Pseudonymous YouTuber “Superior Tinkering,” hereafter merely “Tinkering,” has constructed an adjustable energy provide with a distinction: this one covers a voltage vary from 20,000V as much as 50,000V.
“I’ve needed to construct a high-voltage energy provide for a very long time,” Tinkering explains of the mission, which works above and past most benchtop energy provides by offering double-digit kilovolts for high-voltage initiatives. “Utilizing a ZVS driver, a flyback transformer, and a high-voltage cascade, I generate a voltage of fifty thousand volts.”
As Tinkering says, the do-it-yourself energy provide design relies on a zero-volt switching (ZVS) driver, which connects to a flyback transformer — a part which shall be acquainted to anybody who ever dismantled a cathode-ray tube (CRT) show. The ZVS’ high-frequency switching output goes into the flyback transformer on the first facet, with few windings, and comes out of the secondary facet, with much more windings, significantly boosted.
With simply these two parts, Tinkering has an impressively high-voltage provide — demonstrated arcing between two bared wires and measuring at as much as 15,000V. “That is, after all, not practically the 20-60,000V I wish to obtain,” the YouTuber notes, that means a couple of extra elements are required: a step-down converter for adjusting the availability to the flyback transformer and a Cockcroft-Walton multiplier — designed again in 1932 to energy a particle accelerator accountable.
“I would like an AC [Alternating Current] output from this transformer,” Tinkering provides. “To construct the voltage multiplier I purchased these 50kV 1nF capacitors and these 100mA 30kV diodes. These multipliers can be utilized, because the title suggests, to multiply your voltage — with sufficient levels you may get to insane voltages, like 200,000V, however after all we are going to commerce off some present for the elevated voltage.”
Components of the availability are potted in epoxy resin, to keep away from harmful unintended arcing of the high-voltage provide. (📷: Superior Tinkering)
Totally assembled, with numerous parts potted in epoxy to forestall harmful arcing and with a useful low-voltage direct present (DC) output added to the general design, the completed energy provide proved able to delivering 50,000V — barely under the 60,000V goal, however nonetheless spectacular. “I ought to in all probability point out,” Tinkering admits, “that I am removed from an professional relating to electronics, so this video just isn’t meant as a tutorial and it is best to at all times do your personal analysis on the subject of your personal security.”
Extra data is obtainable within the video embedded above and on the Superior Tinkering YouTube channel, although as Tinkering warns high-voltage electronics ought to at all times be handled with care.
