High Voltage Power Supply For Marx Generator

Some of you are asking me to post an instructable about how to make an high voltage power supply to power the Marx Generator on this instructable.
Well, here is the instructable you have been waiting for!

The device we are going to use to make a power supply for the Marx Generator is called Cockroft-Walton Voltage Multiplier, now that is a lot of words, so what most other people call it is what we are going to call it, the Voltage Multiplier.

This one is a different design from the one I used for my Marx Generator, I was going to post the other design, however, it was quite difficult to build, so I came up with this new design.

The new design has more advantaged over the old design, I will explain them:

• Easy to build
• More efficient

However, the new design has one disadvantage, it requires mains electricity, but that is not very much a problem, we can just add fuse (and safety resistors if you want). At least it is easier to build!

Disclaimer: This project is very dangerous to operate, it generates high voltages (6000 volts). Please do not attempt to build this voltage multiplier unless you are familiar with high voltage. I am NOT responsible what ever happens to you and others with this voltage multiplier.

Step 1: Get the things!!

Depending where you live, get the things that will be suitable to your mains power..

If your country uses 110v or 120v, get the things as listed:

• 34 1N4007 diodes
• 34 100nF film 200v (or greater) capacitors
• 100mA fuse

If your country uses 220v or 240v, get the things as listed:

• 18 1N4007 diodes
• 18 100nF film 400v (or greater) capacitors
• 100mA fuse

The X2 capacitors will also work well, that is what I used for this voltage multiplier.

(UPDATE)
I got the diodes and the fuse from Farnell. I got the capacitors from Maplin, however, the capacitors are no longer stocked at Maplin, But you can still get it from Farnell. Here is a list of things you will need to get if you are going to buy the components from Farnell.
1N4007 diodes
100nF film 400v capacitor
100nF film 200v capacitor
100mA fuse

Comments

[willstr1]

is it possible to create a semi variable version if I had a way to change which stage it connects to?
like if i connected at the beginning and between 20 and 21 would that lower the voltage but keep the other stages so that I could switch to a higher voltage if i need it (of course shutting down and unplugging and waiting (so that all charge is gone in the capacitors) before doing the transfer) or would that mess up the components that aren't in use?

[willstr1]

Also is it possible to add more stages and get a higher voltage? I need 10+kv for a ion lifter.

[my wookie]

yes to the second one but as for the first one it would only discharge as you switched it it would still work though if you don't mind waiting for it to charge again

[zmilosavljevic]

Why do we have to use a 100mA fuse exactly? Could we use one with another value, like for example 500mA? What would be a the difference?

[my wookie]

i didn't use a fuse when i made mine, and my little brother decided to short the input voltage... he got a big yellow spark and decided it looked cool. i kept hearing a bang in there so i went to check it out and i got there right as he blew the breaker. then my dad made me take it apart.

[plasasesamo22]

Hey! If i have a little stun gun that make 100v from 2 batteries and i want more voltage.
You think it will work if i put one voltage multiplier like this?

[my wookie]

: ( old post, better late than never, if its AC then yes but i doubt it. its most likely DC if it came from 2 batteries.

[mshbi]

After I made mine and measured the voltage it measured the same as the input. Anyone know what is wrong?

[正安]

I use a variac transformer which can output 0~260VAC(5A) and then connect a Cockroft Walton Voltage Multipliers which use camera capacitor 104/1KV and 1N4007 as diode.
I made it series connection about 10 stages,theoretically it can output 10X(input voltage),but I didn't get that much. Here is my situation:
10VAC→100VDC
20VAC→180VDC
30VAC→240VDC
40VAC→300VDC
50VAC→360VDC
60VAC→400VDC
70VAC→450VDC
80VAC→500VDC
90VAC→520VDC
100VAC→560VDC
Is there anything wrong?Why can't i get that 10 times voltage?

[kanni1303]

I tried this one but it is not working.
I used
2G104J capacitor and
IN4007 diode
with 200mA fuse
and power supply from mains, I live in INDIA
and my supply is ~230V

[Quyzi]

Does it matter if hot and neutral are swapped? I can't find a polarized plug :(

[amaziliauskas]

hi,how much is one stage ?plz tell me(sorry for my language)

[Higgs Boson]

Every stage adds another input onto the output (if each stage consists of two capacitors and two diodes). If there were only one stage then the output would be double the input. Every stage you add after that adds another input voltage onto the output.

[AChillyDog]

Could i use 6000 volts to make it put out huge voltages?

[Higgs Boson]

You would need caps rated for much higher voltages if you did that.

[amaziliauskas]

hi,how much is one stage?

[Dreistein]

hey i'd like to make a device i can attach to say my foot ,that if i touch someone they would get a shock basically like when you walk with socks over a carpet but the effect is automated. A guy made an ible http://www.instructables.com/id/The-mini-electrostatic-generator/ where he makes what im describing but its not very detailed. any ideas?

[Dreistein]

hey i'd like to make a device i can attach to say my foot ,that if i touch someone they would get a shock basically like when you walk with socks over a carpet but the effect is automated. A guy made an ible http://www.instructables.com/id/The-mini-electrostatic-generator/ where he makes what im describing but its not very detailed. any ideas?

