Shock box

[haversin]

This is a project I've been wanting to do for years and finally got around to doing it. I remember as a kid going to a friends house and seeing a box of candy on a table. Someone said “have some candy” so I picked up the box and got quit the electric shock. Looked for something like it on the web and found a lot of shocking toys like pens, playing cards, chewing gum, laser pointers, thumb drives and games but no candy boxes. A lot of these toys had the following or similar warning:

Warning! This is not a toy. Emits an electric shock. Keep out of reach of children. Not suitable for children under 14 years of age. This product emits an electric shock and may interfere with electrical devices such as pacemakers, do not use if you suffer from epilepsy, a heart condition, or any similar or related illness, do not use if you are pregnant.

I wanted the box to give a somewhat weak electric shock and run on two AA cells. After a lot of experimenting and shocks! The following design was chosen. Note: this circuit can be simplified by using a LMC555 for the pulse generation. This chip can run on a supply voltage down to 1.5 volts. I had NE555 which need at least 4.5 volts so I used discrete transistors. The output voltage was measured using a I meg resistor in series with a 100k resistor with the scope probe across the 100k resistor.

[alan sailer]

The old saying still holds for me;

"Tarry thee not amongst those who engage in intentional shocks for they are surely non-believers and are not long for this world".

I also don't believe in people who say their dog never bites.

Cheers.

[haversin]

Yea the only one getting shocked by this thing is me. I look at the box with some fear and then get mad at myself for being afraid and pick it up!

[alan sailer]

Have at it :-)  It sounds like you already have a healthy Pavlovian response...

I'll also confess I've used a TENS unit a few times. Didn't do anything but be unpleasant.

Cheers.

[haversin]

I placed my shock box next to Kathy's Fall display of pumpkins on our fireplace.  She asked what it was and I said it was a "mystery box" she took the bait and picked it up! She didn't get mad and called me childish which of course is so true!