Re: solid state magnifier...accidentally...cool!

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

Original poster: "Matthew Smith by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <matt-at-kbc-dot-net.au>

Hi Justin, All

This is of great interest to me - my big problem is not having mains
electricity near my work area!

What are the values of the passive components that you used?  I wouldn't
mind trying to replicate your results.

Question - I guess that if I run my equipment of 12/24V lead acid
batteries, I'd need them a *long* way from any coils to stop any
hydrogen igniting.  Would on the other side of the walls of my (steel)
shed be adequate?

Cheers

Matthew Smith

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<Pyrotrons-at-aol-dot-com>
> 
> Hi all.
> 
> I wanted to post something I though was cool/weird....
> 
> I used the output of a 555 chip to drive the gate of an IRF540 MOSFET
> directly (pin 3 straight into the gate). The MOSFET is then driving a small
> step-up transformer that I wound, using a core off of an old flyback
> transformer. It has about 12 primary turns and roughly 400 secondary turns.
> 
> The output of the transformer will arc about .05" through air off the ends of
> copper wires.....I'm guessing maybe a kilovolt output. The current is huge
> though..........I don't want to even try guessing. It instantly melts, then
> balls up the ends of the wire lol.
> 
> I had the frequency pot's on the 555 set to about 15kHz. BUT ------- I
> couldn't hear anything when pulling arcs off the xfmr's output. I thought
> this was weird, since I know I can hear 15kHz.
> 
> I hooked it to a scope, and it was 300kHz!!
> 
> It was working, yes, but at a totally unexpected frequency. So I
> thought............hmmmmmmmmmm.....I'll base drive the bottom of a secondary
> coil that resonates at that frequency.....and have a solid state
> magnifier!?!?!
> 
> So I did. I base drove a secondary coil with the HV output of the
> transformer. The secondary is 2" x 12" wound with #37........a LOT of turns.
> Unloaded, the coil resonates at 330kHz. Right at the frequency the circuit
> was putting out.
> 
> There is definately a resonant rise of voltage at the top of the coil. It
> lights up flourescent bulbs about 3 feet away. 1/2" streamers to air off the
> top wire......
> 
> The input power from the supply is 12V -at- less than an amp. Ten watts!
> 
> Anyway................that was weird (prob. not weird, I just don't
> understand).
> 
> We all know the 555 chip is (generally) limited to frequencies under 100kHz.
> The output from the step-up xfmr I wound is very close to 300kHz, I measured
> this using an oscilloscope.
> 
> So what is happening? I'm guessing some spurious oscillation is at work
> here.....the frequency and duty cycle controls for the 555 are totally
> useless when the circuit is running.
> 
> Is is so cool anyhow, I accidentally made a solid state magifier. WOW how I
> can't wait to actually run power into this thing.....
> 
> Thoughts anyone?
> 
> Justin Hays
> KC5PNP
> G-3 #1150
> Email: pyrotrons-at-aol-dot-com
> Website: www.hvguy-dot-com