Bob, at 07:53 on Apr 21 1996, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

BG> Why not do as I once did - make sure the door knob is isolated
BG> from any other metal, then attach a 240VAC mains lead to it,
BG> switched ON at night. Just don't forget to turn it off when you
BG> get up each morning, that's all. And yes, I know that man traps
BG> are illegal, but I really don't care any more. 

BL> I considered it... or a solar powered 5KV generator, anyway;

ROFL!  It needs to work at NIGHT, when most burglars do their prowling.

BL> just leave bare wires hanging down inside the door and a switch no one
BL> could miss.

Except for the uninvited, of course...

BL> I designed a lovely little flyback oscillator that ran off 12V, but
BL> I never got around to installing it. I reckon you could sell a think
BL> like that.

I doubt it.  Even if it's not lethal, it could still be classified as a
man-trap.  Seems that crims have more rights than victims these days.

BL> They sell negative ion generators with a voltage multiplier to about 
BL> 5KV out of 0.01uF capacitors. They'd go rather well, if you made up a 
BL> little 12V solar battery and arranged a mesh of fine wires hanging just 
BL> inside the shed door. You could almost guarantee no burglar would get
BL> more than one step past the mesh! ROFL!!!

I guess you could also disconnect the ultor lead from your CTV when you go
to bed, and attach it to your door, although I can't imagine too many
burglars being stupid enough to grab a doorknob with a 12" diameter
corona.  :)

Regards, Bill

--- Msgedsq/2 3.20