Build a simple Marx Generator

Step 9 Troubleshooting

If you have problems with your mark generator, read here...

Q. - My marx generator is not making any sparks, but I hear faint hissing and/or faint snap noise, and sometimes see a purple glow.
A. - This is a good thing, your marx generator is working, but one or more gaps are probably too far apart, push them closer together. If gaps are too close, especially near the supply end, you may see a continuous arc forming, preventing further operation. Increasing the gap on the first (and possibly second) stage may reduce the tendency to arc. Increasing the ballast resistor Rb also helps, at the expense of slower recharge time.

Q. - My marx generator is not doing anything what so ever.
A. - Is there something wrong with the inverter? Check it to see if it working or not.
A. - Did you make sure you built the marx generator properly?
A. - Did you miss out any connections?

Q. - My marx generator is working, but after a few seconds, it made a "POP" noise, and it did not work again...
A. - That is a bad sign, a capacitor may have been destroyed from excess voltage OR your HV power supply has been killed from the extremely high voltage spikes from the marx generator. Replace the capacitor/inverter and don't make that same mistake again...

Comments

[brooklynlord]

You are using two big resistors between the first stage and the power supply?


I thought the schematic said only 1......

[Plasmana]

Yes, I modified my design a bit, I did not have a 10MΩ 1W resistor handy, so I used two 4.7MΩ in 'series' to make the equivalent to the 10MΩ resistor. :)

[comodore]

When you are separating the gaps, don't you need to w8 for a bit for the capacitors to discharge?

[andrewsweet4]

I have a HV power supply from a PC 12Volt cold cathode light. Can i use this for the marx generator? I don't know its output voltage because my multimeter can measure voltages up to 1Kv, and the supply exeeds that limit... (I get a "1" reading on 1000VDC adjustment on my multimeter)

[Plasmana]

The HV power supply won't work for this Marx Generator, sorry... Because... The high voltage power supply gives out 2000 volts AC, the voltage is not enough for the Marx Generator, and the Marx Generator needs DC input, not AC.

[andrewsweet4]

thanks for replying! i want to ask you another thing... I recently got a flyback transformer and made a really good driver for it. it works great! Anyway... As far as i know, the flyback generates voltages about 15-20Kv DC. can i use it for your marx generator? It would be great if i could... Thanks in advance and a Big BRAVO for your project!!!

[Plasmana]

If your flyback transformer is a black one, then it will work for the marx generator. You just need to replace the 6Kv capacitors to 20Kv capacitors if you want run the marx generator by a flyback transformer.

[LancePenney]

Very interesting project. Good job. But in your last troubleshooting tip, how do you not make that same mistake again? And what did you do with the first lead from the capacitor that isn't bent towards the second one? Thanks.

[kscience]

cut it off.