How to Build a jacobs ladder

Have you ever wondered how to build those things you see in horror films with the electricity arcing between to poles in a V configuration? Well it really is quite simple. First your going to want to find two relatively straight and stiff pieces of wire (the wire from a coat hanger works fine) And attach it to a base in some fashion so that the two wires are half an inch apart at the bottom and three inches at the top. This can be done in several ways in many sizes i built one that went from my floor to my ceiling, well until it caught the ceiling on fire that is.

Once you have the wire assembly built move on to finding a power source you will need a transformer of some sort. For mine i used a transformer from an oil stove thats rated at 10,000 volts. You can also use a neon sign transformer which i have no experience with so i cant tell you how well it would work but i have seen pictures so i can assure you it will work. You can also use the transformer from a microwave oven, i have little experience with this also…i plugged it in loud buzzing scared me to death unplugged it as fast as possible. I think years of setting outside destroyed the microwave i got it out of but i also know they work and have an incredible amount power behind them.

Take the two wires coming out of the transformer on the oil burning stove transformer this would be the two springs and attach them two the wire assembly you made earlier double check to make sure everything is hooked up right and nothing is touching anything it shouldn’t be (Double check this!!) And plug it in it should make a nice snap! zzzzzt snap zzzzt sound as the electricity jumps. If nothing happens the first time but you hear a crackling sound or no sound at all unplug it and move the wires closer together until when you plug it in it sparks. If the electricity sparks but doesn’t move up then move the wires apart just a little bit. This is a good project for high voltage hobbyist or just someone who wants a really awesome Halloween prop or just wants to watch electricity in its finest.