[emihackr97]

Hi, I want to build your marx generator, but on the video from that 'ible, you power it all from a single AA battery, is it possible to get the schematic for the inverter circuit, an also, you say it outputs 450v, so how may stages of Caps-Diodes will I need?

Thanks,
emihackr97

[Kalace]

Does this plug into the wall for power, and if so does this trip the circuit breaker often?

[Kalace]

I live in US so i get 120volts

[reed00112]

So say i wanted a reeeally low output current for ultimate safety and i used a 2M Ohm resistor in series with the output. What kinda current would we be looking at? and what voltage drop should i expect ?
Help will be greatly appreciated!

[Speedmite]

I was just wondering, If I built this multiplier, could it feed into a larger multiplier such as this one?
http://www.instructables.com/id/High-Voltage-Multiplier/
Or would everything need higher ratings?

[Robdei]

would some 1 picofarad ceramic 500v capacitors be able to substitute for the film capacitors?

[AGT563]

I am working on something like this, but much smaller and independent of mains power, I will be posting it soon. on another note you mentioned that have asperger syndrome, I have asperger syndrome as well, and I am also a bit odd.

[robot797]

i need around 50KV adjustable fron 30KV to 70KV
can it be done with this?

[sholtob]

do you connect the live wire from the mains voltage to the hot pin and the neutral to the earth?

[zapurva]

Wouldn't 18 stages for a 240V input supply require 36 capacitors and diodes? As per my calculations 1 stage requires 2 capacitors and 2 diodes..

[manicmonday]

Does anyone here know how to use one of these to make a Negitive Ion Generator? I'm in the USA using 120vac.

Thanks

[FurtherThanTesla]

Im pretty sure that you just switch the ac input wires on the voltage multiplier. That way, the 6kv output will be negative relative to ground. Look it up on google images, because i know I saw a schematic for a negative ionizer that pretty much just had the leads switched from what this guy has

[yaly]

there is an instructable on that.

[DELETED_Robert L]

(removed by author or community request)

[Nico N.]

Hi Robert, I think that in the instructable for the marx generator, Plasmana made his own custom made one that runs off of 1.5v (AA battery). THIS instructable is an alternative that YOU can build that uses 110. This is what I think. I really don't know

[Umniscient]

Two questions:

1. Am I correct in saying that each capacitor should be rated for twice the *input* voltage? That is, can I add more stages without changing the ratings?

2. My country uses 110 volts. Should my capacitors be rated for 200VAC or 200VDC?

Thanks!

[pyroten]

Hmm. I'm in a bit of a hard position. I live in Australia and i can't order things online. All i can really use is this hobby store (Jaycar) so i need to substitute everything because i can't find exact matches for the resistors and caps.
Soooo.... Could the:

• 400v 100nf caps be substituted for two 250v 100nf caps connected in series?
• 50k 2W Resistor be substituted for two 27k 1W resistors in series?

So what I'm kind of getting at is what can i change around to what effect.

Thanks in advance ^:)

[TANN-MANN]

No probs in Australia, Order online at http://au.element14.com, its all we aussies could need, Jaycar is good, but you will need to order most things...Yeah I know this was posted a few years ago but hey just helping

[lasermaster3531]

for the resistor that will work, but you need to have the caps 200nf each in series to get 100nf together.

[volthead]

Try a hobby store which also stocks altronics parts I am about to pick up 10 2.2nF 3kv caps and 30 1n4804 diodes. It depends where you are I am in Bendigo so I have PCB electronics.

[duckythescientist]

two 250v 100nf caps in series would give you a 500v 50nf cap. You want two 250v 200nf caps. When caps are put in parallel, the capacitances are added and the maximum voltage becomes the smallest of the maximum voltages of the caps in parallel. When caps are added in series, the voltages are summed (at least when all the voltages are the same) and the resulting capacitance is the harmonic mean of the capacitances. This is the reciprocal of the sum of all the reciprocals of each individual capacitance. Meaning Ctotal=1/( 1/Ca + 1/Cb + 1/Cc ...)

I hope this helps. If I am incorrect, Instructables community, please correct me.

[dumle29]

does it matter where you connect the neutral and where you connect the phase?

[tobyscool]

will this need a 555 timer circuit or it will switch automatically?

[jaydenr]

if i build a full wave multiplier with 33 the caps of the same value and the same diodes will it work just as well? also, what is the advantage of building it half wave? and does it matter if the caps are film or ceramic?

[Mudbud]

does the input 'Have' to be 120 or 240v? can I just use 16vAC instead? I know it won't generate as much but I will just add more stages to it then.

[grampafish]

Could this be driven off of a 330V disposable camera flash circuit

[galan0121]

hi I'm french sorry for my spelling! I had a question... On the first alternate, C1 charges to the peak voltage (325V in my case) and on the second alternate, C2 charges to 2 times the peak voltage (ie 650V). But the problem is that the capacitors are only 400V rated. Can they support such a voltage ?
Thank you for your help, you do a great job!

[ziga321]

Because the voltage which PASSES THROUGH the element is important and not the overall voltage. look up in google for 'voltage difference'.

