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.