Wimshurst electrostatic generator

Specifications

A traditional device capable of generating high electrostatic potentials that can produce sparks of length up to 7 cm approx. in favourable environmental conditions.
It is equipped with 2 acrylic plates each one of approx. 25 cm of diameter with aluminium sectors permanently pasted radially along the rim.
Both plates are parallel to each other and rotate in opposite directions through a system of pulleys and belts; the pulley of one of the plates has a handle to make the system rotate manually.
The device has also 2 crossed rods with collecting “combs” at their end and 2 discharge spheres mounted at the end of a pair of arms which opposite end presents an isolating handle to adjust the distance between both spheres.
The charge can be accumulated in a couple of high capacity Leyden jars that can be connected or disconnected as desired for increasing the accumulated charge.
When the machine starts rotating, the spheres start accumulating charge until the charge transfer between both spheres takes place in the form of an electric spark.
The spark is produced intermittently by the continuous rotation of plates.
The complete machine is mounted on a well-isolated base that has also a couple of sockets for earth connection of the Leyden jars.