Offline Cockroft-Walton

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

Original poster: "Jolyon Vater Cox by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jolyon-at-vatercox.freeserve.co.uk>

Dear List,
Would it not be possible to use a Cockcroft-Walton multiplier to derive a 
HV DC supply from ordinary domestic mains voltage WITHOUT the need for a 
high voltage transformer, as these are often difficult to find.

I understand that with multipliers of this type, the current available on 
the HV side is limited  this is often considered a disadvantage but maybe 
this is a good thing.
In any case, can't the output current be increased by having the lower 
capacitors in the "ladder" connected in parallel and the upper capacitors 
connected in series?

Also, with regard to possible safety hazard of having HV supply directly 
connected to mains, could this not be mitigated by use of an isolation 
transformer between the multiplier and mains supply,
only isolation transformers seen to be a lot more common and readily 
available than high voltage transformers appear to be.