[ziga321]

[jaydenr]

Please can some one tell me where to buy these components in the u.s.a.?

[buckminsterfullerene]

Digikey is the best:

 Capacitors- http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&itemSeq=95211150&uq=634305487000988323

Diodes- http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&itemSeq=95211209&uq=634305487000988323

Fuse- http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&itemSeq=95211302&uq=634305487000988323

[ziga321]

What's the max.current using this particular caps and how can I calculate the max.current using different capacitance?

[boi tata]

Any special reason on this picture??? I mean, the caps are inverted when soldering (in one cap you the the inscription and other no and other yes and go on....) On a picture ahead, all inscriptions can be seen!!

[gammaraptor]

anyone know a cheap place to buy the capacitors in canada? I need 34 caps, and i don't want to pay 20 bucks for it.

[geek10102]

try using simple spark gaps
if air is a dielectric
then in essence a spark gap is a cap
that what I'm trying anyway

[Andreonh]

I am a student at omaha Benson High, my class is trying to build your cockcroft-walton voltage multiplier scaled down, and are running in to some problems. we are using 1N4007 diodes and .003uf 400 volt capacitors we have an input voltage of 6.5 according to our digital osciloscope. our ac powere suply gives us a nice little sine wave. at our fist stage we read 16.5 volts, but when we add a second stage we get a voltage reading of 5.5. any suggestions or ideas as to what we are doing wrong.
sincerly,
Nick Ramm
NHS Vice President
[e-mail]

[CombineOverwatch]

can you use any less diodes and capacitors with it still working?

[grampafish]

could this be powered off of a camera circuit

[ARJOON]

Hello plas3manan
w9ill it w9ork if i use the current from your flyback tran3sformer to get even higher voltage. i made mine my arcs3 are only about 36-40mm (about 35kv) long. if i us3e the voltage multiplier w9ill i get longer arcs???????

[coolfordy]

if i would build one of these with 6 stages of 240v could i use it to power a flyback ?

[spork969]

"Each stage will add on another 120v or 240v to the voltage multiplier." But 120 x 34 = 4080, not 6000. Do you have your numbers right, or am I missing something?

[Plasmana]

You missed something...

When the mains AC is converted to DC, the voltage would be higher, because of the peak voltage in the AC lines...

The peak voltage of 120v AC is 179v.
The peak voltage of 240v AC is 339v.

So...

179v X 34 = 6086v

Very close to be 6000 volts.

[Gonzik]

False, the peak voltage of 120V AC line is 169.71V. Remember 120V is the RMS thus the peak will be 120*sqrt(2) = 169.71V. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[electricfan]

(removed by author or community request)

[Plasmana]

No, you will get about 6Kv, not 3Kv, use google to learn more about voltage multiliers.

[Padlock]

Wait... I'm missing something here... 120 VAC is the RMS value. So when you put that voltage into the the converter, the capacitors would charge to 120 Volts... Unless you didn't rectify it? But I can't see how this would work then, because up on a previous comment you said that it would work with Electrolytic Capacitors, which are polarity dependent. "Yes, you can use electrolytic capacitors or ceramic capacitors, but they are not as efficient as the film capacitors..."

[spork969]

Oh. Thanks. So I can assume that I'm getting 179 volts out DC for every step I have? I need it to be pretty precise. Also, is this a single burst of voltage, or is it continuous?

[Plasmana]

Yes... It is continuous.

[deckland]

i live in the uk (240v) and i made this with 30 2x 220n capacitors rated at 270v ac and 30 diodes (1a 1000v) and when i switch it on and point the end to neutral all i get is a measly 1mm spark.. its bright and quite loud but thats all i get... and i havnt got resistors it this.. i checked all the joints and listend for hissing but it seems as though theres no electrical leakeage. could someone point me in the right direction on how to get this working please... ? please email me at [e-mail]

regards

Declan

[jcolefran]

if i substituted these capacitors for 1kv ones like these ,
could i attach your 'worlds smallest shocker' ? (450v output)

and if so would i have to use different diodes?

thanks.

[brooklynlord]

When i solder, why are all the joints not shiny? like, they aren't smooth, they aren't shiny.......

[p8ntball37]

try a hotter slodering iron. its not hot enough.

[squalyl]

Can I add more stages to get an even higher output voltage?

[mojarabm2]

sure you can ! you will get greatest voltages if you add more stages. but take care if youre a amateur cuz it can be SO much daneger than your healt can take. tell me if you done it.

[ampeyro]

do you(or anybody else) know if i can do that with different capacitors(diferent capacities in the same circuit)? i'm trying to use recycled parts because i don't want to buy 10 hv capacitors, the "hardware store" is in a very small city and i don't want to scare my neighbours

[Ch.Sachin]

Can we use 250v DC as an input

[Plasmana]

No, it must be AC, DC won't work.

[Ch.Sachin]

Thanx for the help....

[HazzWold1993]

The capacitors are DC so does it matter which way you run them in this setup?

[Plasmana]

No, they are bipolar.

