More SSTC Questions

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Fucian-at-aol-dot-com>

Hi all, I am wondering if a getdrive xfmr is all that neccesary?Can i use a 
half bridge w/o the stupid transformer?Or is it really that hard to make?

I am still killing mosfets and now 555s!I have tried putting an MOV across 
the source and drain and still no help.I have tried all the diodes and still 
no help!?Whats wrong?

I know a half-bridge is better but I REALLY want to make the 555 and 1 MOSFET 
ciruit work.Success would be full variac voltage(120v) without the parts 
frying.Now WHY is the MOSFET dying with the diodes in place also?Wont a 
ultrafast diode stop CEMF?I also have tried the schotty in series with the 
MOSEFT source and then another ultrafast diode going drain to 
ground.(Correct?)

I have measured the gate voltage at about 15volts.

What could kill the MOSFET now?CEMF should not be an issue.The internal diode 
heating should not either.Ugggggggg!!!!!!!

Thanks,
Matt