \i tried this
>and it didn't work due to the balsa wood conducting somewhat .
>(could see the corona along the wood!)
Interesting stuff indeed! How the hell can it work in vacuum? Maybe their vacuum