# Help us identify this mystery device

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-identify-this-mystery-device/793198>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 9, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-identify-this-mystery-device/793198 "2017-08-09T22:00:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-identify-this-mystery-device/793198/81 "2017-08-17T16:55:47Z")

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It could be some form of inverter

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**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-identify-this-mystery-device/793198/82 "2017-09-08T03:43:37Z")

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Just ran into these on youtube, and thought it might be related. A [Lichtenstein machine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krIy7YLuhrM)?

ETA: Sorry [Lichtenberg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E12nnpWc5c), that is.

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**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-identify-this-mystery-device/793198/83 "2017-09-08T14:16:04Z")

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Jacob’s ladder driver ? Thats the same as a neon tube driver isn’t it ?

The IC’s seem to be able to make some sort of wave form. The scale of which is set by a dial.  
The large transistors turn the waveform into a current, which is then used to charge the coil …

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**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-identify-this-mystery-device/793198/84 "2017-09-08T19:20:08Z")

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Driver for a singing Tesla coil, maybe?

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