High Voltage Arc / Ignition Coil - Light Dimmer Switch - Run Capacitor - Circuit

This is a simple, BUT DANGEROUS, High Voltage Generator. It uses three basic components:

1- Light Dimmer Switch (Clips the A/C sinewave to something useable by a coil)
2- Automotive Ignition coil (Generates the High Voltage)
3- A 5mfd `run capacitor'. (REQUIRED! Goes in series to reduce the line current. Without it you will blow your circuit breaker as the coil will appear as a dead short to your power). IMPORTANT: The capacitors will hold a powerful charge even with the power disconnected. I use a 10Meg Ohm bleeder resistor and a small neon indicator lamp (both in parallel across the cap).

All three items are hooked in series

In the above project, I used two coils and two `run capacitors'. The coils are out of phase with one another (hot wire hooked up to the negative on one and the positive on the other) to increase the combined output.

Always use a fuse (5 amp for this project). The small flickering light bulb is there for safety. It is lit when there is power to the project, even if the light dimmer is off. The `run caps' are available from an electric motor store or through ebay.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I have since modified this by remounting the two ignition coils horizontally (now laying on their sides), vs vertically (standing straight up as shown in this video). This change should eliminate any internal arcing inside the coils due to the small amount of air inside of them exposing the primary terminals to the center secondary. When placed on their sides, the internal oil should cover and insulate these internal items.

Be sure to see my latest video of my `Ignition Coil / Light Dimmer High Voltage Generator - Variable Output Design' I have a schematic for that one if interested.. send request to lasvegas_2 at hotmail dot com

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• MVI
• 0089

[bruce89103]

Fastback86-

The project in the video uses one 5MFD, 370Volt A/C capacitor for each of the ignition coils. I have since upgraded the project to include a switch that puts a second identical capacitor in PARALLEL to each of the coils (brings the capacitance to 10MFD per coil). It gives a stronger spark when turned on (as 10MFD lets more current flow than a 5MFD). Downside is the coils warm up a little faster so you don't want to run this for more than a few minutes.

Bruce

[bruce89103]

Wow- Just cant get this appear as typed. The second line in the (con't) comment got scrambled. 2nd line should read- "narrative: Hook up cap number ones other terminal..." Sure this is now clear as mud..

[bruce89103]

(cont')- Afraid the hookup didn't show up as I typed it. Let me try to continue the narrative: Hook up cap #1's other terminal to the (+) of one of the ignition coils. Hook up cap #2 's other terminal to the (-) of the other ignition coil. Connect the remaining ends of the ignition coils (-) on the first coil, (+) on the second coil together and connect this to the other AC line (White-Neutral). That is about it. Hopefully this makes sense without a good schematic. Bruce

[bruce89103]

Hookup is pretty straight forward, though hard to show in this comment box, but I'll try:

AC Line ---Fuse----Dimmer-|--Run Capacitor-----(+) Ignition Coil (-)-|----AC Line |- Run Capacitor-----(-) Ignition Coil (+)-|

Note the two "AC Line". One is the black Wire (Hot) and one is the White wire (Neutral). Connect AC Line Hot to fuse. Connect one wire of the dimmer to the fuse and the other wire to one terminal of each of the two caps. (con't)

[fastback86]

What's the specs on the capacitors? MFD and voltage?

[jackscholze]

Can I get a schematic or hookup diagram somewhere. Thanks a lot

[juniortore1]

Sweet. I remember when I did this