Post Presentation Review

My presentation went fairly well. The main idea that cropped up repeatedly was that the portrayal of electromagnetic fields would have been more powerful if it had been done on a less obviously electrical site. This was something I looked into early on during site selection. I discuss this in my portfolio and give criteria that led me to the site I chose.
The main problem with my presentation that caused this to crop up was that I didn't manage to express properly that along with my investigation of EM Fields, I was also attempting to embrace the spectacle of electrical consumption and the infrastructure required. Looking back I still feel that with this two-fold purpose in mind i made the right site selection.

Final Model images

Progress so far

Bits and Pieces

Here is a sample of some of the supporting components that will be going inside/around the model. These are built in the same manner as the eletrical towers for reasons of strength, simplicity, transparency, and also to provide a visual connection between the inside and outside zones.

Substrate Complete

Rough expressive sketch

Here's a quick and dirty conte drawing of the effect I'm looking for.

Drawings

I've been working on the mechanisms that are going to be placed within my site model. I've determined the types of mechanisms required for my design and have began to place them within the model in such a way as to provide an even density within the entire volume. I transferred the hydro tower aesthetic to the interior of the building. This type of construction makes sense for what I'm building in a couple of ways: it's a strong, yet relatively transparent construction method that uses the same materials I'm already working with while also bridging the gap between inside and outside visually.
I expect to have at least a couple more mechanisms as additional relationships and requirements are stumbled upon during construction.

Where I'm at

This project began with exploring my surroundings with a pickup from an electric guitar. This component when coupled with an amplifier circuit responds to magnetic fields of all types and produces sound.

When working with static magnetic fields from normal magnets movement through the field is required due to the dynamic nature of electromagnetic induction. A number of resources are available to explain how this works in detail, but basically a conductor (such as the wire coil in the pickup I was using) when exposed to a magnetic field that moves relative to it (either through moving the magnetic field or the conductor) causes a voltage to be induced in the conductor. The amount of voltage induced is dependent on the strength of the magnetic field and the speed the magnetic field crosses the conductor as well as the amount of conductor exposed. This is usually amplified by using a coil of wire as the conductor which multiplies the amount of conductor exposed to the field.

Electrical current flow causes an electromagnetic field to be produced surrounding the electrical wires and components involved. This field also causes electromagnetic induction in exposed conductors. The difference with this setup is the magnetic field is dependent on current flow.

In Direct Current (DC) circuits the field can be created and destroyed by turning the current on or off. This creation and destruction of the field causes it to expand and contract which can induce voltage in a conductor without the need for movement of either component.

In Alternating Current (AC) circuits the constantly changing polarity causes a very dynamic electromagnetic field that is continually cycling at the AC system’s 60 Hz (60 cycles per second) frequency. This active electromagnetic field induces a steady and consistent frequency signal in exposed conductors. While the frequency is constant, the voltage level in the conductor is dependent on the the amount of conductor windings in the field and the strength of field it is exposed to (which is in turn dependent on the number of electromagnetic field sources and their proximity to the conductor).

The exploration of my environment began by walking around my immediate surroundings with the pickup and checking obviously electrical components to see the strength of electromagnetic fields.

Electrical wires and outlets produced a relatively small electromagnetic field while devices such as motors, monitors and computers created a larger field. While it was expected that I would find a significant electromagnetic field presence inside our well-wired buildings it was my outdoor explorations that provided the most surprises.

Power lines and transformer stations such as the one at Annabella St. at the Red River produce large fields that reach well beyond the physical dimensions of the structures that contain/support these electrical components.

In my consequential research i came across the work of Richard Box who planted hundreds of fluorescent tubes beneath a set of power lines. During periods of high electrical consumption such as at night the mercury vapour in the tubes becomes excited by the electromagnetic field located beneath the high voltage lines and causes the phosphor to fluoresce, providing a visual interpretation of the phenomena surrounding it.

Following this discovery I set out to replicate this experiment. I set up a transformer which when triggered would produced high voltage pulses of electricity. I managed to reach in the neighbourhood of 100,000 volts which jumped an air gap of an inch and a half. Using a compass to give me an indication of the magnetic field present I was able to find that the transformer when in operation had an electromagnetic field with a radius of approximately 8-10 inches. I placed a compact fluorescent bulb (still not electrically connected) an inch from the transformer and was able to see it flicker in unison with the transformer’s operation. This gave me a visual medium for expressing the electromagnetic field.

These fields are very much a part of our physical environment; a fact which is largely overlooked as it is not a presence that we are naturally equipped to sense. We require interpretation into a form our senses can register. My investigations up till this point have been to provide audible and visual cues to indicate the presence of these fields.

Next I will have to find a way to use this interpreted sensorial data to create an architectural project.

Contenders; Tale of the tape

I've been considering the elements I've been working with in a few different ways to figure out how best to use them.

