Viewing / Photographing Specimens
Using the Transparent Electrode or Film Cartridge
Top image illustrates how to use the transparent electrode to view or photograph a specimen such as a leaf or coin. First, place the supplied clear Acrylic square plate directly on the film plate. Fabricate a ground plate, slightly smaller that the specimen, out of aluminum foil or sheet metal. Place this on the acrylic plate. Plug the supplied alligator clip into either the red Positive High Voltage output jack (for positive polarity), or the black ground output jack (for reverse polarity). Clip a cat's whisker wire in the alligator clip and route it to the ground plate. Place the specimen on top of the ground plate so that it completely covers the ground plate. Connect the transparent electrode to the remaining open output jack, and place it on top of the specimen. You will have to adjust the positioning of the transparent electrode so that it lays evenly upon the specimen so that you will get an even coronal discharge. Push the pulse button to view the coronal discharge. If image is not bright enough, either specimen is too large or you are holding the transparent electrode against the specimen with too much pressure.

Bottom image illustrates how to make a photograph of a specimen using polaroid film, or normal photographic paper. First, plug in the alligator clip into the Red or Black output jack. Connect jumper from the remaining output jack to the film plate jack. Insert a new film cartridge into a polaroid one step camera. The cover sheet will eject, leaving the first film sheet ready on top. In total darkness, remove the film cartridge from the polaroid and the entire polaroid film cartridge on the film plate. You may simply use regular photo paper if you desire, laying it face up on the film plate. Place specimen directly on the film. Make ground plate (as outlined in the above paragraph) and place on top of specimen. Route the cat's whisker so that it is touching the ground plate. Place the Acrylic plate on top of the specimen to help hold it flat against the film. Press the pulse button to photograph the image. You should be able to see the bluish discharge through the clear acrylic plate. If not, the specimen may be too large or you are putting too much pressure on it against the film surface. Place film cartridge back into polaroid camera to develop film. Leave film cartridge in polaroid until you take another image.