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24" SSTC build

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LAN_403

Killa-X

Thu Aug 19 2010, 12:49AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Interruper box has been made, Everything fits nicely, just need to solder the wires to the main board, and run wires out for the drivers on the SSTC.

The toggle switch in the middle is the mode selector. When flipped to the left, the Left LED in the middle of the 4 pots turns on. This is "Interrupter mode" that has the BPS, PWM, and burstmode 555s going out to the coil. When flipped to the right, the right LED goes on, and this is "Audio Modulation mode" To feed anything from MP3, computer, piano, guitar, etc to the coil. Top left LED is power indicator, Top right is Activity (Of the optoswitch kicking the signal to the coil) and the button toggle switch is Burstmode on/off for interupter.

I use an optoswitch that isolates the SSTC and control box. This allows me to use my computer without and fears of it dieing.

Here you can find a old old test from months ago with a similar way to do modulation. My last test (no video) of this driver was a LOT clearer, since the optoswitch is a true pair and is made for khz triggering. Modulation works anywhere from 1" to 26" (my last largest output) streamers.

Killa-X

Mon Sept 06 2010, 12:35AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
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Posts: 1039

Things have been going slow because of many other reasons such as Work, Friends, and soon school. I ran multiple tests the other day with audio, and the system worked great. Now I'm starting to finish off the coil. To start, I bought another LED since I lost my 2x2.5mm SMD led.

The thing I want to know, If I put a few LED around the acrylic disc, will that cause inductance issues? Guess what I'm trying to say is...Should I just glow the box? Or should I also glow the disc. Due to lack of LEDs that are blue, I had to use a laser to simulate what it would look like.

DO NOTE...The images below, you note my disc is half way up my coil. I still have to cut my tube to size, as the acrylic disc is going to go above the primary to protect against flashovers. So it will NOT be this high!

No Disc glow

With disc glow

Else I might at least glow the tube, to give a blue-ring effect. Most the 'mess' on my floor you see in these images, is all from open-layout testing my coil.

Please let me know any ideas you guys have! Thanks!

Killa-X

Mon Sept 27 2010, 11:11PM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

More updates! Basically some LED lighting. Now whats left:
* Wire mains to bridge
* Wire primary to bridge
* Wire interrupter to the wire coming out of my box :P
* TEST IT!

Note: The capacitors are for my Voltage Tripler. These are your average capacitor, so I banked them like a MMC for 1200uF on each leg of the tripler.

lpfthings

Tue Sept 28 2010, 12:50PM

Registered Member #1361 Joined: Thu Feb 28 2008, 10:57AM
Location: Cairns, Australia
Posts: 305

Hahaha cheater, using a laser to light the middle plexi ring :D

Loving that acrylic box though, I really need to hurry up and buy a CO2 laser so I don't have to use the damn jigsaw. Makes the messiest cuts ever.

Killa-X

Tue Sept 28 2010, 02:56PM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

lpfthings wrote ...

Hahaha cheater, using a laser to light the middle plexi ring :D

Loving that acrylic box though, I really need to hurry up and buy a CO2 laser so I don't have to use the damn jigsaw. Makes the messiest cuts ever.

I'm buying a 60W CO2 laser eventually to put in my CNC I made. Won't be for awhile, I currently have to build it still, but I got the NEMA 23 steppers working great! Right now I cut with a 10A sawsall :P eventually CO2 :D

Here's my mess, took everything apart and did a quick wiring job to test the 120V feeds. All things are working :) Now I just need to wire the bridge, give it the GDT, interupter, test.

Killa-X

Sun Oct 03 2010, 07:14AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Just another update =)

Killa-X

Thu Dec 16 2010, 04:42AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

I just wanted to give an update to you all. Obviously I havnt updated this in a long time. This is because the past few weeks I've been busy with life, people, school, etc. I'm happy to say all is good, and I started working on it once again.

There's one issue. I had to redo the case. I ran into design issues, and simply made things so tight I just couldn't wire it. I already took the case apart and currently rebuilding it. Due to the capacitors and fullbridge, the new case is roughly 7x7x11 inches. Kinda tall. The old capacitors just couldn't push the power to get 24" arcs. I went back to the old giant 3x5" until i can find 200v ones, instead of 450v.

I'll post pictures Thursday or Friday. I'm getting parts and threaded rods Thursday to construct it, as well as spray painting a few parts. The new case won't be as fancy, but I may be able to find a way to connect 1/8" acrylic to the sides if I decide to keep the glow. At most I may do a single core light.

And suggestions, thoughts, etc are as always accepted. Thanks!

Killa-X

Sat Dec 18 2010, 09:02PM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Images, made the new setup, and it seems to be working. I plan to paint the PVC pipes black, and if I feel like I should, add more LEDs. So far, 50VAC on the variac kicks out 7-8" streamers at high duty. Primary tapped to ring number 7. I still have to add a strike rail. Some wires still have to be mounted down. Otherwise, things seem to be operating decently good. The interupter is driven directly off the SSTC's own power supply. Whenever it's not snowing outside at night, I'll run this on a full power test, and upload a video. For now, Pictures.

The Layout: 1200V 30A diodes on the Voltage Tripler, and the primary was routed with 1/8" bit. The tubing just 'snapped' in place. No glue.

Sparks from a 720P video:

Please let me know what you guys think!

For those who like sparks..First attempt to use 1" exposure with '1 burst every 3 seconds'

Not too bad for a first =D

Killa-X

Tue Dec 21 2010, 12:13AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Well. I had one test tonight. The test was simple. Can my coil handle near 100% power? IF so...How long? I expected things to explode. I was right.

Me and kizmo conclude what most likely happened, over voltage. Spikes. Why? The mosfets were ice cold. I had my system running for 10 minutes from 60V to 80V, which translates to 420VDC. I had the coil set to a high duty, so i had 24" arcs that looked 1" fat, VERY BRIGHT. Pushing the limits...Yes.

I think what happend is my burstmode made high voltage spikes, and blew the mosfets. 3 mosfets now read dead.

Apparently, my copper trace was acting like a fuse. So the copper trace exploded. Now I dont have a board. I'm remaking the board out of 1mm thick sheet copper. Kizmo told me, if my board was thicker, a mosfet would have burst. But because it was so thin, the weakest point died -- the copper trace.

Pictues.

Yeah...A cruel death. I have more fets, But im going to redo my bridge...this board is shot.

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