Relative size (area) of influence:
EMF < Motion < Light < Sound

Relative expressive potential (area of observability):
EMF < Light < Motion < Sound

Making all that power useful

I've managed to figure out how to (mis)use a relatively cheap product that converts an analogue signal to a high amperage capable square wave digital trigger. This will bridge the gap allowing various devices (such as mics) to be used as inputs to trigger the high voltage environment I've been building.

Success, kinda

I switched to a larger capacity battery so I could more completely saturate the transformer coils. This has allowed me to more than double the air gap the electricity is able to bridge. The measurement device I've been using doesn't read past 35,000 Volts so I have no idea what voltage I've managed to attain.

This is a gap of about 1-1/2 inches.
With this level of voltage I now have a strong enough Electromagnetic field that I can light up a compact fluorescent bulb with the induced voltage alone. It lights up dimly which is where my main problem stems from. In order to use this powering of the bulb for presentation I need to have a completely dark area for it to be noticable. This may not be the most effective means of showing what I'm looking at.

Here volty volty...

Tweaking the switching system and using a different coil I managed to reach 25,000 Volts. I followed that up with installing a condenser (capacitor used to control counter EMF when the coil field collapses) which raised it up to around 35,000 Volts.
I'm now going to work towards testing if this is enough voltage to create a strong enough Electromagnetic Field to do some work.

Moving Forward

It's become clear that time is running short and that I will have to set my sights on a goal very soon.
Currently I'm trying to build a device that will give me high enough voltage that the surrounding Electromagnetic Field will be strong enough to perform some form of work (eg. powering a light, operating a switch or relay, etc.). If I'm unable to attain high voltage levels safely then I will need to refocus on what I can do with the amount of voltage I have to work with- Sound.

Abstract

My goals for the last two months are to rekindle the spectacle of electricity while awakening new understanding of the less tangible aspects of electrical consumption. This combination of exhuming lost appreciation while also unearthing new information and understanding should create an engaging exploration of the electrical presence that surrounds us.
The main mechanism for investigation will be to explore electromagnetic fields and use sound and light projection to express this normally unobserved presence.

Using Magnetic fields

I've managed to find an example of someone using the magnetic fields beneath power lines:














Richard Box planted 1301 fluorescent tubes that are not physically hooked up to anything- powered only by the EMF from the overhead lines.
Mre info:
http://www.richardbox.com

Model

I managed to get the majority of my pieces cut by the laser cutter before the plug was pulled- the benefit of being prepared early I guess.
My site model is nearly complete so it's time to get my installation all figured out.
I plan to portray the forgotten aspects of of electrical infrastructure through projection.
The phases I'm going to portray (bad electrical pun- accidental I swear) are:
-Generation
-Alteration (transforming)
-Monitoring, Correcting
-Transfer

The modes of display are light, audio, and physical projection (shadows, sounds, and components breaking out of the buildings interior space)

Pieces and pieces and pieces

Scale Issues

I've been looking at breaking my model up into pieces to be cut on the laser cutter. The scale I've been looking at up until now is going to cause a lot of extra joints in assembly. In order to make this model with a reasonable amount of joints (and resultant- a reasonable amount of rigidity)- is to make it @ 1/4": 1' scale (or 1:48).

AutoCAD Drawings

Here's a look at what i've been doing:

A forgotten spectacle

Power supply stations were, not that long ago, once considered spectacular. Consider the World's Columbian Exposition 1893 in Chicago. The Tesla and Westinghouse collaboration that provided electrical lighting for the fair was the highlight for many attendees and the powerhouse itself was an exhibit.









Now we have such buildings all over the place and no one cares.

Annabella

Annabella (or at least a portion of it) is going to be my site.

Site Resolution

After some discussion tomorrow I should be able to declare which site I'm going with.

Half a step back

I think I need to take a bit of a step back to gain a little perspective. I've been looking at sites and I'm starting to think that I may have lost site of what I'm looking for and why.
This may clear itself up when I pick up the digital recorder I'm renting and get audio recordings.
I also plan to build an induced voltage sensor from a toothbrush to see what kind of readings I can pick up from items on site.

Site (Round 3)

I saw this site from a distance yesterday and it intrigued me. I got back to it today for pictures.














-Image taken from Disraeli Bridge.












































Some detail images.

Site- (Round 2)

The Electrical station at Pacific and Lily seems to fit the criteria of what I need in a site.

Site???

I have an idea for a site.
Background first:
- I was looking at high density areas as per previous input
- My investigation of the electrical in my home made me think of using an old derelict building to retrofit towards modernizing electrically (and likely parasitically).

I have a building I would like to use:















The Gray's Auction Bldg on King.

Magnetic EMF

I've been looking more into magnetic fields and the forms they create since our last discussion.
I've also been tracing the layout of the electrical system in my house to look at implementation. My house is proving to be particularly interesting due to its age. It was built in 1924 so it had limited electrical for many years. The electrical in it can be seen as a series of additions built on top of each other.
Here are some images I pulled off the internet indicative of the kinds of things I've been investigating.

Site Selection

I believe I've found a site that meets the criteria required by my project (namely light, movement, a place to be observed/interacted with)