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Rich Grise
Guest
Fri Dec 09, 2011 1:54 am
George Herold wrote:
Quote:
On Dec 6, 2:13 pm, "W. eWatson" <wolftra...@invalid.com> wrote:
I have a string of about 8 Xmas lights that run off two C batteries. The
string is 4' long, and weighs about 1/4 pound. I plan to launch a
tethered (30') balloon before the 25th. I plan to turn on the lights at
6 pm and off at 10 pm. Presently, I would need to pull the balloon down
and disengage the power. Maybe there's some simple timer I could use.
I'll probably use two AA batteries instead of the C batteries to reduce
the weight. Two C batteries weigh about 2/3 pound.
My balloon will probably be a 10-15 gallon garbage bag filled with
helium.
Comments?
Helium is expensive
That depends where you shop. I work at a fab shop[1], and we have a regular
gas guy come around with acetylene, oxygen, argon mixes, and etc., and I
mentioned a small helium tank to him, and he said, "Oh, for that I could
probably just bring one by and let you borrow it."
My idea is to use a HUGE trash bag (or even a dry cleaning garment bag[2])
for the helium, a static-free bag for some oxyacetylene mix, and some
cotton twine; soak the wine in kerosene, light it and let it go free,
and see if it breaks any windows. >:->
Have Fun!
Rich
[1] welding and machining - one one side of the shop they take big pieces of
metal and cut them up to make little pieces of metal, and on the other side
of the shop they take little pieces of metal and stick them together to
make big pieces of metal.
[2] does anybody know if those surplus places still sell those 8' weather
balloons?
Terminal Crazy
Guest
Fri Dec 09, 2011 8:51 am
In article <jbrm7p$kkl$3_at_dont-email.me>, Rich Grise
<richg_at_example.net.invalid> wrote:
Quote:
My idea is to use a HUGE trash bag (or even a dry cleaning garment
bag[2]) for the helium, a static-free bag for some oxyacetylene mix, and
some cotton twine; soak the wine in kerosene, light it and let it go
free, and see if it breaks any windows. >:-
Have Fun!
Hi
When you do, would you video it. I've wanted to do that for years.
--
Terminal_Crazy
Mitch - 1995 Z28 LT1 M6 terminal_crazy_at_sand-hill.freeserve.co.uk
Lancashire England
http://www.sand-hill.freeserve.co.uk/terminal_crazy/
Tom Biasi
Guest
Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:31 pm
On Fri, 09 Dec 2011 06:51:07 +0000 (GMT), Terminal Crazy
<Terminal_Crazy_at_sand-hill.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
Quote:
In article <jbrm7p$kkl$3_at_dont-email.me>, Rich Grise
richg_at_example.net.invalid> wrote:
My idea is to use a HUGE trash bag (or even a dry cleaning garment
bag[2]) for the helium, a static-free bag for some oxyacetylene mix, and
some cotton twine; soak the wine in kerosene, light it and let it go
free, and see if it breaks any windows. >:-
Have Fun!
Hi
When you do, would you video it. I've wanted to do that for years.
Start here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU4-S1ViZeA&feature=related
Tom Del Rosso
Guest
Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:47 pm
Tom Biasi wrote:
Quote:
You can find some light wire, very thin.
Keep in mind the electroststic hazard and possible contact with
overhead wires.
If the wire is very small guage it will have more resistance. You might
need twice as many batteries to compensate for the voltage drop in the wire.
A little testing will answer that. It's easy to add more batteries if
they're on the ground, and also easy to change them.
--
Reply in group, but if emailing add one more
zero, and remove the last word.
Tom Biasi
Guest
Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:28 pm
On Wed, 7 Dec 2011 11:56:33 -0800 (PST), fungus
<openglMYSOCKS_at_artlum.com> wrote:
Quote:
On Dec 7, 6:45 pm, "W. eWatson" <wolftra...@invalid.com> wrote:
Not a bad idea, bit the wire might be too heavy.
I dunno, you can get some pretty light wires.
eg. A quarter pound of this wire measures 314 feet
but it would easily be strong enough tether a balloon
(unless the wind is very strong).
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/MW-26-4/26-AWG-MAGNET-WIRE-1/4-LB-ROLL/1.html
nb. A very thin wire will have some voltage drop due to
resistance. For sixty feet of wire (30 up, 30 down) you'll
need to boost the voltage to compensate. Add batteries
until the voltage at the lights measures in the right range.
(You can also Google for an AWG chart and do the math
to get a good idea of the extra voltage needed...)
30 ga. wire would be about 6 Ohms. He could even use smaller wire and
let fishing line hold the load.
Tom
fungus
Guest
Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:23 am
On Dec 10, 11:28 pm, Tom Biasi <tombi...@optonline.net> wrote:
Quote:
(You can also Google for an AWG chart and do the math
to get a good idea of the extra voltage needed...)
30 ga. wire would be about 6 Ohms. He could even use smaller wire and
let fishing line hold the load.
Tom
Yep. You could easily go a lot thinner than that
at battery-level currents (so long as you compensate
for the resulting voltage drop).
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