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Van De Graaff Generator, 325KV, With Humidity Control
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- Sci-Supply is an American small business based in Southwest Ohio and has been proudly serving our customers since 2004. Get high quality products and exceptional customer care while supporting a small American business. We go the extra mile for YOU!
- 10" / 25CM Diameter Dome, 26" / 66CM Height
- Discharge Wand Included
- Fuse Overload Protection
- Dual Riser Belt Tensioning System
- Quick Connect Terminal In Dome
Additional Details
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Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Product Dimensions : 11 x 26 x 7 inches; 18 Pounds
- Item model number : LC2910-HC
- Date First Available : October 9, 2009
- Manufacturer : Lethan Corporation
- ASIN : B000RZKYDQ
- Country of Origin : China
- Best Sellers Rank: #286,017 in Tools & Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Tools & Home Improvement)
- #337 in Humidifier Accessories
- Customer Reviews:
Product Description
This is the 3rd generation of Lethan Corporation's most popular and best-selling LC2910-HC Van De Graaff generator. This model is intended for a commercial setting and is designed to withstand the rigors of regular use. These high quality Van De Graaff generators have been placed in schools, electrical cooperatives and science museums throughout the country. This model features a large, powerful sealed bearing motor producing 3,500 R.P.M. Have a HAIR-RAISING good time with this Van De Graaff static electricity generator that can produce an electric potential difference of 325,000 volts or more. This feature rich Van De Graaff generator model comes complete with the following: 1. Discharge Wand. 2. Dielectric ABS and Nylon Rollers. 3. Fuse Overload Protection. If the belt breaks and jams the motor (as often happens with the belt being confined), the fuse will prevent your motor from locking up. 4. Built in humidity control bulb mounted in the base. In addition to clearing humidity in the chamber and dome, the bulb adds a neat visual effect to a darkened room during demonstration. High humidity can rob the machine of up to 60% of its output capacity. 5. Quick connect terminals at the top of the main discharge dome (for users wanting to harness the voltage output for experimentation) and on the base. 6. Quick Belt Tensioning System Conveniently Located in Upper Dome. Dual Tensioners will travel up to 1.5" / 38mm 7. Connecting wire. 8. Styrofoam storage case. 9. Convenient discharge wand storage receptacle built into the base (seen on the product photo). 10. Complete user guide / manual. 11. Superior fit and finish.
From the manufacturer
Lethan Corporation LC2910-HC
Premium Features
This Van De Graaff Generator Comes Complete with the Following:
- Discharge Wand and Wire
- Built in Humidity Control Bulb Mounted in the Base.
- Quick Belt Tensioning System Conveniently Located in Upper Dome
- Quick Connect Terminal at the Top of the Main Discharge Dome
- Fuse Overload Protection to Prevent Motor Failure Due to Belt Breakage
- Superior Fit and Finish
No Exaggerated Claims
This large Van De Graaff generator stands over 2' tall, and it's large dome can produce an electric potential of 325,000 volts or more. There are a lot of exaggerated claims out there about Van De Graaff generator voltage. Our generator features a dome charge rate (micro current) that in some cases exceeds the competition by 5x. This means that it can pump more energy out for better experimental results, from hair raising to charging electroscopes.
Commercial / Institutional Van De Graaff Generator
325,000 Volt Charge Capacity
The LC2910-HC Van De Graaff generator is designed for institutional use. It's a workhorse and proven performer in schools, universities, science museums, electrical cooperatives and NOAA facilities across the country. We've designed this Van De Graaff generator from the ground up, with every component being of premium quality.
Powerful, Reliable, Proven Performance
This commercial generator is designed for heavy institutional use. It features a large sealed bearing electric motor that will provide years of trouble free service with no maintenance. The sealed bearing motor produces a powerful 3,500 RPM. Dual risers located inside the upper dome make belt centering a snap! Discharge wand and wire are included.
The Features You Want
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Convenient Discharge Wand Storage ReceptacleThis Van De Graaff generator features a convenient discharge wand storage receptactle built into the base. |
Custom Styrofoam Shipping and Storage ContainerOur Van De Graaff comes complete in a custom Styrofoam mold. The carton provides mobility for your device and offers great protection from bumps and bruises on the road. |
Have A Hair Raising Good TimeYou'll appreciate the output of this generator. This generator provides superior hair raising abilities even in the most challenging environments. |
What's in the box
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, performance and value of the lab supply. They mention that it's well made, reliable and has a heavy duty motor. They also say that the instructions are surprisingly well written and that they have no trouble setting it up.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the lab supply. They mention that it is well-made, sturdy, and solid. The machine has a heavy-duty motor and a heat source in the base. Overall, customers are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"...of two stainless steel hemispheres, sturdy plexiglass tubing, and rigid painted (though not powder coated) sheet metal for the base console, capped..." Read more
"...n't know how long the Styrofoam will hold up but the unit itself is good quality." Read more
"well made, sturdy and solid. recommend adult use only or supervision, powerful little machine." Read more
"...This generator is awesome, once it is working properly! The grandchildren were amazed." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the performance of the lab supply. They mention that it works well, comes with good instructions, and is easy to set up.
