Helium balloon and Xmas lights

[W. eWatson]

I have a string of about 8 Xmas lights that run off two C batteries. The
string is 4' long, and weighs about 1/4 pound. I plan to launch a
tethered (30') balloon before the 25th. I plan to turn on the lights at
6 pm and off at 10 pm. Presently, I would need to pull the balloon down
and disengage the power. Maybe there's some simple timer I could use.
I'll probably use two AA batteries instead of the C batteries to reduce
the weight. Two C batteries weigh about 2/3 pound.

My balloon will probably be a 10-15 gallon garbage bag filled with helium.

Comments?

 

[W. eWatson]

You will need more balloon. A helium filled balloon will lift about
one ounce per cubic foot. Your 10 to 15 gallon garbage bag will have a
volume of 1.3 to 2 cubic feet.

Thanks. That could simplify matters. Two lights and a single AA battery.
I could get to 28 gallons.

Possibly a better idea is to get a 15' wooden pole and drive it into the
ground. Drive a 3' pipe into the ground, and put the pole in it. I
already have one like that for a bird perch. I can supply the power from
an outlet up front on our property. I could still use small balloons to
afix the lights to, and the effect would be that the lights move around
with the wind. Some things to think about. I can use a timer on the ground.

 

[Kaz Kylheku]

Comments?

Hydrogen balloons, arc lamps.

 

[Winston]

Thanks. That could simplify matters. Two lights and a single AA battery.
I could get to 28 gallons.

Possibly a better idea is to get a 15' wooden pole and drive it into the
ground. Drive a 3' pipe into the ground, and put the pole in it. I
already have one like that for a bird perch. I can supply the power from
an outlet up front on our property. I could still use small balloons to
afix the lights to, and the effect would be that the lights move around
with the wind. Some things to think about. I can use a timer on the ground.

Or nix the balloon(s) and affix lights to a long piece of
welding rod. (Which does not explore the countryside
if it suffers metal fatigue and snaps).

--Winston

 

[W. eWatson]

Why don't you leave the batteries on the ground end?

Not a bad idea, bit the wire might be too heavy.

 

[Kaz Kylheku]

Not a bad idea, bit the wire might be too heavy.

Make it a stiff metal rod.

 

[JW]

Use a clear bag and put the lights inside!
I use to use dry cleaning bags that were clear.
I used natural gas in one bag and it lifted an incandescent lamp and
battery just fine. This was about 40 years ago.

Why am I having visions of shooting a flaming arrow at that?

ObBeavisandButthead: "hehehehe... that'd be cool!"

 

[Rich Grise]

I have a string of about 8 Xmas lights that run off two C batteries. The
string is 4' long, and weighs about 1/4 pound. I plan to launch a
tethered (30') balloon before the 25th. I plan to turn on the lights at
6 pm and off at 10 pm. Presently, I would need to pull the balloon down
and disengage the power. Maybe there's some simple timer I could use.
I'll probably use two AA batteries instead of the C batteries to reduce
the weight. Two C batteries weigh about 2/3 pound.

My balloon will probably be a 10-15 gallon garbage bag filled with helium.

Comments?

Do you plan to pull it down at 10 PM and put it away? Or leave it up there,
just off? You could probably get some lightweight 2-conductor wire that
you could string along with the balloon's string, with a switch at the
low end.

If I was gonna use the timer idea, I'd probably do one of the standard
4017/watch crystal things.

Have Fun!
Rich

 

[Rich Grise]

Helium is expensive

That depends where you shop. I work at a fab shop[1], and we have a regular
gas guy come around with acetylene, oxygen, argon mixes, and etc., and I
mentioned a small helium tank to him, and he said, "Oh, for that I could
probably just bring one by and let you borrow it."

My idea is to use a HUGE trash bag (or even a dry cleaning garment bag[2])
for the helium, a static-free bag for some oxyacetylene mix, and some
cotton twine; soak the wine in kerosene, light it and let it go free,
and see if it breaks any windows. >:->

Have Fun!
Rich

[1] welding and machining - one one side of the shop they take big pieces of
metal and cut them up to make little pieces of metal, and on the other side
of the shop they take little pieces of metal and stick them together to
make big pieces of metal.

[2] does anybody know if those surplus places still sell those 8' weather
balloons?

 

[Terminal Crazy]

My idea is to use a HUGE trash bag (or even a dry cleaning garment
bag[2]) for the helium, a static-free bag for some oxyacetylene mix, and
some cotton twine; soak the wine in kerosene, light it and let it go
free, and see if it breaks any windows. >:->

Have Fun!

Hi
When you do, would you video it. I've wanted to do that for years.

 

[Tom Del Rosso]

You can find some light wire, very thin.
Keep in mind the electroststic hazard and possible contact with
overhead wires.

If the wire is very small guage it will have more resistance. You might
need twice as many batteries to compensate for the voltage drop in the wire.
A little testing will answer that. It's easy to add more batteries if
they're on the ground, and also easy to change them.