"Zombie" light bulbs

[Amie]

R charges C, neon strikes discharges C neon goes out, cool Minimalist oscillator!

I've ripped apart broken CFL's for the little choke in them,(my first ever radio project used one as an rfc/load), the ones that flashed didn't have the discharge resistor across the mains input that stops you getting nipped if you touch the contacts, (not my discovery). Same with the cheaper LED bulbs that use capacitor dropper instead of a switching circuit, they're also electrically "quiet" regards my listening to radio Caroline

Amie.

[ppppenguin]

You've got it. Relies on the fact that the striking voltage of a neon is rather higher than the sustaining voltage. A friend once built a pretty little flashing sculpture of several wire ended neons each with R and C. The whole thing sat on a B126 90V battery which were readily available in the 1960s/1970s.

Not just some lamps that don't have a discharge resistor. I've had shocks from the mains plug or IEC inlet of various kit over the years. Generally not hazardous unless you drop it on your foot. As with many shocks, it's not the leccy that's dangerous, it's your mechanical reaction.