4,000-Joule Exploding Wire Machine

Click this link https://sponsr.is/bootdev_HyperspaceP... and use my code HYPERSPACEPIRATE to get 25% off your first payment for boot.dev.

In this video I'll demonstrate the incredible power of electricity when it's stored at high voltage in a large capacitor bank.

This device uses five 10,000 uF 400-volt capacitors in series, forming a bank with 2,000 uF and a maximum voltage of 2,000 volts. At full charge, it stores 4kJ of energy, which is approximately equivalent to the chemical energy in one gram of TNT.

When the switch is closed, the capacitors dump more than 10,000 amps of current through an extremely thin wire, causing it to heat so rapidly that it explodes with tremendous pressure, causing a bright flash, a shockwave, and tremendous noise. This type of electrical explosion can be used in lieu of a chemical blasting cap, and in fact, was used to detonate the compression charges in plutonium-based nuclear weapons. Unlike a chemical blasting cap, an exploding wire can have its timing controlled down to the nanosecond-level, making it suitable for nuclear devices.

Exploding wires are also used for plasma research, since the circuit can be configured to create a "Z-pinch" or "X-pinch" effect that generates large X-ray bursts and other interesting high-energy phenomena.

For a given energy, an exploding wire circuit should have the largest voltage practical with the lowest capacitance possible to minimize RC time constant and discharge time, and maximize current rise time and peak current. This means, ideally, the capacitor bank should use high voltage film or oil capacitors. In reality, cost and logistics made electrolytic capacitors the most practical for this project. These have the best energy density, but suffer from relatively large series resistance and inductance.

The circuit shown in this video is initially triggered using an Thyristor (SCR), but the extremely high peak current and short rise time caused the device to be destroyed, so I revered to a mechanical switch, which actually worked pretty well.

I tried exploding Copper, Aluminum, Nichrome, and Magnesium. Aluminum and Magnesium had the most dramatic effect, because both ignited when superheated by the electric current, causing them to add their chemical energy to the blast. I've tried up to 500 milligrams of aluminum foil, and in every test, the aluminum is totally vaporized from ignition.

I'm not really sure if there's a practical application that I can use this device for, but it's extremely fun to use, and if you don't have any fireworks for special occasions, it certainly provides a good substitute.


Music Used:
Kevin MacLeod - Lobby Time
Kevin MacLeod - Groove Groove