03-14-2012, 12:07 PM
Mike Johnson wrote:
We never managed to measure anything on my little digital multimeter. I could get some diodes at Radio Shack for under a buck, I'm sure, but to what purpose? We tried some LEDs but some didn't work and the others were damaged. It is generating 30,000 - 40,000 volts. What would we do with capacitors?
Hook one side of the capacitor to the end of the VDG you wish to measure. Keep track of which side of the capacitor you connected. Connect the other side of the capacitor to ground.
Charge the capacitor by running the VDG for a little while. Stand back in case you pop the capacitor.
While the VDG is running, disconnect the capacitor from the VDG carefully using insulated tools.
Measure the DC voltage across the capacitor with your volt meter. Note the polarity.
If you didn't accumulate a charge, try doing the same with the opposite side of the VDG or reversing the VDG motor.