westfw:
(The Electronic flash is about 350V, and nearly-lethal energy. Short the cap (carefully) and you get the first type of sparks. The flash itself is more the second type (but specialized, cause ionized Xenon and stuff.)) Sparks are actually rather complicated things...
The person I was with when I did that spark measured 720v before we discharged it. Me being so new to all of this thought that sounded like an abnormally high number but he assured me that's what the meter said. I'm a bit concerned now by that nearly lethal energy part? For the record he told me the fact...
Is this your point raschemmel? Am I out of my depth? Pardon the pun, but am I playing with fire? I'll level with you - I'm a pretty impulsive person and tend to run before I can walk when learning things. I'm actually quite good at that, although it does leave big gaps in my foundation knowledge that I need to fill as I go along. Because all of the circuits I've been working with are powered by everyday household batteries, I didn't really think there could be copious amounts of danger involved in working with them I was careful. Nothing else I've ever learned in this way has been particularly dangerous so I guess I'm used to being complacent when skipping ahead or asking those curious questions. That also goes for the legality of anything I've mentioned (big EMPs were only a hypothetical topic) - I didn't really think anything powered by 2x 1.5v batteries could be illegal, especially if it never left my workstation.
I have worked in theater tech and live stage lighting/sound before but I've never done pyrotechnics. I've been looking up the laws in my area, and there's a bit of ambiguity that I'll need to look further into. It looks like there is a bit of a distinction between stage/theatrical pyrotechnics and fireworks; most of the given laws seem to relate to fireworks, and the licenses also seem to be required by fireworks display personnel. There's also a point that states you can manufacture explosives without any license in a certain low quantity without storing them if the point is research or experimentation, and also if commissioned by a TV show or for 'cinematic effects'. I think to properly clarify where I stand, I'd have to know at least what the explosion in the little box that goes vsst is.