How to Colonize an Asteroid
Before you plug the Nail Shooter into the wall socket, make sure that the switches for each of the individual capacitive discharge supplies is turned off. You could blow a fuse if all are turned on initially, as the capacitors draw quite a load when they first begin to charge.
Turn on the main power switch, and then the logic supply. If either indicator does not come on, turn the power switch off and recheck all wiring connections.
Start with a single coil test. Turn on the capacitive discharge power supply for the first coil and let it charge (Until the lamp for that supply goes out). Insert the projectile until the front end of it is just entering the first coil. If you insert the projectile in to the center of the coil, the magnetic field will just temporarily lock it in place. If you push it all of the way through to the other side of the coil, it will come shooting out backwards at you. Remember, the coils can only PULL the projectile, they cannot give it a push.
When all is ready, check for people or objects which may be hurt by the projectile. Even with only one coil, the projectile can travel 10 feet or more. Press the LAUNCH button (Actually, you are just manually triggering the first capacitive discharge power supply) and the projectile should go vooooommm!!!! You will probably loose it in a dark corner of the room - so make sure that you have made plenty! One thing which works very well to save many of the projectiles is to place a thick hunk of styrofoam about a foot and a half from the end of the accelerator tube. This will catch the projectiles for you - you can dig them out of it with a pocket knife.
If the single coils test worked correctly, try turning on all of the coils. The only difference in the procedure described above would be to ensure that you only turn on one of the capacitive discharge supplies at a time, and wait a few seconds for it to mostly charge before turning on the next supply. If you have a separate power switch for your projectile detection system, be sure that it is activated also.
WARNING! When you are done, there may still be a hefty charge in the capacitive discharge power supplies. There is a bleeder resistor across the capacitor, but it will take up to 10 or 15 minutes for it to completely discharge the circuit. Use extreme caution when putting the engine away.