"This thing was a hit on Christmas. Works great came with good instructions...." Read more
"...I have no trouble at all setting it up and have had to make virtually no adjustments other than occasionally straitening the belt...." Read more
"I use this for electrical safety training and it works well. There are a number of good demonstrations that can be performed using this...." Read more
"Works as advertised. Even though it is smaller than my others, I am very happy with this VDG." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the lab supply. They say it is excellent value.
"...So, yeah, excellent value!Juan is right, though, about the grounding cable breaking easily...." Read more
"...This is the best value for the price I have found...." Read more
"...This item is a good value and worth the price premium. Only suggestion to the mfg...." Read more
"Great product at a fair price." Read more
Reviews with images
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Bruce points out that the base of the unit needs to be placed on an insulator (plastic) while the instructions from Lethan indicate "when the instrument is in operation, the main console / base should be grounded." I suppose I'll have to determine which advice is correct experimentally.
Thanks to Skyking and techie67 for suggesting to add a copper collecting comb to the stock collector bar. Increasing the surface area of the collector truly is key to operating this device at its full potential. I ended up purchasing this 30mm bare copper braid grounding strap ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MXCTQ2P ) and this 25mm conductive adhesive copper foil tape ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D56B82F ) to attach the braided strap to the bar. I'll try to keep the 1/8" pickup spacing as per Skyking's findings. They'll be arriving tomorrow, so I'll update this review after I've performed the modification.
According to Sci-Supply, "voltage is dictated by dome size", so I suppose Jenn and Dan's larger domes would produce >325KV, but I'm just interested in recharging N95 mask fibers and getting my nephew's hair to lift up, not trying to recreate the Tesla Wardenclyffe Tower 😂
And speaking of fair price, guitarguy56, I snatched this up when it was $276.69 (before tax), the best historical price since Amazon started fulfilling it themselves in Sept. 2017. So, yeah, excellent value!
Juan is right, though, about the grounding cable breaking easily. The plastic screw threads are just so brittle and cheap that they break off just from the force required to extract the banana plug. Just use your own, better banana plug leads.
I concur with David Storm's assessment of the difficulty of placing the top dome over the bottom one. The tolerances are so tight that Sci-Supply recommends "placing the upper half in the refrigerator for 5 minutes." That doesn't make much sense to me. For one, wouldn't you want to actually heat the upper half to create thermal expansion so it slips easier around the lower half's lip? Cooling the lower half makes more sense. And two, cooling the dome below ambient temperature risks going below the dew point and collecting condensation on the inside of the dome, something they caution you on multiple occasions in their literature. As for his unexpected arachnid squatter, removing the two plastic side covers only takes 8 philips screws, so vacuuming that compartment out shouldn't be too difficult. But webbing ending up anywhere else would ruin the overall efficiency of the machine, so plugging the dome's hole with a sealed banana plug is cheap insurance.
Mark's comment about an anti-static coating around the plexiglass tubing made me wipe down the tube's exterior surface with reagent-grade isopropyl alcohol. I didn't really notice any discoloration on my lint-free chem wipes, but I guess it dissolved whatever was on there. I'll probably do the inside as well. It isn't that hard to disassemble and I can wrap an alcohol-soaked wipe around a bristle brush to really scrub out any residues.
The equipment itself is solidly constructed of two stainless steel hemispheres, sturdy plexiglass tubing, and rigid painted (though not powder coated) sheet metal for the base console, capped off on the sides with two plastic handles that come apart fairly easily with 4 phillips screws each. I attached some rechargeable desiccant canisters to each end cap to further reduce the humidity in there ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NCZRHV2 ). My biggest gripe is about the packaging it shipped in. They used that styrofoam made of those compacted individual beads. You know, the kind that creates a ton of little electrostatically attracted particles if you so much as look at it? Those little packaging bits get all over the unit and I even found some inside the tube. Would it have killed Sci-Supply to vacuform a plastic bag/shield around the styrofoam padding to contain all that detritus? I'd feel a lot more comfortable packing the machine in there if I knew I didn't have to spend unnecessary time cleaning off that maddening waste every time I pull it out.
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2021
Bruce points out that the base of the unit needs to be placed on an insulator (plastic) while the instructions from Lethan indicate "when the instrument is in operation, the main console / base should be grounded." I suppose I'll have to determine which advice is correct experimentally.
