Simple High voltage Generator Circuit – Arc Generator

A simple high voltage generator circuit is explained here which can be used to step up any DC level to about 20 times or depending upon the transformer secondary rating.

Circuit Operation

As can be visualized in the shown high voltage arc generator circuit diagram, it employs a standard transistor blocking oscillator configuration for generating the required stepped up voltage across the output winding of the transformer.

The circuit may be understood as follows:

The transistor conducts and drives the associated winding of the transformer via its collector/emitter the moment power is applied to the center of the transformer.

Circuit Diagram

The upper half of the transformer winding simply provides a feedback to the base of the transistor via C2 such the T1 stays locked on to the conduction mode until C2 charges fully, breaking the latch and forcing the transistor to begin the conduction cycle afresh.

R1 which is a 1K resistor is positioned to limit the base drive for T1 to safe limits while VR1 which is a 22k preset may be adjusted for obtaining an efficiently pulsating T1 frequency.

C2 may be also fine tuned by trying other values until the highest possible output is attained at the trafo output
The transformer could be any iron-cored step down transformer (500mA) normally used in transformer type AC/DC adapter units.

The output right across the transformer output would be at the rated secondary level, for example if it is a 220V secondary, then the output could be expected to be at this level.

The above level could be further amplified or stepped up through the attached diode, capacitor charge pump network akin to cockroft-walton generator network.

The network raises the 220V level to many hundreds of volts which may be forced to spark across an appropriately positioned end terminals of the charge pump circuit.

The circuit can be also used in mosquito swatter bat application by replacing the iron cored transformer with a ferrite core counterpart.

High Power 10 kv Generator Circuit

If powered with a 30 V power input, the circuit detailed below can provide a high voltage which range from 0 to 3 kV (type 2 an even provide from 0----10 kV. NAND gates N1----N3 are wired like an astable multivibrator (AMV), which powers the darlington transistors T1/T2 with a 20kHz souarewave frequency. Because of the reduced current circulation (decided by R4 via the transistors, they are not able to get saturated, leading to a quick switch-off. The incredibly rapid switching of the transistors generates a pulsating signal of around 300 V across the primary winding of Tr1.

This voltage is subsequently boosted and stepped-up proportionately as per the turn ratio of the secondary windings. The 1st variation (type 1) of the circuit employs half-wave rectification. Version 2 is actually a cascade rectifier salvaged from an old T.V. set.

Variation 2 provides a voltage 3 times greater than version 1 since the cascade rectifier functions like voltage multiplier (3X). IC2 controls the output voltage. The opamp compares the voltage created across the P1 preset with the voltage existing at the voltage dividers R6/R8 or R7/R8 junction. In the event the output goes higher than the preset voltage level, IC2 may cut down the supply voltage towards the output by using T3. The main section of the circuit is the transformer. Eventhough it is pretty vital, its design isn't that critical.

A range of E, EI ferrite cores with a diameter of 30 mm might work extremely well pretty effortlessly. The core must not include any kind of air gap, an AL value of 2000 nH will be just appropriate. The primary winding includes 25 turns of 0.7 mm 1 mm super enamelled copper wire and the secondary is built using 500 turns of 0.2 … 0.3 mm super enameled copper wire.

The primary and secondary windings needs to be effectively insulated from one another! Dependent upon the high voltages, the user must be careful about the following points: Capacitor C6 should have the ability to handle a minimum of 3 kV. R6 in version 1 includes six 10 M resistors connected in series. R7 is a 10 M resistor, built by using 10nos of 1M in series. This is implemented to counteract spikes from the output. Both circuit takes in around 50 mA with no load attached, and 350 mA while ensuring 2 … 3 W to a load. Transistors T2 and T3 may demand heatsinks.