theres some really good stuff on youtube, however i really cant see the point on going to that much effort with that many components, and using high voltage to do something that could easily be achieved by simply raising a leg and stepping down onto the can.........puzzled!
you could use a heating element as a resistor and it would hold up better. the problem is that they are low resistance and you would need a lot of it to make a decent value so it will take the load without ruining the capacitors.
I don't know if this project is still being worked on, but i know how to replace your current limiting resistor. Trying to limit on the charging side is too hard. Add an inductor to the primary side of the transformer to limit total wattage going into the transformer.
Yes, and you can even write really bad software that violates others copyrights and the courts will take so many years that it all becomes irrelevant.
Observation 2: The same principle applies to solder joints. Generally speaking, solder is not sensitive to voltage or to current. Only to heat--it melts around 700 degees F.
The solder joints might need to be made better (use resin flux), or they might just be physically too small to carry that 1,000 watts of power being consumed by your circuits. Tiny wire, or tiny wire joints, cannot handle large amperage flow (or--same thing--large wattage power consumption).
I have seen solder connections blow apart under high current loads. I have tried the wrap the coil around the soda can and turn it into the hourglass shape. All the solder connections blew out. I may try it again with the new connections.
Wow. Very cool. Terrifyingly dangerous, but very cool.
Observations:
Observation 1: Your math for the current limiting resistor is incomplete. It's true that 1,000 volts across 1,000 ohms produces a current flow of 1 amp, but...
That's 1 amp being pushed along by 1,000 volts. Wattage is, for all practical purposes, volts times amps, so the current limiting resistor should actually be rated at 1,000 watts.
It would only need to handle 1000 watts when the capacitors are fully discharged. They charge rapidly at first so over 1 minute only the first few seconds are at full power. The average power would be around 100 watts.
Ubetcha. At startup the capacitors are essentially a short circuit, and current flow is maximum.
When full charged the capacitors are theoretically an open (with DC), and current flow is zero.
In either/all cases I'm sure we agree that a resistor running at red heat is telling you something. It's telling you, "Jefe, it's only a matter of time."
Still, I can't imagine where you'd get a resistor rated for 1,000 (or 800) watts. So I can only agree with you to run 'er 'till she breaks.
Are you sure the scr rated for 1600 amps 1200 volts, it does not look that beefy to handle that kind of load, unless the cycle time is very fast.I know the scrs I worked with in the past fire so fast that you need a scope to get a reading.
The capacitors are electrolytic? What's the capacitance ( μF) per capacitor and what's the capacitor's max working voltage?
Trifu22 1 year ago
theres some really good stuff on youtube, however i really cant see the point on going to that much effort with that many components, and using high voltage to do something that could easily be achieved by simply raising a leg and stepping down onto the can.........puzzled!
whackitov 1 year ago
you could use a heating element as a resistor and it would hold up better. the problem is that they are low resistance and you would need a lot of it to make a decent value so it will take the load without ruining the capacitors.
kiaracer05 1 year ago
I don't know if this project is still being worked on, but i know how to replace your current limiting resistor. Trying to limit on the charging side is too hard. Add an inductor to the primary side of the transformer to limit total wattage going into the transformer.
jameslmorehead 2 years ago
I am making a 5KV model these days.
bobdavis321 2 years ago
Please sell these things!
chao129 3 years ago
too dangerous
bobdavis321 3 years ago
C'mon... waivers and legal forms make anything sellable!
chao129 3 years ago
Yes, and you can even write really bad software that violates others copyrights and the courts will take so many years that it all becomes irrelevant.
bobdavis321 3 years ago
For a change, offering an idea, instead of problems.
How about plain ol' wire nuts?
picbuck 3 years ago
Observation 3: A final note. The insulation on most wire you can buy is rated for 600 volts. Something to be aware of.
None of which is intended to take away from the coolness factor of your experiments, which is very high.
picbuck 3 years ago
Good point. The meter wiring is a little tight and running at 800 volts.
bobdavis321 3 years ago
Observation 2: The same principle applies to solder joints. Generally speaking, solder is not sensitive to voltage or to current. Only to heat--it melts around 700 degees F.
The solder joints might need to be made better (use resin flux), or they might just be physically too small to carry that 1,000 watts of power being consumed by your circuits. Tiny wire, or tiny wire joints, cannot handle large amperage flow (or--same thing--large wattage power consumption).
picbuck 3 years ago
I have seen solder connections blow apart under high current loads. I have tried the wrap the coil around the soda can and turn it into the hourglass shape. All the solder connections blew out. I may try it again with the new connections.
bobdavis321 3 years ago
Not to argue, but to discuss.
All solder joints are imperfect. It's not whether, it's how much.
Flux gets trapped as tiny bubbles. Or just plain dirt floats into the molten solder. Either way the result is resistance = heat.
With pressure connections there are 2 probs. One is that both wires are round, which means a small area of contact.
The other is surface oxidation = resistance = heat.
You're just in a higher realm of engineering. But your infernal machine remains very cool.
picbuck 3 years ago
Wow. Very cool. Terrifyingly dangerous, but very cool.
Observations:
Observation 1: Your math for the current limiting resistor is incomplete. It's true that 1,000 volts across 1,000 ohms produces a current flow of 1 amp, but...
That's 1 amp being pushed along by 1,000 volts. Wattage is, for all practical purposes, volts times amps, so the current limiting resistor should actually be rated at 1,000 watts.
picbuck 3 years ago
It would only need to handle 1000 watts when the capacitors are fully discharged. They charge rapidly at first so over 1 minute only the first few seconds are at full power. The average power would be around 100 watts.
bobdavis321 3 years ago
Ubetcha. At startup the capacitors are essentially a short circuit, and current flow is maximum.
When full charged the capacitors are theoretically an open (with DC), and current flow is zero.
In either/all cases I'm sure we agree that a resistor running at red heat is telling you something. It's telling you, "Jefe, it's only a matter of time."
Still, I can't imagine where you'd get a resistor rated for 1,000 (or 800) watts. So I can only agree with you to run 'er 'till she breaks.
picbuck 3 years ago
so cool
Silverwolfstarz 3 years ago
Are you sure the scr rated for 1600 amps 1200 volts, it does not look that beefy to handle that kind of load, unless the cycle time is very fast.I know the scrs I worked with in the past fire so fast that you need a scope to get a reading.
tommee10533 3 years ago
I was refering to the peak voltage and current. The ED431825 Thyristor rating is 1,800 volts 250 Amps and 6,500 amps peak.
bobdavis321 3 years ago