Thanks to Skyking and techie67 for suggesting to add a copper collecting comb to the stock collector bar. Increasing the surface area of the collector truly is key to operating this device at its full potential. I ended up purchasing this 30mm bare copper braid grounding strap ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MXCTQ2P ) and this 25mm conductive adhesive copper foil tape ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D56B82F ) to attach the braided strap to the bar. I'll try to keep the 1/8" pickup spacing as per Skyking's findings. They'll be arriving tomorrow, so I'll update this review after I've performed the modification.
According to Sci-Supply, "voltage is dictated by dome size", so I suppose Jenn and Dan's larger domes would produce >325KV, but I'm just interested in recharging N95 mask fibers and getting my nephew's hair to lift up, not trying to recreate the Tesla Wardenclyffe Tower 😂
And speaking of fair price, guitarguy56, I snatched this up when it was $276.69 (before tax), the best historical price since Amazon started fulfilling it themselves in Sept. 2017. So, yeah, excellent value!
Juan is right, though, about the grounding cable breaking easily. The plastic screw threads are just so brittle and cheap that they break off just from the force required to extract the banana plug. Just use your own, better banana plug leads.
I concur with David Storm's assessment of the difficulty of placing the top dome over the bottom one. The tolerances are so tight that Sci-Supply recommends "placing the upper half in the refrigerator for 5 minutes." That doesn't make much sense to me. For one, wouldn't you want to actually heat the upper half to create thermal expansion so it slips easier around the lower half's lip? Cooling the lower half makes more sense. And two, cooling the dome below ambient temperature risks going below the dew point and collecting condensation on the inside of the dome, something they caution you on multiple occasions in their literature. As for his unexpected arachnid squatter, removing the two plastic side covers only takes 8 philips screws, so vacuuming that compartment out shouldn't be too difficult. But webbing ending up anywhere else would ruin the overall efficiency of the machine, so plugging the dome's hole with a sealed banana plug is cheap insurance.
Mark's comment about an anti-static coating around the plexiglass tubing made me wipe down the tube's exterior surface with reagent-grade isopropyl alcohol. I didn't really notice any discoloration on my lint-free chem wipes, but I guess it dissolved whatever was on there. I'll probably do the inside as well. It isn't that hard to disassemble and I can wrap an alcohol-soaked wipe around a bristle brush to really scrub out any residues.
The equipment itself is solidly constructed of two stainless steel hemispheres, sturdy plexiglass tubing, and rigid painted (though not powder coated) sheet metal for the base console, capped off on the sides with two plastic handles that come apart fairly easily with 4 phillips screws each. I attached some rechargeable desiccant canisters to each end cap to further reduce the humidity in there ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NCZRHV2 ). My biggest gripe is about the packaging it shipped in. They used that styrofoam made of those compacted individual beads. You know, the kind that creates a ton of little electrostatically attracted particles if you so much as look at it? Those little packaging bits get all over the unit and I even found some inside the tube. Would it have killed Sci-Supply to vacuform a plastic bag/shield around the styrofoam padding to contain all that detritus? I'd feel a lot more comfortable packing the machine in there if I knew I didn't have to spend unnecessary time cleaning off that maddening waste every time I pull it out.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008O9VLA2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
I cut two 1/2" pieces and fanned out one end of each, then used a small bit of masking tape to hold the un-fanned ends. Attach this to the lower pickup with the fanned ends close to the belt. If the copper touches the belt, no problem, the fine wires will be immediately pushed away when the belt runs. That's it. You should have an 8" discharge spark.
Update 12-26-2019
It may be best to leave about 1/8" space between the wire pickup and the belt.
This generator is awesome, once it is working properly! The grandchildren were amazed.
PVC and clear tubing is all shipped with a coating of anti-static material on it. During shipping, those materials can build up enormous static charge making it both dangerous and difficult to handle due to attractive forces. I was having trouble getting much more than about 25KV from this product based on the arc length to the discharge wand in <20% humidity, but I could feel an ionic breeze running down the tube, so I knew the dome was discharging into it.
Having designed a really basic Van De Graaff kit for Ramsey Electronics years ago, one of the first steps was to remove the coating from PVC using sandpaper, but don't do that with clear tubing! It turns out the coating is easy to remove using normal isopropyl alcohol, 91% or higher concentration. Just drench paper towels with it, and rub the tube down roughly with it, then dry with another towel to get any residue off of it. Repeat with a fresh damp alcohol towel and dry towel and the coating should be gone.
The performance at least doubled with current flow, and the voltage went theoretical limits. MUCH better!
I didn't try cleaning the inside of the tube, I don't want to damage it trying to take it apart to clean it. performance is adequate now.
Of note, 30 feet away it still messes up my USB connections on my computer. Collapsing electrical fields can induce problems in sensitive wiring.