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140KV Xray Transformer

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ChrisR

Thu Jul 21 2011, 12:21PM

Registered Member #4018 Joined: Thu Jul 21 2011, 10:08AM
Location: BNE, Australia
Posts: 3

Hi guys, I'm new to this site and have an interest in reading about high voltage stuff. Still quite an amateur. Anyway..

I've had this X-ray transformer sitting in the garage for about a year and wanted to know people's opinion in making this into a Jacob's ladder. I suspect the output current is too low? Also, there doesn't seem to be much data on Google on this model, is there a way to figure out which frequency to drive this thing at?

Here's a link to the Info Sticker on the side of it: here

Input 115V @8A, Output 140KV @ 5ma

Thanks!

Ash Small

Thu Jul 21 2011, 12:39PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

ChrisR wrote ...

. is there a way to figure out which frequency to drive this thing at?

Here's a link to the Info Sticker on the side of it: here

.

Well, the plate says 50/60 Hz. It looks like you just plug it into the mains. (assuming you have 115 V 50/60 Hz mains)

5mA should be enough for a Jacob's ladder, but I don't know enough about those transformers to know if it will be OK to effectively short it like that.

Dr. ISOTOP

Thu Jul 21 2011, 12:45PM

Registered Member #2919 Joined: Fri Jun 11 2010, 06:30PM
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 652

Jacob's ladders want high current, low-ish voltage.
It looks like it's just a big iron transformer.

ChrisR

Thu Jul 21 2011, 12:53PM

Registered Member #4018 Joined: Thu Jul 21 2011, 10:08AM
Location: BNE, Australia
Posts: 3

Ahh, I am on 230v in Australia. But i would just run it through a variac set to around 115v.

So if a Jacob's ladder is no good, does it have any use for any other high voltage fun ?

Thanks

Ash Small

Thu Jul 21 2011, 01:14PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

bwang wrote ...

Jacob's ladders want high current, low-ish voltage.
It looks like it's just a big iron transformer.

I agree, but I've made small ones using a flyback (only a few mA)

I'm just not sure if you'd need a current limiting resistor or shunt capacitor or something on the output of the transformer when drawing arcs.

RogerInOhio

Thu Jul 21 2011, 01:19PM

Registered Member #1034 Joined: Sat Sept 29 2007, 12:50PM
Location: Chillicothe, Ohio
Posts: 154

For fun what I would do is rectify the output and put in some resistance to limit the current. At this high of a voltage this wouldn't be easy. You would probably want to have your rectifiers and resistors submerged in transformer oil or something but there are lots of fun things you can do with 140KV DC

Adam Munich

Thu Jul 21 2011, 01:24PM

Registered Member #2893 Joined: Tue Jun 01 2010, 09:25PM
Location: Cali-forn. i. a.
Posts: 2242

It'll work fine for a ladder, just ballast it with a shorted MOT.

radhoo

Thu Jul 21 2011, 02:23PM

Registered Member #1938 Joined: Sun Jan 25 2009, 12:44PM
Location: Romania
Posts: 701

140KV using two opposed polarity high quality glassman multipliers:

They work in air, no messy oil needed.

Schematics here:

ChrisR

Thu Jul 21 2011, 10:32PM

Registered Member #4018 Joined: Thu Jul 21 2011, 10:08AM
Location: BNE, Australia
Posts: 3

Grenadier wrote ...

It'll work fine for a ladder, just ballast it with a shorted MOT.

Ok, i might try this. I just have to figure out which of the input pins connect to the primary. There's a ten pin plug going into the top of it which is a bit confusing.

Heres a pic of the whole thing, the plug is at the top back.

Xray

Fri Jul 22 2011, 05:04AM

Registered Member #3429 Joined: Sun Nov 21 2010, 02:04AM
Location: Minnesota, USA
Posts: 288

ChrisR wrote ...

Hi guys, I'm new to this site and have an interest in reading about high voltage stuff. Still quite an amateur.

I'm very concerned about what I'm reading here. You are an amateur who has a 140KV X-ray transformer sitting in your garage, and you want to do something "fun" with it?!!!

You also stated, "Also, there doesn't seem to be much data on Google on this model, is there a way to figure out which frequency to drive this thing at?" Um, the sticker on the transformer indicates that it operates at 50/60 Hz, and you didn't know what that means?!!!

Chris -- I think you might seriously injur or kill yourself by playing with a very dangerous electrical device. You obviously have very little understanding of electronics and electrical components, and therefore you really should think twice about "playing" with an X-ray transformer. I see no one else admonished you about the dangers of high voltage, so I thought I'd better chime in and hopefully dissuade you from energizing that transformer until you gain a lot more knowledge and experience with high voltage electricity and components.

If you are bored, then read a good book about high voltage or electronics in general, but PLEASE don't play with that transformer!

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