How To: Make a "Shocking" Deck of Prank Playing Cards Packed with 330 Volts of Electricity

A deck of cards may be a magician's best way to demonstrate his or her's sleight of hand, but for the prankster, it's the perfect way to deliver a shocking 300 volts of electricity! And that's exactly what I'm going to show you how to do today. Stuart Edge used it in his "Electric Shock Kissing Prank" to show the ladies how a man can really put the sparks in a kiss.

WARNING: This electric shocker outputs around 330 volts DC, and delivers a surprising jolt. Be familiar with dangers associated with electric shocks, minor burns, damage to tissues, and possibility of cardiac arrest. This project should not be attempted without adult supervision and adequate training. Misuse, or careless use, of tools or projects may result in serious injury. Use of this video content is at your own risk.

This deck of cards may look normal enough, but it has a very shocking secret! 330 volts to be exact!

I made this gadget for Stuart Edge to use in his "Electric Shock Kissing Prank". Using a magic card trick as a decoy, Stuart and his friend Kaitlin Snow got volunteers to kiss them to see if they could "feel the magic".

When their lips touched, a 330 volt connection was made and the sparks were flying.

But how does it work?

This Is How I Made It...

The secret is in the shocker circuit integrated into the deck.

When the "stealthy"oil tape electrodes are touched by the user and the volunteer, only 1 more connection needs to be made to complete the circuit.

In this case, the circuit is completed with a kiss, and that is where the majority of the electric shock is felt.

Have you ever felt magic in a kiss?

Using the deck to charge a capacitor, and discharging on a piece of aluminum foiled demonstrates the power that can be captured from the device.

Here's How to Build It...

I started by heading to a local drug store and stopping at the photo center. They usually have a whole bin full of disposable cameras ready to be shipped for recycling, and I get them free each time I ask.

For this project, I had a FujiFilm Camera, model #1A2L1701. No particular reason for this brand, it's just the one I picked first.

If you want to follow the next steps exactly, you can look for the model number on the outside of the casing.

Opening the case, you'll find a circuit board. This board drives the camera flash and charges an electrolytic capacitor with 330 volts. You'll probably get shocked you if you take it out bare handed. To avoid getting shocked, use a piece of metal to short out the 2 leads on the capacitor, as seen in the pictures.

The circuit needs to conceal inside the deck, so it has to be made smaller. Much smaller.

To do this, desolder the 5 components seen here in my free schematic diagram and solder the components directly to themselves as depicted.

I also chose to add a AAA battery holder and a 1M Ohm tuning potentiometer to adjust the voltage output.

3 wires come off the transformer. 1 goes to the potentiometer, 1 goes to battery positive, and the other goes to battery negative, and continues on out. This should leave 2 leads exposed, which will later be attached to the shocker pads.

The last step is to fold some paper around the circuit, and fill with copious amounts of hot glue. This should strengthen the components by holding them firm in place.

My shocker circuit was the equivalent of 40 cards tall, so I used a hobby knife, and a plastic template I made to cut all 40 cards in a way that would accommodate the circuit.

The circuit is a good fit, and because nothing is glued together, the cards can move freely, giving the illusion that it's just a normal deck.

To make the secret shocker pads, I cut a hold in the bottom card, and wrapped conductive foil tape (from most hardware stores) through the hole, and around both sides. The shocker circuit sits on top, and the wires connect to each respective pad.

Note: The hole needs to be large enough that the pads won't touch each other and short out .. and the user needs to be aware that touching them both at the same time will result in an accidental self shock.

The last 11 or 12 cards just sit on top, can shuffle freely, and give the appearance everything is normal.

The best part is, it all fits back into the original packaging.

Stuart Edge brought me a nicer carrying case, and it was an easy transfer. Now this gadget was 100% ready for his kissing prank video.

You can see him holding one side of the cards (one electrode) and the guest holding the other side (opposite electrode).

When they kiss, do they feel the magic?

You be the judge.

It's important to remember that even though the amount of current flowing in this circuit is extremely low, there may be risks associated with electric shocks. It's important to be aware of the risks, and make safety a top concern.

Well, there you have it! That's how to put the electricity in your kiss. But it's up to you to find your partner.

If you haven't see the video yet, it's not too late. See it here! If you like this project perhaps you'll like some of my others. Check them out at thekingofrandom.com.