Make an Ultra Simple High Voltage Generator

Intro: Make an Ultra Simple High Voltage Generator

Have you ever wanted to build a high voltage devices to make sparks like Tesla Coils, Marx Generator, and so on.. But find it too compacted or difficult to build?

Well, this instructable is for you! It can make create a few kilovolts of static-like sparks, and best of all... You can make it with only two things to make it, a battery and a simple mains transformer!

Before you continue, you should know a little bit of information about transformers, click here to find out.

STEP 1: Get the Things!!

Like I said, you need only two things to make it, well, actually, three things - some wires.

• 9 volt battery.
• Mains transformer
• Wires

The mains transformer, you can find those in just about any mains powered electronic devices, like VCR's, stereos, and stuff like that, you can also use a wall wart if you want. The best mains transformers you could ever use is found in digital alarm clocks.

Unfortunately, I burnt up all of my alarm clock transformers while ago... :( So I will have use a transformer from a VCR.

STEP 2: Wire Up the Transformer

Okay, before we attach the wires to the transformer, you need to take a look at it first...

The two leads of the transformer that are connected to the mains power source, is the primary (the high voltage side), and the other two leads are the secondary (the low voltage side).
We are going to connect the transformer in reversed, I mean the primary (the high voltage side) of the transformer becomes "secondary" and the secondary (the low voltage side) becomes "primary".

So we are going to connect the battery on the primary (the low voltage side) of the transformer and we will get some sparks from the secondary (the high voltage side)!

Right, attach the wires to the transformer!

STEP 3: Connect to Battery and Have Fun!

Connect either one wire from the primary (the low voltage side) to one terminal of the battery (don't worry, you can connect it any way round). Then bring two secondary wires (the high voltage side) very close to each other (about 2 mm) and then tap the other primary wire to the other terminal of the battery.

And then, you should see sparks on the ends of the secondary wires, and you may hear a little "snap" too!

STEP 4: Add a Switch

Instead of tapping the wire to the battery which can be a bit difficult, you can add a push-button (don't use the push-lock switch) switch into the circuit if you like...

STEP 5: Enjoy!

Well, I hope you find this instructable useful to you, and if you need help or have some questions, or found a error, please make a comment! I like comment! :)

Comments

[Utkrant]

By just adding a small bipolar capacitor to transformers secondary winding that is used as primary winding in this case it can help to increase the time the spark is happening by a little bit.

[IdeateG]

I love the simplicity of this, but I cannot get it to work. Any tips for debugging? I am pretty experienced with electrical circuits, my grandson and I make sparks with simple capacitors, we are playing with making transformers and inductors. But this example I cannot get to do anything. Per your suggestion, I am using a transformer from a digital clock, have also tried a transformer from a usb charger. I do get a tiny spark at the battery terminal when I touch it, perhaps that is interfering, diverting much of the charge? Transformer does not appear burned out. Any ideas what to try?

[harshalsardesai2]

It cannot be stable. Because a transformer needs ac to transfer power. It gave a spark only because you shorted the wire and that made a load change which gave the spark but as the circuit will balance itself with the load and again nothing will happen

[aymendaassi50]

this circuit work but the spark stay a few secend then gone if there is a circuit to make it stable i appreciate that my freind

[harshalsardesai2]

It cannot be stable. Because a transformer needs ac to transfer power. It gave a spark only because you shorted the wire and that made a load change which gave the spark but as the circuit will balance itself with the load nothing will happen

[tom10122]

is this dangerous? i.e should i not touch the high voltage wires?

[eddiehitler45]

Ever seen a sign saying "High Voltage - perfectly safe to touch"?

[Tesla_cool_maniac]

It shouldnt kill you,(shouldnt!), but it hurts

[digi18]

will it give continuous high voltage supply...

[eddiehitler45]

Not unless you can pulse the DC input.

[mirabella.lydia]

Hello, has anyone tried this? I am woking on a show where we want this on stage. How safe is this around people? What do you suggest for this effect without hurting anyone?

[HankPNS]

It can't hurt much the worst it will do is give you a little shock that doesn't hurt that much.

[eddiehitler45]

That's VERY bad advice given that you don't know what battery/transformer combination people might use. It my be like a bug zapper to you but kill the guy behind you when the capacitance of your body discharges into him (voltage multiplier) and zaps his pacemaker.

[JeffreyB80]

First off, make sure you bring in your electrician/lighting team and talk with them about using an effect like this. I've run similar effects and without proper protections, it can really mess with the data streams for the lighting. Also, note that to be seen well from a stage, you will need to scale this up a good amount. After all of that, make sure that every single person on the stage is taught how to safely be around it. While it should be fairly safe for someone who knows to safely maneuver around it, a random extra or guest getting injured by this can have very bad consequences. Shows can even be shut down if someone gets injured, as most stages really don't want a lawsuit on their hands. Basically, if you do it safely and communicate with the entire team, it can be an amazing effect and is definetly worth pursuing. Good luck

[hideehole]

Hi would something like this produce enough of an electrostatic field to be used electrostatic paint spraying (bike frames). If not what extra steps would be required?

[ayushsinghparihar543]

Can 400k high voltage generator kill someone

[Yessir risseY]

Yes, it definitely could. However, the transformer in the instructable probably only generates 6kV at most.

[osoriodavid806]

what kind of interupter to use in using one I made for rat trap but it kills batterys fast

[Flukeychip72697]

My transformer has 6 pins(looks like it used to be 7)

[bilGolden]

Can you use this to make the emp slot machine 8 liner jackpot.