by Doug Coulter » Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:59 pm
It seems things get difficult real quick in air above 50-60kv, eh? I'm looking at that monster disc multiplier stack (theoretically good to 160kv or so) and going hmmm, myself. Sometimes I wish I didn't hate heavy leaky boxes full of oil so passionately.
And yes, not only do things pick up charge, but some even become electrets, which can get interesting. We found here when just messing around in the lab with a 125kv supply that you can pick up a hefty charge, and via the wimshurst effect, get a real crazy voltage onto the old bod - supplying extra energy to it mechanically as you move away from the HV supply. You can then get a really good zinger off the nearest grounded something that judging by the length of the spark, is a good bit higher voltage than what you'd originally picked up. Not close to fatal, but you could get hurt jumping or accidentally throwing something you were holding...
Posting as just me, not as the forum owner. Everything I say is "in my opinion" and YMMV -- which should go for everyone without saying.