HIGH VOLTAGE CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE GENERATORS

HIGH VOLTAGE
CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE GENERATORS
Capacitive discharge generators are very easy to build and work very fine. The circuit is very similar to the trigggering
coil circuit of a strobo (without the xenon lamp) or an electronic ignition of a car.

When supplied with 30 volts, this model delivers a HV output of 40-60 kV @ <5 kHz with a PRR (Pulse Repetition
Rate) of 850 Hz (max). At higher PRR values it delivers quite hot and fat sparks, so watch out were you put your
hands! (Remember the PRR frequency is very low: 850 Hz, so painful shocking is is present).

Do you want to know more about the circuit? Technical calculations? Construction tips?
Click the link below:

The Circuit & Capacitive Discharge Theory

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HIGH VOLTAGE CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE GENERATORS

Here we have a beautiful example

of the machine working at
medium power (power supply @
14 volts DC).

The ECT reference shown in the

photo is what I've called a
Transparent Condenser
Electrode (ECT). Further
description of this type of
electrode and its construction is
found in my Kirlian pages:
Condenser Electrodes

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 HIGH VOLTAGE CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE GENERATORS

In this one the supply voltage was increased to 25 volts DC.

Now a lot of streamers come out from the leaf, spraying out over the surface of the ECT.

lemagicien@email.com

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HIGH VOLTAGE
CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE THEORY

The Circuit & Capacitive Discharge Theory:

The circuit's theory is quite simple although it's needed some understanding of capacitive discharge circuits:

Two medium power NPN transistors (TIP 41A - 6A/60volts) auto-oscillate alternatively switching half of the
primary coil of T1 (step up transformer) thus inducing a higher voltage on the secondary side, usually between 400 to
1000 volts (but this depends on the magnetic properties of T1's ferrite core, the number of turns of the secondary,the
NPN transistor characteristics and the values of base resistors, and the supply voltage ).

Stepped up supply voltage given by T1's output is then rectified and used to charge a bank of capacitors C2 (paper/oil/
mylar type- 2x470nF/630volts) through a charging resistor R2 (1 kohm).

This bank is discharged over the primary of a car ignition coil, producing a high voltage dampened wave with a
ringing frequency given by the ignition coil primary inductance (L2p) and the total capacity of the bank (C2/2). The
process of charging/discharging the bank is repeated several times per second (pulse repetion rate or PRR).

The PRR is given by a relaxation oscillator used to control a TRIAC which discharges the capacitors on T2's primary
coil (L2p). This oscillator built around a 2N2646 UJT (unijunction) transistor has an adjustable pulse repetition
period (PRP).

UJT's emitter senses the voltage on capacitor C1 (100 nF) which is being charged through R1 and P1 (10 kohm and 1
Mohm); when the charging voltage on C1 reaches the UJT emitter's peak-point value Vp (Vp=k*Vbb+0.6volt; where
Vbb=voltage between UJT's bases and k=intrinsic stand-off ratio: aprox 0,7), the UJT turns on and a voltage pulse is
sent to the TRIAC control gate turning it on, thus discharging the capacitors. The TRIAC will remain in on state until
the current flowing through drops below the holding current value Ih (typically 20 to 60 mA).

This discharging of C2 on L2p produces a primary ringing wave which is further stepped up in the high voltage
secondary of T2.

Now let's analyze current values:

● The capacitor bank C2 (235 nF) is charged through R2 (1 kohm), this will give a total charging time (at 5RC)
of Tch = 1.175 ms.
● Ignition coil primary ringing frequency, assuming 8 mH for L2p is 3.7 kHz, which gives 0.27 ms for the first
dampened wave period.
● The relaxation oscillator capacitor C1 (100nF) is charged through R1 and P1. Assuming P1=0 then the UJT's
emitter's peak-point value Vp will be 21.6 volt, for (Vp=k*Vbb+0.6volt; where Vbb=30v k=0.7)

How long does it take then to charge C1 to Vp, thus firing the TRIAC? Well that depends on R1 value, so
let's calculate how big R1 should be to have a minimum PRP (pulse repetition period) equal to the capacitor

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bank charging time Tch; doing some math we have:

R1 * C1 = Tch / ln { [ Vbb / (Vbb-Vp) ] }

and replacing values we conclude that R1 should be greater than 9.2 kohm (let's adopt 10 kohm) in order the
PRP to be greater than 1.175 ms (PRR=1/PRP or 850 hertz).

Thus if the PRR (pulse repetition rate) exceeds 850 Hz, the capacitor bank will not recharge between
pulses and the HV output voltage will decrease with the increased PRR.
● With the power supply at 30 volts and P1 set to zero, current circuit values will give HV output pulses
of 40 to 60 kv @ 4 khz at a base frequency of 850 Hz (max). Increasing P1 will increment the PRP thus
lowering the base frequency.

T1 step up transformer construction tips:

Transformer
T1 is hand-
made using an
old flyback
ferrite core
(see drawing)
with aprox. 1
centimeter
diameter and
with all
original
windings
removed.

A new
primary coil is
built with 50
+50 turns
(enamel wire
AWG #18 for
example).

A new
secondary is
also built with
1000 to 2000
turns (AWG
#28 or 32)
built in
several layers
(for example 20 layers of 100 turns each).

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Each layer must be properly isolated from the other, specially the last ones (outer layers). (For example the secondary
could be 4 cm long which will give a coil of less than 5 cm diameter for 20 layers)

This transformer will rise 12 volt to 350, self-oscillating at 5 kHz whereas at 30v will step up to 1kv @ 7 kHz (values
may vary).

lemagicien@email.com

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