High Voltage Multiplier

Step 2 The Parts List

All of the critical parts are available on EBay. Here's what you will need:

(6) 470 picofarad, 20KV Ceramic Doorknob Capacitors.

(6) HV03-12 12KV PIV High Voltage Diodes.

(7) Brass or copper wiring posts (homemade).

(8) 8-32 x 1 in. brass screws.

A length of 50KV High Voltage wire for the output.

A length of 20KV High Voltage wire for the input.

A length of 12ga. Stranded wire for ground.

(3) #8 Wire lugs.

(1) Ziploc Food Storage Container big enough to hold the multiplier(not a bag).

(1) qt. Mineral Oil.

RTV Silicon Rubber Sealant.

NOTE: Only the voltage rating on the components is critical.
The higher the rating, the higher the input voltage can be, resulting in a higher output voltage. The input limit on this design is 10KV (with safety margin built in). Ignition wire or coax cable with the shield removed may be substituted for high voltage wiring if need be.

Comments

[ymasamune]

Hi, if for example i want to use this multiplier to multiple the output voltage from high frequency ( say, in the kHz range) alternating current (say from ignition coil), would it be reliable to use diodes 1N4007? Or in simpler words, is 1N4007 suitable for hi freq AC?

[1232apx6a]

Hey Ymasamune
I think your answer is no because the 1n4007 does not have a fast enough switching speed. At high enough frequency like in the kHz range the diode would conduct backwards. Here a youtube link i saw this at. It starts at 3:02
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyhzpFqXwdA&feature=endscreen&NR=1

[aswethinkyouare]

have you had anyone use this voltage multiplier and or your variable voltage supply in corona poling?

[MulBe039]

will this also work with capacitors which aren't made out of ceramic?? i can't find 470pF ceramic ones, vut i found iothers for 470pF

[savish05]

hi Thanks for the project.I was wondering,Does the value of the capacitor really matter can i use 680pf .I cant find a 470pf. Thanks

[burningsuntech]

savish05 Nope. Not really. Only if you want to keep loading to a minimum. If you are going directly from mains to this device, consider using diodes designed for mains like the 1N4007 instead of the Microwave oven diodes. The high PIV of the MO diodes will make this work incorrectly if used directly to Mains. Good Luck on your build. RA

[TheMadScientist]

sorry, but where the hell does everyone get all of these "doorknob" capacitors. I need the REAL name for them, because when you go to buy them, they're not called doorknob capacitors. I just like that casing because its sturdier than stupid wimpy little leads and can take some decent abuse. any help would be appreciated. possibly leads to the electronics goldmine site or newark, or the like.

[burningsuntech]

TMS They are formally called High Voltage Ceramic Capacitors with a nickname of doorknobs. Reason is obvious. Raving Apache

[hansg]

Hi, I'm trying to build one of these, but I'm having problems. I'm hoping you can help point me in the right direction. I'm using 680pF 20KV caps I got from ebay and 12KV MO diodes I got from some other website. My unit looks exactly like yours and I'm sure I got the diodes oriented correctly. As a first test I apply 120VAC to the input and measure the ac and dc voltage between the ground node and the HVin node. I got 0VDC and 120 VAC - so far so good. But when I measure the dc voltage between the ground node and tap#1, tap#2, and tap#3, I get about 60VDC, 55VDC, and 45VDC. The voltage is going down! I tested the diodes individually with a power supply and a test load and they only pass current one way. The caps are not shorted internally. What could I be doing wrong? Thanks, Hans

[burningsuntech]

hansg please see my entry above yours.

[burningsuntech]

hansg MMM... A mystery. If you indeed built yours like the one above and followed the schematic properly, then it should work. Its possible that the diodes are mislabeled and they are not in the correct orientation. I'm assuming that you have this thing laying on a non-conductive surface like a small rubber mat instead of a metal surface and also that your meter is properly calibrated. I'm sorry, but I do not have an answer on this one. Hope my input helps. Raving Apache