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Registered Member #3505
Joined: Sun Dec 12 2010, 06:03AM
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posts: 108
I've been playing with a version of Steve Wards mini SSTC and I've had a few issues. Specs: -Half bridge IRFP260N with MUR140's from source to drain -full wave rectifier with 2200uf smoothing cap -17"/3.5" of 27awg secondary with small toroid res freq ~366KHz
Issues: - Killed ~16 Mosfets - It is putting some nasty interference back into my house wiring. If I place a choke in line between the variac to the rectifier the SSTC will not oscillate. I assume this interference is also causing the jagged cracking output. - Its not very reliable. I can start it up and change nothing come back 2 mins later and nothing...
From what I have read this setup is pretty sensitive but any help would be welcomed. P.S. This is my first SSTC.
Registered Member #2292
Joined: Fri Aug 14 2009, 05:33PM
Location: The Wild West AKA Arizona
Posts: 795
Can you scope the bridge output? I bet you have some switching noise that's both killing your mosfets and also that noise it probably feeding back into the line.
Are you using antenna feedback or base current transformer?
Registered Member #3505
Joined: Sun Dec 12 2010, 06:03AM
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posts: 108
Sorry fellas I don't have a scope but it is on the list of things to get. I'm using a antenna. I've also tried swapping the primary connections and it didn't seem to fix or worsen anything. What can I do to eliminate the switching noise?
Registered Member #3505
Joined: Sun Dec 12 2010, 06:03AM
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posts: 108
I have a plastic box covered in aluminum foil and aluminum tape. It's also grounded and it seemed to reduce the death toll a bit bit the sparks are still thin, jagged and poppy.
Registered Member #3450
Joined: Sun Nov 28 2010, 05:01AM
Location:
Posts: 61
I used a half bridge of IRFP260N's with no diodes and it worked fine but I would suggest switching to IGBT's. I have had good results using FGL60N100BNTD's. I would also suggest using a smaller secondary as I have. 3" by 7" winding length of #30AWG. I have got near 2 ft spark length with 240vac input. I had also changed the interrupter from the mini schematic to one like Steve's DRSSTC interrupter.
Also,what kind of ferrite core are you using for your GDT?
Registered Member #3505
Joined: Sun Dec 12 2010, 06:03AM
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posts: 108
I finally got it to work. Shielding the driver was one issue and crappy antenna attachment was another. Once I fixed those issues and I got the phasing of the primary right everything is good as gold.
@Polonium210 What freq do you drag your coils down to with the topload for your IGBT's? What are the benefits of the smaller secondary?
Registered Member #3450
Joined: Sun Nov 28 2010, 05:01AM
Location:
Posts: 61
U4R1A wrote ...
I finally got it to work. Shielding the driver was one issue and crappy antenna attachment was another. Once I fixed those issues and I got the phasing of the primary right everything is good as gold.
@Polonium210 What freq do you drag your coils down to with the topload for your IGBT's? What are the benefits of the smaller secondary?
My coil runs around 400KHz with a topload. I have tried several different secondaries, the one that got the best results was only 3"by 7". I have never shielded my driver, it sits directly under my coil with no problems.
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Steve's Mini SSTC Problems
