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5F15.32-Vaporize a Wire

5f1532vaporize_a_wire_2 5f1532vaporize_a_wire

Video: Watch this demo

Instructor’s video

Description: Short a car battery with a wire to burn it.
The car battery is able to supply over 100amps of current for a short time.

Equipment:

  • 12VDC car battery
  • Battery charger
  • SPST switch
  • Small 3-4ft wire with cloth covering
  • 2 portable stands
  • 2 Finger clamps
  • 6 Banana plug cables
  • 2 Alligator clips
  • Wire Cutter
  • C clamp

Setup Procedure:

  1. Charge the Car battery up prior to doing the demo.
  2. Attach the switch to the table with the C clamp.
  3. Place a finger clip on each portable stand.
  4. Connect the equipment together, using two wires in parallel for each connection.
  5. Use the wire cutter to strip the cloth off each end of the wire.
  6. Connect the alligator clip to the bare wire and fasten it in the finger clip (see picture).

Demonstration Procedure:

  1. When you are ready, close the switch and wait for the cable to engulf into flames (should take less then 5 seconds).
  2. Once the wire is engulfed in flames, open the switch.

High Current
This battery can output more then 100A at 12VDC. Although the voltage is low, caution should still be used.

Note: Use a very thin wire with a cloth covering (such as wire used for fake plant stems).
If you use the wrong wire, it may just smoke and make a horrible chemical smell!
The wire should engulf into flames within a second or two.