High Voltage MOT experiments

Please read description: I recently got around to filming some MOT's (Microwave Oven Transformers) making some HV arcs (about 2100-4200 volts, depending on how many you use). The arcs were so bright that the camera had to be set on lowest exposure to avoid CCD damage. Because they were running on a high current circuit, there was no need for a ballast. Schematics are included. The MOT's range in power from 700-1100 watts, and a single MOT can create an arc around 10 centimetres long. When four parallel resonant capacitors are put in series with the output, the arc length increases significantly. When two MOT's are connected (dual MOT stack), the arc length can exceed 30 centimetres (a foot). For safety, the chassis of the MOT's were connected to main earth. I was wearing electrician's gloves and I used a 45cm PVC pipe to control the HV probe (an iron nail). The MOT's were only ran for about 10 seconds at a time to avoid overheating. Different materials were subsequently zapped, including an iron plate, a brass plate, an aluminium soda can, oily iron plate, a CD (fail), a graphite pencil line, and an incandescent light bulb. When four resonant capacitors were on the output, the MOT arced over to the chassis, but luckily the MOT was undamaged. If you don't know what you are doing, please don't do it! It is so dangerous, that one mistake could kill you instantly! You can never be too careful when experimenting with things like these. Also, never experiment alone - if something goes wrong you will need help as soon as possible. A fire extinguisher will also come in handy in case something catches on fire. More high voltage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFpvQatLG5A Specifications: Input voltage: 240V AC Line frequency: 50Hz (New Zealand) Output voltage: 2100V AC Output voltage (dual stack): 4200V AC Primary current (single MOT): 40A Primary current (double MOT): 70A (these MOT's were small ones) Secondary current (single MOT): 4A Secondary current (double MOT): 3A Resonant capacitors: 2200V AC, 1μF each, 4μF total Note: the "ain't avin' it" was a reference to the brilliant genius, Photonic Induction. Please support his channel by subscribing to it if you haven't already: http://www.youtube.com/user/Photonvids His other channel is most appropriately named "IAintAvinIt", it's cool too: http://www.youtube.com/user/IAintAvinIt Soon I will film my television flyback driver, a high frequency HV power source. If you're watching my videos you might know that chemistry and electricity are quite expensive hobbies. If you like my videos please consider donating to me via PayPal; every cent is much appreciated and really helps improve and fund the channel. https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BTGCFJYNSAT7E