The Exploding Capacitor Piano - Advice if possible...

[N. Thornton]

Hi


I think exploding wire would be much more practical than exploding
caps.

The wire can be autofed on reels, and thus provide a very long working
life per reel.
The explosions can be as good as instant, and occur reliably.
There are no nasty chemicals involved, assuming you use suitable wire.

The piano player should always wear eye protection.

Does this have a use? Of course, publicity for your music. Suggest a
space suit 'for safety' for maximum impact.


Regards, NT

 

[Winfield Hill]

N. Thornton wrote...

I think exploding wire would be much more practical than exploding
caps. The wire can be autofed on reels, and thus provide a very
long working life per reel.

Hmm, the reload-between-notes mechanism should be interesting.

Thanks,
- Win

whill_at_picovolt-dot-com

 

[N. Thornton]

Hmm, the reload-between-notes mechanism should be interesting.

Hi Win. I was thinking of a metal wheel a bit like a circular saw
blade, with maybe 8 pointy bits on, and a 2nd wheel pressed against
it. Add guides to keep he broken wire end going in the rihgt place. To
advance the wire one just turns the wheel a bit. Easy and quite quick.

Regards, NT

 

[Paul Burridge]

Hi Win. I was thinking of a metal wheel a bit like a circular saw
blade, with maybe 8 pointy bits on, and a 2nd wheel pressed against
it. Add guides to keep he broken wire end going in the rihgt place. To
advance the wire one just turns the wheel a bit. Easy and quite quick.

Surely you'd be better off with one of those wire-feeders one sees on
MIG welding plant? I'm sure the OP could play the entirity of
Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto with just one of those.

 

[N. Thornton]

Surely you'd be better off with one of those wire-feeders one sees on
MIG welding plant? I'm sure the OP could play the entirity of
Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto with just one of those.

Yes but you need more to it. You need to make good solid contact with
the protruding wire end, and do so every time. A [speeded up] MIG
mechanism doesnt give you that, it just leaves a loose wire end.


Regards, NT

 

[Paul Burridge]

Surely you'd be better off with one of those wire-feeders one sees on
MIG welding plant? I'm sure the OP could play the entirity of
Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto with just one of those.

Yes but you need more to it. You need to make good solid contact with
the protruding wire end, and do so every time. A [speeded up] MIG
mechanism doesnt give you that, it just leaves a loose wire end.

Damn! This exploding piano idea's losing its appeal, I fear. ;-)

 

[Winfield Hill]

Paul Burridge wrote...

Paul Burridge wrote ...

N. Thornton wrote:
Winfield Hill wrote ...
someone else wrote...

I think exploding wire would be much more practical than exploding
caps. The wire can be autofed on reels, and thus provide a very
long working life per reel.

Hmm, the reload-between-notes mechanism should be interesting.

Hi Win. I was thinking of a metal wheel a bit like a circular saw
blade, with maybe 8 pointy bits on, and a 2nd wheel pressed against
it. Add guides to keep he broken wire end going in the rihgt place. To
advance the wire one just turns the wheel a bit. Easy and quite quick.

Surely you'd be better off with one of those wire-feeders one sees on
MIG welding plant? I'm sure the OP could play the entirity of
Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto with just one of those.

Yes but you need more to it. You need to make good solid contact with
the protruding wire end, and do so every time. A [speeded up] MIG
mechanism doesnt give you that, it just leaves a loose wire end.

Damn! This exploding piano idea's losing its appeal, I fear. ;-)

Like I said, the mechanism should be interesting.

Thanks,
- Win

whill_at_picovolt-dot-com

 

[David Lesher]

I read in sci.electronics.design that Tim Shoppa <shoppa@trailing-
edge.com> wrote (in <[email protected]>)
about 'The Exploding Capacitor Piano - Advice if possible...', on Fri,
21 Nov 2003:

An overloaded 5Y3GT rectifier expressed its displeasure by emitting
tinkling noises, IIRC. (;-)

A shorted mercury vapor rectifier makes far more noise....