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Power Supply capable of shocking soil

Hi, I'm working on a biology project at my high school. I'm raising worms in a small tank of dirt (about 1.5 feet long 1 foot tall 1 foot wide). I heard worms could be drawn up through the soil by passing an electric current through it. Here's my problem, I tried using my teachers power supply connected to two iron nails in the damp soil. The power supply plugs into the wall and provides from 0-20 volts either AC or DC to the probes. I don't know an exceptional amount about electricity but I used a voltage meter to measure the voltage passing through the soil. I measured 10 volts through the soil when the supply was set to its highest (20 volts). Is this sufficient information to calculate current?

I was only able to draw up one worm with this weak amount of energy. I understand it is current and not voltage that will be the determining factor here. I would like to design a power supply of my own. I have a transformer that is labeled with input 120 volt and output 24 volt. If I use this what will the current be? Is it safe relatively safe? I would like to give the worms a good shock without using something capable of killing a human. What is the power range I'm looking for and what do I need to get it there (just a transformer or more)? Should I rectify the output?

All responses greatly appreciated, thank you.

Reply to
sbben
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I don't know, but surplus stores used to advertise surplus phone ringers (ie from military field phones) as useful for bringing worms to the surface. These were hand-cranked generators, which I don't know the output of, but if someone else does it might answer the question.

Michael

Reply to
Michael Black

doing!

I wonder if the fire ant would leave if the soil were energized?

Reply to
Lord Garth

It's around 100V AC , 20Hz for these old-stlye field telephones. Maybe ist is a possibility to use current limited mains voltage. Use an isolation transformer under any circumstances and be very careful what you are doing! Or get such a military phone...

Andreas

Reply to
Andreas Rutz

I wonder if they would just catch on fire. But as to the question of bringing worms to the surface: How could you be so mean? Well, if you are that cruel, wanting to shock defenseless worms until they do your bidding and all, you'll need about 90 volts minimum. It seems AC works best. I dunno why, but that's what worked when I was a kid. And after you get all those worms to surface mebbe you should consider a career in the military working at Gitmo. ERS

Reply to
Eric R Snow

Fair radio sales...google them

They had a hand crank generator on their site a while back that they touted as a good "worm shocker"

Reply to
cornytheclown

ist

WOW! You ever go fishing? These womanized "men" these days get on my f****ng nerves.

Reply to
John

Oh John, how can you say that? You've hurt my feelings! Sob! John, my post was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. If I was really worried about hurting worms why would I have posted the method to do it. Maybe you should drink a little more coffee before you read the posts. Or maybe I should stop my pathetic attempts at humor. I thought that the deliberate misspellings would sort of be a clue. Guess I was wrong. Not the first time. Cheers, Eric R Snow

Reply to
Eric R Snow

When I was your age I grew red wigglers and Lousiana pinks to sell in bait shops. (A truly gross out way for a teenager to earn pocket money) I had

12 beds about 4'x16' full of cow manure and yard clippings. When I needed to harvest a bed I would sprinkle it with water and use an old crank type telephone generator. I would work down the bed with a couple of pieces of copper rod and the worms would come to the surface where I could scoop them up. Worked a lot better than a shovel or garden fork because it didn't damage the worms. Unfortunately I have no idea how much voltage it was but it could give a pretty good shock.

Eventually I upgraded to a Model T spark coil from JC Whitney. The worms would just about jump into the bucket. :-)

-- Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack there of) at:

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Reply to
Glenn Ashmore

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