[dellmang187]

where is the best place to learn how to read schematics for beginners

[Plasmana]

I just mainly searched google for varouse types of circuit symbles and memberised them.

[wil2]

Also, your circuit diagram shows three stages, not six. One full "stage" rectification in a CW voltage multiplier is one pair of caps and diodes. Thus the factor that the input voltage is multiplied to is roughly half what you claim if you do 34 stages in this manner, or around 3000V.

Do you think there are any advantages to using a full wave CW design instead of a half wave like this?

[gammaraptor]

sorry, i'm kind of stupid. do we have to buy a transformer to make this work?

[Wargasm]

No. This is a Cockroft-Walton voltage multiplier. It will multiply the mains voltage directly. If you don't have much knowledge or experience with HV or AC mains, i wouldn't recommend building this.

[wil2]

I can only seem to find fuses with 250V ratings and .25-.5 amp maximums. Is this acceptable? My only goal is to prevent the wall socket from being blown. Thanks.

Also, I live in a 120V area, hence the problem with 250V

[electricfan]

Hi, does the doides have to be rated for half the current the cascade is using? For example if the thing is pulling 1 amp, do the diodes have to be rated at 1/2 a amp?

Thanks,

Paul

[randomapps]

if i wanted 22kv would i need higher rated diodes and caps?

[Plasmana]

Nope.

[bombmaker2]

So that means I could just add tons if stages to achieve higher voltages, right?

[randomapps]

 yep lets say if you have 240 volts on the input, each time you add a stage it adds another 240 volts to it so you have 480 volts and add another stage you get 1020 volts and so on you can make it as big as you like and if you get a shock of one of the stages there are not enough amps to kill you

[bombmaker2]

k thanks. that is what i thought

[brooklynlord]

If i just wanted 6 kVs, do i need to adjust the current limiting resistor?

I've also been thinking about having a swtich to switch from 220-240 volts to 110-120 volts.

[qwertyboy]

is the resistor to limit current?

[garrys newman]

in fact, if there is an arc inside the box  the resistor will limit the force of it...

[imgeek1337]

can you use 1N4006 800V 1A diodes instead?

[alah]

Does 220 AC have to be 1 phase and neutral or could it be two 110AC phases? Thanks, Alberto.

[manicmonday]

I don't know about europe, but in the USA 220vac is always made up of 2 phases of 110vac.

[Derin]

In Europe it is one neutral and one 220.

[discovery]

in Europe is 230v.

[brooklynlord]

Does it have AC out? And is it safe to use it as a tesla coil transformer?

[brooklynlord]

im in canada so im using 120v power (Or 110v, not sure, but it doesnt really make a difference..... does it?).

[Crtek]

why can't this be used as a marx generator?
it does make sparks just like the marx generator, just not as big/long, right?
i wanna use it to ionize some air...could this work (i bet that a marx genarator would work, but i don't know if this is strong enough...if it's strong enough i'll just use this)
please give me some info

[sutiteoj]

hello i am new to this site and i was intersted in constructing my own CW voltage multiplier to power a marx generator. I have all the parts for both and ect. but was wondering how do i simply connect the output source of the multiplier to the input if the marx generator. thanks

[Arduino Guy]

Can i use this for a Jacob's ladder

[qwertyboy]

couldn't you also imerse this in mineral oil?

[tulavatalo]

Will this work with a 12vbattery run through an 230
 inverter

[stratos13pao]

can i use 0.1uF 400V Mylar Capacitorsinsted of film capasitors

[12V]

please can you tell me the voltage of my transformer i made (using a wire winder that i made) input was about 10-15v pulsing dc at 8va power and it arced up to about 10mm what voltage is this (needed to be closer to start) but soon the transformer started internal arcing and i haven't tested it yet so can you give me infomation on what voltages arc what distance.(1to 20kv)

[volthead]

It takes 4.3 kv over 1mm to start an arc and 1kv over 1.1mm to keep it going.

[12V]

sorry i mean i haven't tested the new one.

[joinaqd]

goddamnit i am afraid i dont have so many unpolarized capacitors...is it possible to change the circuit somehow to make it work with DC?

[joinaqd]

i mean to say, that i want to make use of normal capacitors that are polarized...is there a way to do it?

[The 4th Doctor]

polarized will work fine just make sure you put them in right. heres an instructable of a multiplier made with electrolytes(i assume thats what you mean by normal) to to charge capacitors.
http://www.instructables.com/id/SQLX7AMFEAQ3X5G/

a cascade like this is current limited by the small size of capacitors and electrolytes are quite larger in capacity and will draw alot of current in a short circuit and something will pop if you try to make an arc (hopefully not a capacitor, electrolytes are nasty)

i got 35 capacitors and diodes for under 5 bucks and 14 dollars for 25 stages worth of capacitors and resistors for the actual marx plus shipping 29 dollers for a 150kv marx generator

long late comment :/

[muttyfutty]

Nice! How did you get such nice solder joints? also, if I used much larger capaciters (10uF), (150uF) what would happen? much bigger ampage? can you use 'odd' caps (different capacity)? Thanks, mike

[corbin569]

What would if i hooked this up to the output of a flyback ?

