Build a simple Marx Generator

Step 10 SPARKS!!!

My marx generator works very well, it generates loud, bright, sparks that are up to 2 inches long (5 cm)! That is about 50Kv (50,000v) coming out of that thing!

Well I hope yours works when you build one! :)
And can you post a picture of your marx generator if you build one?

To let you know, all of the photos that has a few sparks in a single picture are 4 second long exposures.

I hope you enjoyed this instructable, and enjoy the photos down below! And the video I just uploaded!

Comment if you need help, have question, or anything! _{I like comments!}

(UPDATE) I just uploaded a video of my marx generator working, sorry for the poor quality with no sounds, I had used my crappy camera. :(

Comments

[devendra kaithal]

people just tell me how can we make a marx generator powered by 18 v battery...
what will i have to do if i want it to run by 18volts only . please give me complete configuration.

[ptempel]

Hi!

This is really imperessive. One question: Would you sell your MG?
Reply to [e-mail]

Thanks!

[Shrix157]

I was just looking up coil guns, and funny i stumbled upon this awesome device. Have you ever considered the possibilities this could have in a coil gun? High voltage with High Amperage with a low "pulse time" could give one hell of a kick to a coil gun. Just an idea, don't even no if it would work...

[Plasmana]

Nice idea, but it would be expensive, you would need wires that can handle + 50Kv. :)

[Idonet]

That's the point: for a railgun you need high amperes also. But this circuitry delivers some sort of _limited_ (!) current only. Only if you collect the energy in a capacitor large enough (one withstanding this high voltage!) you might be successful.

[The 4th Doctor]

each one of these capacitors is only .008 joules so this is just a .08 joule pulse high voltage but sadly low amperage :/ photo flash capacitors are 4-9 joules each (for scale)

[Shrix157]

just put a coil where the spark would be and Kaboom!

[Idonet]

If you force it to the limit this way I expect the diodes of the cascade will die instantly.

[laci37]

I think it'd spark around the coil or through the insulation of the wires.

[Kryptonite]

Sweet, over powered electricity, I like it. What can you actually use one of these for though? (I meen apart from a sweet electric zap.)

[RLDMICRO]

A great Instructable! Very clear and easily dooable! I have a Basic Electrical Theory Question: Why are the spark gaps needed? Seems like all those sparks somehow "subtract" from the total output of the Marx.

[Plasmana]

The spark gaps are really automatic high voltage switches to connect the capacitors in series (when they are fully charged) to multiply the voltage to get a long spark at the end of the marx generator.

[kruser495]

is there any other place that has this stuff, farnell has a 20 dollar shipping charge.

[Plasmana]

Ouch! That is too expensive...

Here is Farnell's partner website, Newark, I think it is same thing as Farnell, but sells stuff in America. Tell me what you think of it! :-)

[kruser495]

it still has a 20 shipping charge......

[Plasmana]

Well, that sucks...

Did you try Digikey?

[kruser495]

30,000 volts = 1 centimeter spark. so yours cant be only 50,000 if your sparks are 5 cm.

[Plasmana]

From what I learned:
Pointy ends of the wire = 1.1Kv per mm.
Smooth ends of the wire = (much lower breakdown voltage)

[Spedy]

The tiny sparkgaps help with the multiplication. A Marx works like this:

1) all the capacitors are charged to the same voltage through the resistors.
2)after a certain voltage, the tiny gaps act like switches wiring all the capacitors in parallel. This makes output voltage = input voltage x number of capacitors.

Without the tiny gaps, there won;t be any voltage multiplication.

A much better explanation is on the website linked to at the start of the instructable.

[Plasmana]

No offence, but you got it wrong...
The tiny gaps act like switches wiring all the capacitors in series! Not parallel.
The capacitor charges in parallel via resistors. And discharges in series through the spark gaps.

[robot797]

wow this is verry nice. so what you say about an inverter is it posible to use the inverter in a scanner (cold cathode lamp (tl tube))

[Plasmana]

Yeah, the inverter from a scanner might work, try it to see if it works!