I'm trying to do Kirlian Photography. I have some information, but am short on schematics. If any one knows what i'm talking about, and has the plans for the Kirlian Camera, PLEASE send me the address of where I can find them, or the instructions, Thanks

-Key Witt

-- Key Witt (keywitt@mindspring.com), October 23, 1999

Answers

Wow! Kirlian Photography, that's a blast from the past to me. I seem to recall seeing articles in Popular Electronics or Radio Electronics a number of years ago. I seem to recall that one used a high voltage source and some glass plates, but little else comes immediately to mind.

Do a search for electronics magazines or just "kirlian", several are on the web and have indexes you can search, some also sell back issues or you might be able to find microfiches in a good library, especially a technical school or college library. Try the www.altavista.com or www.dogpile.com search engines.

Pay careful attention to the instructions, you'll be dealing with high voltages that could be VERY dangerous! If you're not completely knowledgeable about high voltage electricity seek some advice/help from someone who is and always make sure someone is working with you or DIRECTLY(IN THE ROOM) supervising you in case of a mishap or emergency. Seconds can make all the difference in any experiment if a fire gets started by a stray arc and misplaced equipment or if someone gets zapped! If you're careful and meticulous and take care to set things up properly and pay attention to what you're doing the danger should be minimal, but it's never non existant! By minimal, I mean quite safe.

Frankly, 13 is a bit young to be playing with high voltages, but then I seem to recall building a few tickler circuits as a teenager too... :-) Try to resist the temptation to find out just how big a shock that circuit can put out! Even battery powered voltage step up circuits can be dangerous. I recall building a nine volt battery powered unit a number of years ago that accidentally jolted me from my fingertips clear to my elbow and left my arm tingling for 15 minutes. I was very lucky that voltage didn't pass through my heart, only through my fingertips. Not pleasant, and very lucky I wasn't burned as it put out pulsed DC @ about 2000 volts! BE VERY CAREFUL!!!! Never work with more than one hand near any live high voltage circuitry and take care to insulate yourself and the equipment from any potential grounds that might accidentally allow you to ground yourself to the circuit and get zapped through the one hand you're using near the circuit. Remember that high voltage requires a lot of insulation! Do a lot of reading about high voltage before just jumping in and building a Kirlian or any high voltage circuit.

I'm sure a good search of the web will turn up plenty of info.

If I can help, email me. Good Luck!

-- Gerald Payne (gmp@francorp.francomm.com), October 23, 1999.

While at Brooks Institute 20 some years ago we experemented in Kirlian photography. You could contact Vern Miller, head of the Industrial-Scientific Photography department, he might have some schematics and photos of what you need.

-- Dave Hutsell (hutsell@uswest.net), November 01, 1999.