[muttyfutty]

it would blow the entire setup, unless you have rated caps and rated diodes (>20KV)

[kikiclint]

what would be the effect of putting smaller capacitors or larger ones in instead of the 100 nf? would you get a smaller or larger current?

[Evilthingamabober]

Can you use this without mains power?

[kikiclint]

it needs to use a pulsing voltage. I don't think dc will work.

[Stuffses]

The http://www.instructables.com/id/Build_a_simple_Marx_Generator/?ALLSTEPS Instructable used a small battery. how can i do that?

[Blackice504]

hi i am very instreasted in this i was wondering can this be used say on a Generator like a Car alternator so that it give really high voltage like 240volt using bigger caps and if so what sort of amps could i pull from this thanks.

[joinaqd]

does it work with a strobe light from a disposable camera? that would be cool.

[Plasmana]

Unfortunately not, the voltage is too low...

[TheDeviant13]

I have actually ran a flash tube with a cold cathode light inverter which pushes out around 1kV ac and the way I got it to arc is one of the wires was hooked up to one end of the flash tube and the other was hooked up to the other end and a metal plate and I was able to get it to light up that way but could not even get a single arc without the metal plate so that might be how you would have to do it with this.

[JohnMichael]

Most of the capacitors I have found in disposable cameras are 330V.

[codex653]

yeah but then they are discharged through another transformer that steps it up to way way high voltage momentarily and that's what flashes it.

[shuhia]

how i build a mini transformer from 9volt to 240vac(vdc)

[codex653]

yeah it's much better to do what jacksonwalters says. i've been trying to build my own transformers for quite a while now, and let me tell you, it's a pain.

[jacksonwalters]

You really just need an inverter. Take a wall wart, open it up, and reverse it so that your 9V supply becomes the 120VAC output. Then you can use like one stage of these diode rectifier things and get it to 240VDC.

[asim164]

Can i use 160 mA fuse instead of 100 mA. Also can i ust it directly 18- capacitor "High Voltage Power Supply For Marx Generator" with Marx Generator.. and what precautions should i use while using with it ? THANKS

[Questioneverything13]

I got 1n5408 (1000V 3A) from here
http://www.taydaelectronics.com/servlet/the-85/1N5408-Diodes-Rectifier-3A/Detail
for $2.50 US for 50 of them The place sell active components cheep
http://www.taydaelectronics.com/servlet/StoreFront

[shuhia]

can i use polyester?

[shuhia]

any one now how to decrease 240volt ac to 12 vac for a relay 12vac

[alah]

Best way is using a 220/240v to 12 v transformer. If not, measure the resitance of your relay´s 12v coil and place a power resistor whose value should be 9 times the coilsresistance.

[shanemc01]

does it matter how you connect the capacitors? I'm talking about the polarity. Do you need to start with the positive or negative?

[bylerfamily]

Film capacitors don't have polarity...

[build a BOOM]

I was reading up on spark gaps, and I found out there is the potential for ozone and nitrogen oxides to be produced, by the ionization of air. How real is this risk ?

[biolethal]

they destroy your lungs and they are overall not very healty... ozone for example is used to kill bacteria in hottubs...

[gobitz]

what is the input voltage???

[bodo]

hi everyone it is posible but dangerous eventhough use a ignition coil from a car get 30 kv it alon makes grate sparks and is useful in marx generator also

[JohnMichael]

Is there something similar to the "voltage multiplier" that uses direct current?

[rzigmu]

One question. On Wikipedia you have a schematic on how to build a full wave CW multiplier. I've added the standard half-wave schematic too. I am a bit confused about the connections. In your project you have replaced the ground connection for the multiplier with a 0V return wire leading back from the load, correct? So why is it grounded on the wiki schematic?

So if I want to make a full wave multiplier (I'll be using a transformer before the multiplier), the "AC input" wires are live and neutral, "DC output is + x kV and "GND input" is a 0V return wire leading back from the load? Or, does "GND input" connect to the centre tap of a transformer? If so, where's my 0V return? Do I just have to make one from the source to a ground connection? This puzzles me.

[Plasmana]

For the full wave multiplier, the "GND input" goes to the center tap of the transformer. and the 0V return is "GND input".

[rzigmu]

One more question. Could you just simply split the live wire into two wires and run them into the AC inputs while running the common neutral into GND input (i.e. could you eliminate the need for a center tapped transformer)? Thanks for all of your help and sorry for my bad english :-)

[ranzau]

Would 350VDC at low amps be fine for this. thx

[jacksonwalters]

Two questions: How is it that the capacitors only rated at 400V are handling the 6kV and doesn't each stage of this do the exact same thing as the stages in a Marx generator? Why build both?

[rocketman221]

because the capacitors are connected in series. and a marx generator needs a high voltage input (at least several kv) the voltage multiplier just runs off the mains.

[xxfoxracer9xx]

what program did u use to make ur schematic, i cant seem to find any good programs

[rocketman221]

I use TinyCad its easy to use and its free.

[robot797]

electronic workbench (multi sim) paint (must has steady hand)

[xxfoxracer9xx]

wow thats nice for paint

[robot797]

i could do it in paint before i had a program i did it by hand or with paint.

