coil gun

[jimmy101]

So you are using a transformer on a 120V main as the power source?

A fuse or circuit breaker, or better yet a gound fault interuptor, would be a good idea.

[Panzerfaust]

Though i know little about electricity, i made a couple small coilguns and did alot of research on them. With those two big-ass capacitors, you definitely need a better launcher. That other guy (to lazy to quote) was entirely right when he said that your capacitors need to be discharged by the time your projectile is halfway through your coil, otherwise the magnetic field starts sucking your projectile backwards instead of forwards. During my research i looked up the formula for the magnetic field of a wire coil, and a short fat one is more powerful than a long skinny one. I actually tested this by making a 1.5" thin wire coil and a .75" fat wire coil and the fat one worked better. You will get much better performance i think if you make an overall bigger coil. Fatter to increase overall force, and longer so that your big capacitors have time to discharge before your projectile moves too far.

[spudling]

true i have 6 others coils and im making a final coil with inferred sensors at the rear the theory is the if the projectile is 2/3 the length of the coil and you have the sensors at the rear than by the time the projectile reaches the center it will no longer disrubt the inferred sensors thus "killing" the power to the coil.

[spudling]

Other than the capacitors witch i bought online at NEWWARK.COM,I have ether got at frys electrons,Marvac,or radio shack. Im planing on buying a S.C.R. online somewhere around 800v PM me for more questions

[ammosmoke]

Meh, how about a few of these...

The company is great, I have done some business with them, and my friend's dad has done extensive business with them with no problems.

EDIT: Or these....

here

EDITEDIT: The second one has the same voltage, but a lot more charge.