Heard a theory on capacitor darts

[kernPanic]

It would still freak the person out... Theyd probably think they got shot with a BB gun or something. Or tasered.

But are capacitors that big that they can hold such a charge to taze a person?

[TheFallen]

probably...

You'd want two needles, like they do in actual tazers. You want to generate about 10kV between them but at negligible amperage, say 1microAmp. Looking at http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/circ/...n/stungun.html It seems your wanting a jolt of around 15-25kWatts. You can probably get that through a capacitor just plain shorting, obviously you won't have any control mechanisms. I'd go for a 0.005microfarad capacitor at 10kV. Calculate more here http://230nsc1.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbas...ic/capeng.html

[Necromancer]

Thanks Fallen. Damned useful stuff. Also, I'll try with two needles as you said, but I'm not sure how I'll manage it. Any ideas on how to modify the design?

[TheFallen]

not really
it depends on the size of the capacitor.

[nme]

Well to be honest, Your friend isn't the first to theorize such a design. I've designed and also made (although shoddily) a pneumatic taser-gun in which the 'bullet' is in fact a charged Camera flash capacitor. (Prefect size/shape). Also had plans to a few guidance things, such as fins etc. A tail-fin or rifling seems the best option, if at all necessary..
Right ye seem to be talking about two different methods no? For clarities sake:

One where it's surface impact and upon striking something the cap is shorted, thus producing a large bang and shock (As when a high-voltage cap is shorted using a screwdriver).
The other, where two electrodes come in contact with the skin, or indeed penetrate it, and thus use your flesh as the 'electrolyte', give you a huge shock. If the two electrodes are indeed needles and penetrate the skin, thus causing the capacitor to remain in contact with you, You will be continuously shocked until either the capacitor is removed or discharges beyond being able to bridge.

The latter would be the preferred method, as all energy will be directly discharged through you and you wouldn't simply be in close proximity to an explosion.

When charged caps are shorted, most to not technically explode as such. This is more likely to occur if current is applied in the wrong direction or overpowers the capacitor.
Btw, Flash caps seems to be of the perfect voltage and amp inductance (Due to pin distance etc) as to give a non-lethal charge that can be applied to friends etc with no ill-effect. (Not recommended of course. Heart-problems and such could play a part). Thus I'd recommend them to a beginner, also considering that they're easy to obtain.

[Irish_Sniper]

I understand that your trying to make something home made to shock people over extended distances but if you want to see what is commercially available you can check out the following link:
http://www.taser.com/PRODUCTS/LAW/Pages/XREP.aspx

It is a self contained capacitor that is shot from a shotgun like a regular 12 guage shell. I think it seen it on Future Weapons, It looks like something you wouldn't want to get shot with