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Help getting started with high voltage

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kjjohn

Fri Jul 09 2010, 04:15PM

Registered Member #2985 Joined: Fri Jul 09 2010, 04:05PM
Location: Chippewa Falls, WI
Posts: 9

I am a bit of a noob when it comes to high voltage electronics and such. I have worked with camera caps and charging circuits before, as well as some larger electrolytic caps, but I have never built my own charging circuits, or put the capacitors to any practical use besides making big sparks. I am looking for some information that will get me started with more advanced electronics. I don't have a whole lot of experience, and I don't know what a lot of more complex technical terms mean, but I have a very good understanding basic electronics, and I would just like to learn a little more so I can begin building some more complex things. I have already begun reading in the wiki, but is there any advice, or helpful links that anyone can provide?

HV Enthusiast

Fri Jul 09 2010, 04:54PM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

Welcome to the forum. First thing is that high voltage doesn't have to be complex. Marx Generators, Cockroft-Walton Multipliers, and even small Spark Gap Coils are not complex at all.

Solid state Tesla coils starts getting into more complex circuits, compared to the aforementioned circuits, but can be very simple as well.

Just do a quick search on solid state Tesla coil on this forum, or flyback driver, or class-e tesla coil, and there should be plenty of links and designs readily available.

For some entry level circuits, I'd recommend a simple flyback driver circuit, or single transistor SSTC. All very simple and require only a few parts.

Patrick

Fri Jul 09 2010, 08:35PM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

Iggy coils are my preferred method of familiarizing ones self with HV, as mistakes tend to be less lethal than most other HV type circuits. they are easy to make too. note that i said less lethal, i did not say non-lethal.

good sites: google these,

this one 4hv.org
snocks HV page
Steve wards site
jochens HV page
wiki HV
Jim Lux
don kilpstein's
sam goldwasser
bert pool
sam barros (power labs) site
ritchie burentte (sstc)

and im forgetting some too.

Sulaiman

Sat Jul 10 2010, 07:32AM

Registered Member #162 Joined: Mon Feb 13 2006, 10:25AM
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3141

As most high voltage experimenting needs a high voltage power supply,
that may be a good place to start;
A major consideration is staying alive unharmed, so some non-lethal setup is recommended!

If you can get one of the old steel-core Neon Sign Transformer (NST) they are considered 'safe' for accidental exposure - but not painless. Once you start adding stored energy in capacitors etc then very painful or lethal charges can jump at you.

I agree with the approach of using ignition transformers for high voltages as parts are easy to obtain and circuits are simple/robust. Flyback transformers from crt displays (TV,Monitor) make 'nice' eht supplies as the output is generally 'safe' until capacitance is added.

Either will allow you learn quite a lot of electronics, or just use electronics, learning 'electronics' is bewilderingly mind-boggling... start by copying a project that interrests you and learn from that, do another, when you find yourself modifying things then you've started on a path with many many branches - I'm lost up many of these branches!
One hurdle to the hobby/science - you will need an oscilloscope to really 'see' what's going on, to get a 'feel' for how electronics works - so expense is involved. 4HV Members, eBay etc.

Either would allow you to 'play' with high voltages, learn the behaviour of high voltage systems, in air, solids, liquids - and exactly where you don't expect it! Take care!
The eht supply in photocopiers can be a good start, enough for most 'learning' purposes and I made a Spark Gap Tesla Coil powered by a small 1.4W unit - so a useful 'part' to get.

Charging & discharging capacitors, maybe in resonant circuits, rectifying high voltage, measuring high voltage and just 'playing' are a good start - never handle an eht terminal - if necessary a moveable well-earthed electrode can be moved.

Have a good look around 4HV, there may be many projects that interrest you,
help is usually available! .... welcome.
P.S. I tend to ramble a bit :)
P.P.S. Unless you've got lots of storage space don't get into Tesla Coils.

Dream Logan

Thu Jul 22 2010, 06:29PM

Registered Member #3024 Joined: Thu Jul 22 2010, 06:05PM
Location:
Posts: 1

Thanks for the tips on getting started with high voltage.

I'm looking to build a DC to DC, 12v to 350v power supply.

I read these posts and noticed I had a broken copy machine sitting next to me.

I'm gutting it now to find the EHT Supply. Although I don't know what it looks like.

I'm also simultaneously reading The Art of Electronics.

I don't know much about electronics but it is a very well written book.

I'm relearning my algebra at least...

So thanks again for your suggestions.

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