[HOWITZER]

hi...emm..the input is 127vac???? please help...........

[Plasmana]

I really don't understand what you are trying to say...?

[HOWITZER]

hello, my question is: if the input voltage is any 127V outlet in my case

[miiwii3]

where the wires do you live?

[HOWITZER]

127Vac

[pyroten]

i think he meant what country ur in lol but i dunno. maybe i'm wrong

[ranzau]

would bigger diodes mater

[Plasmana]

It depends...

[build a BOOM]

Is there a way to make this work with pulsating dc

[Plasmana]

Yes, this multiplier can work on full wave AC or half wave AC, (half wave AC is same thing as pulsating DC).

[egpacheco]

Plasmana. great Instructable!! congratulations. You can built two multipliers with the diodes inverted and in that way you get one + and one - multiplier with double potential difference. this reduces the ripple that comes out of a longer cascade. One question: the 50k 2w resistance shouldn't be placed in the high voltage output (in the spark gap) instead of in the mains connection?

[egpacheco]

I mean you can do something like this (credits, wikipedia):

[egpacheco]

By the way my fist cascade is working great. I powered a rotating ion motor, nice sparks and corona discharge inside broken lamps. I also suggest to use at least 100K resistance for safety reason and put them in the HV side of the multiplier so it protects when there is a discharge to ground. Remember that more than 50 mA can stop the heart (I know that the multiplier works with much less than that, but is better to be in the safe side of the road). And Plasmana thanks a lot for your work in this and other instructables!!. :)

[Gonras]

Hey ho, I already try for a long time to make that damn simple thing, but It doesn't work !! every single one does work, two in a row works, 3 works still but isn't that effective anymore and 4 stages are getting worse voltage output than 3....!!!!!!!!! so what's wrong with that sh§$%? I have no Idea what to do :(

[tulavatalo]

Cab you use this on a 9v battery

[11010010110]

this thing needs ac to work. 9 V battery is dc

you can add 555 chip and h bridge to make 9 V ac

then to get 6 KV you need 6000 / 9 = 667 capacitors and diodes. a bit too much

on low voltage sources an inverter circuit (like circuit with flyback transformer) works better

[novice2]

Plasmana, can you please spare some time to do an instructables on the circuit that you used to drive this voltage multiplier ( the one that used the single AA battery). Thanks.

[novice2]

Found it !

[egpacheco]

Were did you find it? TIA for your help

[tulavatalo]

Were did you find it pls reply

[HVLC]

I have used 4 electrolytic caps 400v 330uF each 2 connected in series .it worked fine but i have been short circuiting output to get sparks(through water). then all of then suddenly blew up. do you think that was because of short circuiting or not? my input peak voltage was the mains 339v so stage voltage was 679v but caps voltage in series was 800v. thx.

[Plasmana]

If they are cheep capacitors, then they are most likely have been destroyed by shorting them out harshly. Good capacitors should not blow up by shorting them harshly...

[HVLC]

hi I've made a voltage multiplier for 110v ac input ( i converted 240 to 110) (i used the electrolytic caps (68uF 400v), i had 3 cascades, it worked fine.i have got up to 900v. but when i try using ceramic caps instead(222pF 1kv) it doesnt work.(output goes to a few volts). can you please suggest me some idea.(i have already bought 20). thx.

[Plasmana]

Your ceramic capacitor multiplier probably works just fine. All multimeters that reads voltage takes up little bit of current, so your voltage multiplier cannot supply enough current to give your multimeter accurate readings. Also, the smaller the capacity rating the capacitor has, the less AC current can go through.

[HVLC]

thanks

[The 4th Doctor]

very nice so if you take out/lower that resister will you get more current until too much current goes threw and parts start frying and with diodes can you add them in series for twice the voltage ratting or in parallel for twice the current ratting thanks in advanced

[comodore]

The brown and blue wires go to a male receptacle, right? And than you plug that in into 220V, right? In the schematic there is also a 100mA thing, I'm not shore what that is, what is it??? Thanks!

[Plasmana]

The brown and blue wires go to a male receptacle, right?
Yes.

And than you plug that in into 220V, right?
Close, in 240v.

In the schematic there is also a 100mA thing, I'm not shore what that is, what is it???
Thanks!
A fuse. :-)

[comodore]

Thanks, now that i know everything i need, that wasn't clear to me, now I can build it and finally make a Marx Generator! BUHUHUHAHAHAHAHA *cough * *cough * xD

Thanks!

[acaz93]

Plasmana, I was Wondering if this could be powered with a disposable camera , you know , for increased "mobility"

[Plasmana]

It can be powered by a disposable camera, but it burns out too soon and the electronic modification are complex.

[Xellers]

What is the approximate current output? I am wondering if I can use this for a Tesla Coil instead of a wimpy flyback transformer, or an expensive NST.

[Plasmana]

You should stick the flybacks, because the voltage multiplier only gives out less then 5 mA...

[somethingtodo]

can you use any other kinds of capacitors ?

[Plasmana]

Yes, you can use electrolytic capacitors or ceramic capacitors, but they are not as efficient as the film capacitors...

