# Turning Desert Fog into Fresh Water Using 50,000 volts Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wa2JEYl9jU Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/-wa2JEYl9jU Generated: 2025-10-31T14:34:23.837+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The creator successfully built a highly efficient, 50,000-volt electrostatic fog condenser prototype that yielded 9 ml/minute of water in low wind conditions and achieved an impressive 21 ml/Wh efficiency, significantly outperforming existing fog harvesting nets which typically extract only 2% of available water. **Key Points:** - The electrostatic fog condenser achieved a water collection rate of 9 ml per minute in low wind conditions. - The device demonstrated a high energy efficiency of 21 ml/Wh, which is 50% more efficient than existing fog nets that typically extract only 2-10% of available water. - The high-voltage DC power for the condenser is supplied by a custom-built driver circuit, which steps up 12V battery power to 50kV AC. - The design features two independently angled collection wings (Layout 2) to accommodate different wind directions, increasing effectiveness in variable weather. - The creator built the custom components, including the high-voltage transformer driver board, using a Formlabs resin printer and perforated circuit board prototyping. - The experiment was conducted in a simulated desert environment created in a garage using sand and drought-adapted succulent plants. ![Screenshot at 00:02: Demonstrating the initial success, water droplets are collected on the metal rail after the fog condensation process is initiated, confirming the device's function.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-00-02.png) **Context:** This video documents the development and testing of a custom, high-voltage electrostatic fog condenser designed to extract potable water from fog, addressing water scarcity in arid regions like the Atacama Desert. The creator details the iterative design process, starting from a simpler model and ultimately building a dual-wing structure powered by a custom high-voltage driver circuit capable of producing 50,000 volts. ## Detailed Analysis The creator documents the two-week process of designing, building, and testing an electrostatic fog condenser intended to be more efficient than existing fog-harvesting nets. The initial design used a single-wing setup, but the final design (Layout 2) features dual, independently angled wings to ensure fog exposure even with variable wind patterns. The device is powered by a custom driver circuit that steps up 12V battery power to 50kV AC using a custom-wound transformer and a ZVS driver circuit, which generates the electrostatic field necessary to collect water droplets from the fog. The entire structure, including the central stake and support arms, was 3D-printed in blue plastic. The testing setup included a simulated desert environment on the garage floor, complete with sand and succulents. The initial test with the single-wing design produced 9 ml/minute of water at 40 watts, yielding 14 ml/Wh efficiency. After redesigning the structure to the dual-wing configuration, the efficiency jumped to 21 ml/Wh, a significant improvement over traditional nets that extract only about 2% of the available water. The final test showed the dual-wing setup successfully condensing fog into multiple streams of pure water, proving the concept works effectively even with simulated, unpredictable airflow. ### Fog Condenser Design Iterations - Layout 1 featured a double-layered, circular ionic condenser with a central powered stake and multiple support stakes - Layout 2 used an X or chevron shape with all electrodes extending from a central powered stake, ensuring fog passes through condensing sites twice. ### Electronics and Power - The system uses a custom driver circuit built on perfboard, featuring a high-voltage transformer driven by a 555 timer circuit, stepping up battery power to 50kV AC to generate electrostatic thrust. ### Testing Environment Setup - A simulated desert environment was constructed in the garage using approximately 500 pounds of sand and small, drought-adapted succulent plants, with water collection measured using a digital scale. ### Performance Results - The final dual-wing design achieved 21 ml/Wh efficiency, collecting 9 ml/minute of pure water from fog, demonstrating a 50% improvement over the initial design's 14 ml/Wh. ![Screenshot at 00:02: Demonstrating the initial success, water droplets are collected on the metal rail after the fog condensation process is initiated, confirming the device's function.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-00-02.png) ![Screenshot at 00:18: The creator shows the custom-designed, one-of-a-kind fog condenser, which is significantly more portable than existing versions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-00-18.png) ![Screenshot at 00:29: The various 3D-printed components of the fog condenser, including the central stake and support structures, laid out on the sand.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-00-29.png) ![Screenshot at 01:41: The custom driver circuit board, featuring high-voltage transformers and capacitors, is shown before being encased.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-01-41.png) ![Screenshot at 02:05: Close-up of the perforated metal collection surface demonstrating successful condensation, with water droplets forming and dripping off the serrated edge.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-02-05.png) ![Screenshot at 03:01: Chalkboard drawing illustrating Layout 2, a double-layered chevron shape designed to capture fog passing by twice.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-03-01.png) ![Screenshot at 06:01: The creator uses 'Gloop' resin to permanently bond the custom-printed parts of the central assembly.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-06-01.png) ![Screenshot at 07:56: The custom driver board is shown operating, displaying output parameters and indicating high-frequency operation \(17.9 kHz at 75% duty cycle\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-07-56.png) ![Screenshot at 11:16: The two aluminum tubes acting as high-voltage grounds and structural supports are being assembled into the 3D-printed end caps.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-11-16.png) ![Screenshot at 13:50: The fully assembled, blue 3D-printed fog condenser generating a visible, high-voltage plasma arc between its two electrodes, demonstrating the 50kV output capability.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-wa2JEYl9jU/00-13-50.png)