Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am working on " create your own spark experiment ", and am having a little trouble understanding how to setup the Neef vibrator-relay. I took an ice cube style relay apart and don't quite understand how to attach it to the core. Also I am wondering if the carriage bolt they say to use, 5/8, is correct and the 12 gauge bare wire, I don't believe it should be bare also? Has anybody out there got this thing to work and would you please give me some tips? Thank you in advance.

Hi patman,

If you have not yet checked out the Science Buddies version of this experiment, I suggest you visit https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... p027.shtml . It has very detailed descriptions that may answer many of your questions.

Take care!
Liz

Thanks for the reply. But that site is where I am getting my resources to conduct this experiment. And it is not quite making sense too me. If I understand it right put say ten turns on my primary, I need about 750 turns on my secondary? Also right now I have the Neef almost working, I can get it to click off and on sometimes but it won't do it's vibrating thing. I am using a adjustable solid state power supply instead of the batteries. Batteries don't seem to do anything. Any more tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

patman wrote:Thanks for the reply. But that site is where I am getting my resources to conduct this experiment. And it is not quite making sense too me. If I understand it right put say ten turns on my primary, I need about 750 turns on my secondary? Also right now I have the Neef almost working, I can get it to click off and on sometimes but it won't do it's vibrating thing. I am using a adjustable solid state power supply instead of the batteries. Batteries don't seem to do anything. Any more tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

This is a pretty popular project, and there are numerous threads on this forum about it. I'd do a search, and then post again if you don't find them helpful.

Also, the links provided off the sciencebuddies page are generally helpful. In particular, http://www.bizarrelabs.com/ind1.htm
seems to provide very detailed instructions for this project.

As always, be careful when working with high voltages.

Louise