[seabeepirate]

I just want to make sure I understand. This will produce DC power correct?

[coilguncannon]

yes because the ac current can not oscillate because of the diodes

[seabeepirate]

Thanks, I never would have thought to try this... I had somewhere in the back of my mind the idea that it was possible, but I don't think I could have figured it out.

[trooperrick]

Alright so I did it with 50 stages instead of thirty four, I hardly got any sparks, should I try removing stages or what. Also do the diodes burn out if you heat them to long with a soldering iron?

[Plasmana]

Did you make sure all the diodes are facing the correct direction?

[trooperrick]

Yeah, I also made sure all of the solder connections were good.

[Plasmana]

Odd.... Try switching the input wires, if that does not work, check the diodes, a single diode that is malfunctioning can affect and become the most annoying problem from the voltage multiplier..

[the_mad_man]

maby you burnt out something?

[burningsuntech]

Plasmana Great Instructable! I like the idea of parafin instead of mineral oil for preventing arc over. Parafin is less messy. raving apache

[Plasmana]

Thank you!

[cowscankill]

Does this make a one time spark or a constant electric spark?

[Plasmana]

One spark at a time...

[scienceboy63]

is USA a 200 or 400 volt country?

[wirecutter]

110 V @ 60 Hz

[Plasmana]

USA uses 120v AC (170v peak AC).

[geeklord]

Yea, After killing a transformer plugging it in to a wall I'm kinda nervous ataching anything made by me into the wall

[Carlos Marmo]

Wonderful Work! Congratulations!

[Plasmana]

Thank you!

[plcrules]

i really need to no how do i power up the capacitors and power them down again

[Plasmana]

Wikipedia might help you...

[heimo]

Hi I was thinking if you want to make this thing variable do you think you could just add a light dimmer switch/potentiometer at the start of the circuit to control the input voltage

[Plasmana]

Yes, you can use the light dimmer to make the voltage variable.

[heimo]

sorry I forgot I need the code for 400v ones cuse I live in 220v country

[Plasmana]

Look on step one.

[heimo]

also do you have a product code like the ones for the diodes "18 1N4007 diodes" this code do you have it for the caps cuse I can only order anything if I had this code

[sabre]

what would be the differance between a 1N4007 and a 1N4005 diode?

[Plasmana]

The 1N4007 diode can handle 1000 volts. The 1N4005 diode can handle 600 volts. You can use 1N4005 diodes, but they are more likely to be destroyed by voltage spicks than the 1N4007 diodes...

[scienceboy63]

can you power a jacobs ladder with this

[Plasmana]

No, this device make pulse discharges.

[killerjackalope]

Hum, seems reasonable... One issue at the moment is the fact that I know the people in the maplins near me don't know a capacitor from a transistor and don't know a pig from a cow... On the upside if I jargon them while getting the bits I'll be able to build two and start a farm by the time I leave...

[Plasmana]

Yeah, the employs at maplin are just dumb... I one time asked them for a battery charger for my 7.2 rechargeable battery for my RC cars, they don't know what I was talking about and they think I am looking for a lead acid battery charger!!!! So I have to go through the whole catalog to find the part I want and point it out for them... And recently, maplin has stopped stocking a lot of electronic parts and increase price for the other still-stocked electronic bits, it is just driving me mad so I quit buying stuff from maplin and now buying much much cheaper and better quality stuff from Farnell. The capacitors you see on this instructable no longer exist in maplin's stock storage.

[kruser495]

do you just hook this up to the 120v house outlet?

[Plasmana]

Hook what up? The voltage multiplier?

[kruser495]

is there any other rating i can use? i want to go with radioshack...

[kruser495]

yep. what do you use to power the multiplier?

[Plasmana]

Yes, hook it up to mains power as you can see in the schematic.

[kruser495]

thanks! do you think i can find all the components at radioshack?

[Plasmana]

You should be able to, I am not too sure...

[Plasmana]

Okay, here are the diodes. Unfortunately, radioshack only sells a package of various diodes, you only need 1N4007 diodes...

And the capacitors are very expensive...

I recommend you to buy your stuff from online store, they are so much cheaper than radioshack...

[kruser495]

would you be able to look on the website and see what parts i can use?

[Plasmana]

Okay, here are the diodes. Unfortunately, radioshack only sells a package of various diodes, you only need 1N4007 diodes...

And the capacitors are very expensive...

I recommend you to buy your stuff from online store, they are so much cheaper than radioshack...

[kruser495]

yeah, i will order online. did you get my pm? also, what is the amperage the marxs gives out, if i were to touch it would i die if i only got shocked on one hand.

[Plasmana]

Sorry, I got your PM. I guess the marx generator spits out 5 to 20 amps to ground, I am not to sure... And, getting shocked on one hand from the marx generator, it really really depends on your health, luck, and what condition (place, air, what your other hand is holding) you are in... I cannot answer that question. But, please, always try avoid getting shocked.

[killerjackalope]

Oh dear, that's not good, I'll see if the electronics dept. in tech has any of the stuff or feel like ordering it... Farnell? None here as far as I know, damn and blast... Yeah I've had some mess ups there before, I asked where are the loose components and ended up on a tour of the computer bit followed the hobbies bit before he realized I meant the stuff you solder bin...

