23:45 < kate`> Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 01:42:36 +0100
23:46 < kate`> More reliablly (and less voltage):
23:46 < kate`> * Too much current through a glass diode will cause it to set on fire
23:46 < kate`> * Ditto for those cheap fiberglass potentiometers
23:46 < kate`> * Ignighters for model rockets: they look like little cermaic
23:46 < kate`>   capacitors; they're just a resistor designed to burst into flame
23:46 < kate`>   easily
23:46 < kate`> All of the above are fine off 5V (certinaly at the sort of current an
23:46 < kate`> ATX PSU gives out!), and will give a nice little yellow flame. Resistors
23:46 < kate`> wont burst into flames. Surface mount transistors will.
23:46 < kate`> I'd have any of those in a little package of powdered magnesium,
23:46 < kate`> surrounded by foil. An advantage over spark gaps is that you can just
23:46 < kate`> wrap it up and forget about it; you dont need to worry about distances
23:46 < kate`> or keeping electrodes seperate, or making sure the magnesium dosent get
23:46 < kate`> in the way, etc.