Hi there.

I am new around here, but i am glad to have found your community and am excited to get involved. I suppose i should introduce myself before i state my query, I am a kinetic artist, based in Australia you can see some of my previous projects at: http://michaelcandy.com/.

I am starting work on a project that is designed to 'fry' electronic devices using high voltages (don't worry, this will not be an act of anarchy or the likes. instead an exploration into our dependency on technological devices in everyday life, and the necessity of these devices). i was planing on using a simple flyback transformer circuit to arc through devices such as mobile phones & i-pods in a safely enclosed environment. My only question is; will a flyback transformer have enough amps to destroy the circuits within such devices? or will it simply pass through larger metallic parts, such as the devices case, without damaging its inner bits?

And feel free to notify me if this was a stupid question, my knowledge into circuitry only goes so far!

 

Start by looking up Faraday Cage. Any device with a continuous metal shield is almost impervious to external electric fields. If you want smoke and sparks, you must defeat the external shielding and also provide a path for the current to come out the other side.

 

First of all color television flyback transformers can pack a big enough punch to hurt if not kill you, so learn something about high voltage safety before you start experimenting.

Most likely, you can burn small spots on devices with an arc from the flyback transformer, but although a large television flyback transformer can supply 20 or 30 watts, it can only put out high voltage at a comparitively low current. Therefore, low resistance loads (parts to destroy) will not dissipate much power.

Please read:
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_3/1.html
And especially:
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_3/4.html

Interestingly, some of the effects in the second article will help you understand how to destroy things more effectively with electricity.

 

If the high tech stuff doesn't die in an interesting way, you can use mains power on a small electrolytic capacitor. A 25 uf capacitor with a 25 volt rating goes off like a small firecracker and adds smoke and odor to the experience. Just hide it behind the alleged victim.

Oh wait...I'm not supposed to tell you to play with mains power on this site. Be sure to use an isolating transformer on the mains power so you don't get a shock

 

I think he wants to video the arc destroying the object. Now tht's kinetic art.