Arcing and conductivity and object interference

[omarcrysis]

TL;DR Summary

Trying to figure out if a bug coming between two points will create an electrical arc. Say two points with 10cm of air between them. Bug flies between the two high voltage points. Does it get zapped?

Im trying to figure out if I were to have two points with 10cm of humid ocean air between them and a fly or mosquitoes flew between the points, if they would get zapped and create an electrical arc, or if the bug would act as an insulator and be avoided by the arc?

also, could the bug trigger the arc? say There was not enough voltage to almost arc with only air between the points, then the bug flies through and gets zapped But the arc dies out once the bug tumbles away.

i Imagine that setting the voltage low enough to not start on its own but high enough to start when a tiny bug went between the two points would be a very delicate balance… right?

thanks In advance

 

[Baluncore]

Welcome to PF.

Im trying to figure out if I were to have two points with 10cm of humid ocean air between them and a fly or mosquitoes flew between the points, if they would get zapped and create an electrical arc, or if the bug would act as an insulator and be avoided by the arc?

If the bug was big enough, it would get zapped. The arc that follows is a plasma, that could largely pyrolyse the bug. The bug debris could hang around, and maintain an alternating arc, until the debris was cleared, and a change of polarity extinguished the arc.

Points have a continuous corona discharge that encourages breakdown, while the breakdown of the same width gap between spheres is far less likely.

 

[berkeman]

Im trying to figure out if I were to have two points with 10cm of humid ocean air between them and a fly or mosquitoes flew between the points, if they would get zapped and create an electrical arc, or if the bug would act as an insulator and be avoided by the arc?

also, could the bug trigger the arc? say There was not enough voltage to almost arc with only air between the points, then the bug flies through and gets zapped But the arc dies out once the bug tumbles away.

i Imagine that setting the voltage low enough to not start on its own but high enough to start when a tiny bug went between the two points would be a very delicate balance… right?

That's how some bug zappers work, but not with a 10cm gap. The High Voltage (HV) is applied across smaller gaps, and the bugs/flies are attracted with something like light. This is the bug zapper that I currently have running in my workshop:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T6672BY/?tag=pfamazon01-20

EDIT/ADD -- I looked inside my bug zapper and the spacing between the alternating HV electrodes looks to be about 1cm or a little less...

 

[omarcrysis]

Welcome to PF.

If the bug was big enough, it would get zapped. The arc that follows is a plasma, that could largely pyrolyse the bug. The bug debris could hang around, and maintain an alternating arc, until the debris was cleared, and a change of polarity extinguished the arc.

Points have a continuous corona discharge that encourages breakdown, while the breakdown of the same width gap between spheres is far less likely.

Perfect! Thank you!

That's how some bug zappers work, but not with a 10cm gap. The High Voltage (HV) is applied across smaller gaps, and the bugs/flies are attracted with something like light. This is the bug zapper that I currently have running in my workshop:

View attachment 331622
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T6672BY/?tag=pfamazon01-20

EDIT/ADD -- I looked inside my bug zapper and the spacing between the alternating HV electrodes looks to be about 1cm or a little less...

yeah I was thinking of trying to build a high voltage racquet but with no metal mesh. You know, so that any mosquito that flies in will just get zapped out of thin air.

Same as a mosquito racquet but cooler and way more dangerous

 

[berkeman]

and way more dangerous

And we have a prohibition against dangerous discussions here at PF, so this thread is now closed. Have a nice day.