[Plasmana]

Farnell, my favorite online electronic store, they have a massive stock, and their products that maplin sells are much cheaper!

^{And Farnell is orange like Instructables!}

[killerjackalope]

Also I'm guessing current draw is small at 100ma, thinking Ex-lamp cord would do fine to add a switch... Oh just out of question any guesses on how many stages it'll work until it pops?

[Plasmana]

No, the current draw is much less, average 7.5mA, the fuse is used for just incase something may go wrong. And that is a good question, for this type of voltage multiplier, I successfully manage to make a 43 stage multiplier without any problems. So I would say about 100 stage in air is high enough. If you have it under wax, I would say a few hundred stages might work without problems.

[killerjackalope]

Hmm just checked Ebay after the whole maplin realization, 200 1n4007 diodes for £1.99 + £1.45p&p The caps aren't around, there are 10pf 400V and 0.1uf 400V though... Think they could be a substitute? The end result of this is still AC or do the diodes rectify it while doing their job? Anyway if I can find caps of a suitable capacitance then I'm in business, one way or another...

[Plasmana]

Yes! Get the diodes, that is a good deal, and the 0.1uF is the same thing as 100nF capacitors, so get those as well. And at last, you feed the voltage multiplier AC power, the diodes will do the rectifying and multiplying job, then the output will be high voltage DC.

[killerjackalope]

Hmm, would this make an acceptable jacob's ladder supply because with the spare caps and diodes I'll end up with I should be able to make a second one, unless I go for 100 stages... Do you think that breaking it up in to blocks of stages would cause much problems with the function of it assuming the connecting wires were well insulated from one another and soldered to avoid and corona discharging...

[jinventive]

The 0.1uf caps. should be fine because 0.1uf is also 100nf.

[killerjackalope]

Moment of incredulous stupidity on my part, I forgot that it's that way round, thought for some reason it went uf pf nf rather than uf nf pf...

[scienceboy63]

what does it plug into? The wall outlet?

[Plasmana]

Yes.

[westfw]

For safety purposes, it would be better to isolate the multiplier from the mains with an "isolation transformer." Unfortunately, those are typically not so easy to find, and rather expensive. (So in your Marx generator movies, were you powered from the mains, or from the camera inverter + multiplier? I thought the spark rate was awfully high for the camera based circuit, but then again, it does use much smaller caps...)

[Plasmana]

Yeah, I would use isolation transformers,however like you said, they are expensive and hard to find. That is why I added a fuse into the circuit, to prevent something bad happening...

Yes, I used a inverter from a camera as a part of the power supply for my marx generator, but then it burned out... I made another one and it burned out again. That is why I came up with this new design.

And what do you mean by does use much smaller caps?

[Derin]

two step down transformers with same voltage wired as having one step-up would be a good enough substitute to an isolation transformer
Wire it like this:

Mains                   Isolated mains from second xformer-----------|             |---------------------------------------------------------~~~To device                    |  +12V   |           |-------------|           |             |           |------------ |-----------|             |----------------------------------------------------------~~~To device

[Plasmana]

Yes, I know what a isolation transformer is. The problem is buying the transformer maybe a bit expensive, and bulky...

[Derin]

Yes,I know you know,and you could salvage the transformers from electronics...

[Plasmana]

Yeah, the problem is I don't get enough electronics and you need two that has the same ratings...

[westfw]

• what do you mean by does use much smaller caps?

Well, the flash itself has a cap of about 100uF, while the caps in the multiplier and marx generator all all fractions of a uF, probably not exceeding 10uF even counting all of them in parallel.

[Plasmana]

Okay...

[thermoelectric]

This is pretty cool, Would putting more stages in make the output of the marx generator higher]
*Yay, Plasmana finally made it after i kept bugging him ^{And probably a lot of other people} ) :-)

[Plasmana]

LOL! Like about 20 people is bugging me to make this instructable!

[thermoelectric]

Yeah, Thats why I said *Yay, Plasmana finally made it after i kept bugging him ^{And pprobably a lot of other people) :-)}

[Plasmana]

JUADLOL

[thermoelectric]

Yay...

[Plasmana]

Yeah...

[thermoelectric]

LOL

[Kn1nJa]

I found these caps on farnell...

"CAPACITOR, CLASS X2, 100NF, 300V"

http://export.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?sku=1166464

[Plasmana]

Wait, what is the mains voltage does your country use? I could probably find much cheaper ones for you...

[Kn1nJa]

110 (USA)

[Plasmana]

Okay, this capacitor should be suitable for your needs...

[LinuxH4x0r]

Awesome! I'm building one as soon as I can get some capacitors!

[Plasmana]

Okay, good luck!

[Leesam]

Could this be extended for higher voltage? I could understand more of a need to case in paraffin with higher voltages, just not sure if the parts could handle it.

[Goodhart]

up to a point, after which either the diodes or the capacitors may break down, OR arching starts to occur.

[Plasmana]

Yes, you can extend the voltage multiplier for higher voltage.