Staccato Controller for a SSTC
ZakWolf, Thu Jun 20 2013, 03:50AMI saw this video on youtube
and saw that he was using a Staccato Controller, I went to the sight he linked but couldn't find a schematic of the controller...
I was wondering if I could use Steve's VTTC Staccato Controller with his SSTC 5 Mini? I love them tube/sword sparks!!!
Re: Staccato Controller for a SSTC
Mads Barnkob, Thu Jun 20 2013, 08:29AM
For the swordlike sparks you need a Fres above 450 kHz, atleast that seems to be the general rule.
I got a stranded project, due to lack of time, I call it the poor mans QCWDRSSTC, similar configuration as the QCWDRSSTC but without the class D supply. Instead it is controlled by a staccato controller using the positive ramp of the half wave rectified AC sinus curve and how much of it adjustable from whatever to 5000uS, but havent got to finish it yet.
I have 3x 200A IGBTs in parallel for this experiment and heat sink was supposed to be standing in ice water :)
Anyone tried something like this yet?
Mads Barnkob, Thu Jun 20 2013, 08:29AM
For the swordlike sparks you need a Fres above 450 kHz, atleast that seems to be the general rule.
I got a stranded project, due to lack of time, I call it the poor mans QCWDRSSTC, similar configuration as the QCWDRSSTC but without the class D supply. Instead it is controlled by a staccato controller using the positive ramp of the half wave rectified AC sinus curve and how much of it adjustable from whatever to 5000uS, but havent got to finish it yet.
I have 3x 200A IGBTs in parallel for this experiment and heat sink was supposed to be standing in ice water :)
Anyone tried something like this yet?
Re: Staccato Controller for a SSTC
HV Enthusiast, Thu Jun 20 2013, 11:44AM
A Stacatto controller is NOT what gives the swordlike spark appearance. The shape of the voltage envelope is what creates the swordlike sparks.
The staccato controller is simply an interrupter that is synchronized with the 60Hz input waveform. This obviously isn't useful with a DRSSTC or SSTC that uses a DC bus, but if you are using rectified mains voltage such as in a very simple SSTC or VTTC, you can get the sword like appearances.
How? With the staccato controller, the pulse will not initiate until after the zero crossing of the AC (or after some delay, if desired). So, the arc will begin at a point where the rectified AC is low, and then the rectified AC will begin to increase while the arc is propogating. This voltage envelope is what causes the arc to grow in a sword like fashion.
A QCW coil is the same, except here, you are taking a DC supply, and then modulating it in whatever fashion necessary to create the voltage envelope you are requiring.
If you are still looking for a general Stacatto controller, we do offer them at the link below:
.
HV Enthusiast, Thu Jun 20 2013, 11:44AM
A Stacatto controller is NOT what gives the swordlike spark appearance. The shape of the voltage envelope is what creates the swordlike sparks.
The staccato controller is simply an interrupter that is synchronized with the 60Hz input waveform. This obviously isn't useful with a DRSSTC or SSTC that uses a DC bus, but if you are using rectified mains voltage such as in a very simple SSTC or VTTC, you can get the sword like appearances.
How? With the staccato controller, the pulse will not initiate until after the zero crossing of the AC (or after some delay, if desired). So, the arc will begin at a point where the rectified AC is low, and then the rectified AC will begin to increase while the arc is propogating. This voltage envelope is what causes the arc to grow in a sword like fashion.
A QCW coil is the same, except here, you are taking a DC supply, and then modulating it in whatever fashion necessary to create the voltage envelope you are requiring.
If you are still looking for a general Stacatto controller, we do offer them at the link below:
.
Re: Staccato Controller for a SSTC
ZakWolf, Thu Jun 20 2013, 05:19PM
Well dang, I guess Its just going to have to be a another project in the future.
Thanks for the info guys
ZakWolf, Thu Jun 20 2013, 05:19PM
Well dang, I guess Its just going to have to be a another project in the future.
Thanks for the info guys
Re: Staccato Controller for a SSTC
Physics Junkie, Thu Jun 20 2013, 05:35PM
I experienced very cool sword like sparks on Steve's sstc5 mini. My winding is 10" on 4" form. No toroid. No idea what the frequency and never cared to find out since it runs off antenna feedback. I only experienced the thick bright white sword sparks by using half-wave rectified mains and a mistake in my burst modulator that turned out to work in my advantage. The sparks were also much longer, if I remember correctly I got up to 18" sword sparks this way
Physics Junkie, Thu Jun 20 2013, 05:35PM
I experienced very cool sword like sparks on Steve's sstc5 mini. My winding is 10" on 4" form. No toroid. No idea what the frequency and never cared to find out since it runs off antenna feedback. I only experienced the thick bright white sword sparks by using half-wave rectified mains and a mistake in my burst modulator that turned out to work in my advantage. The sparks were also much longer, if I remember correctly I got up to 18" sword sparks this way
Re: Staccato Controller for a SSTC
ZakWolf, Thu Jun 20 2013, 07:57PM
WOW :D thats awesome im jealous, I will see what I can do haha
Right now im designing new PCB's for the sstc
ZakWolf, Thu Jun 20 2013, 07:57PM
Physics Junkie wrote ...
I experienced very cool sword like sparks on Steve's sstc5 mini. My winding is 10" on 4" form. No toroid. No idea what the frequency and never cared to find out since it runs off antenna feedback. I only experienced the thick bright white sword sparks by using half-wave rectified mains and a mistake in my burst modulator that turned out to work in my advantage. The sparks were also much longer, if I remember correctly I got up to 18" sword sparks this way
I experienced very cool sword like sparks on Steve's sstc5 mini. My winding is 10" on 4" form. No toroid. No idea what the frequency and never cared to find out since it runs off antenna feedback. I only experienced the thick bright white sword sparks by using half-wave rectified mains and a mistake in my burst modulator that turned out to work in my advantage. The sparks were also much longer, if I remember correctly I got up to 18" sword sparks this way
WOW :D thats awesome im jealous, I will see what I can do haha
Right now im designing new PCB's for the sstc
Re: Staccato Controller for a SSTC
Dr. Dark Current, Fri Jun 21 2013, 08:30AM
This is normal, just use half wave rectified mains without interrupter and you wil get long sword sparks if the frequency is higher than around 300 kHz.
Dr. Dark Current, Fri Jun 21 2013, 08:30AM
This is normal, just use half wave rectified mains without interrupter and you wil get long sword sparks if the frequency is higher than around 300 kHz.
Print this page