High Current HV Discharges

This video is part of a series of experiments I've done and is detailed on my site:

http://jcbenergy.com/projects/AdjustableSparkGap

This video shows my new HV MOT Power Supply and with it some experiments using a magnetic field to blow out the arc.
I show the effect with and without a magnetic field on standard HV AC discharges and a half-wave doubler discharge.
The half-wave circuit is kind of non-ideal because it's sort of self extinguishing since the current is intermittent. The idea for using this would be to interrupt a constant DC current, but it shows the concept of the magnetic quench. And the principals here can easily be extended for DC or other waveforms.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• high voltage
• MOT
• arc
• discharge
• magnetic quench
• magnet
• magnetic field
• Spark
• Energy
• Tesla
• Electrical
• Plasma
• Corona
• Streamers
• Magnetic
• Field
• Magnet
• Lorentz
• Force
• Interrupter
• Air
• Gap
• Experiment

[johnb003]

heh, wiring diagrams, it's not like I plotted it out on paper or on a computer ahead of time. I did however show you in the video as clearly as I could how it's wired.

The mots are connected in series (look it up), there are 2 wires on the secondary of each transformer.

On one mot the secondary wires are shorted.

On the other, I'm playing with sparks between the two wires. One of these wires is also grounded so I know which side has the high voltage (2kv AC).

[KRAYSLiCK999]

hey wont the ballast get hot because its grounded??

[johnb003]

@KRAYSLiCK999 No, I'm pretty much running it the same way it runs in your microwave, aside from the load which is why I have the ballast to limit the current. The secondaries come with one side connected to ground already, it's just so you can set the potential of one side and guarantees the other end is the high potential. Technically I could leave the secondaries isolated, but it doesn't really matter, I didn't need to modify it.

[KRAYSLiCK999]

DOES THE MOT GET HOT ??? WHEN BALLASTED

[johnb003]

@KRAYSLiCK999 No, the ballast limits the current, so they don't get that hot. A little warm.

[RJ3220]

@johnb003 Dear John Please be careful. Your microwave oven transformers are DEADLY. The lethal combination is high voltage and current. 500mA at 2-4kV will kill you.

You have no insulation between you and the transformer. Put the transformers in a plastic case and put a protective cover over all wires and the spark gap. Perspex ill be fine. Be very careful. Volts jolts but current kills. You have both.

[xxkittenkiller]

@virgilius1979 nobody likes a safety sam......

[blazeeagle]

Very intresting. Thanks!

[nicwilson89]

@azayles Adding another stage to the multiplier would increase voltage, I believe.

[virgilius1979]

I would advise you not to touch that plastic handle during HV operation. You don't know at what voltage it could brake down and at that current you could die.

Turn it off, adjust the spark gap and turn it on again; you waste some time, but your life's priceless.

[KRAYSLiCK999]

@johnb003 do u have to have the same types of mots  same wattage can u give me a wiring diagram of yours ? PLZ if u dont mind ^_^