Sometimes you just need 4000 volts!

Radical Brad

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Part of my day today included cobbling together a crude fan cooled 4000 volt center tapped power supply.
Rather than spending $3000, I went to Wallmart and purchased 2 new ovens for $75.00 a piece.

There is a high probability that I might have voided the warranty!

4330
Fresh out of the box and already the cover of off!

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Look at all this fun dangerous stuff to play with!

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Here it is, 4000 volts of air cooled goodness.

Need I say... "don't try this at home, or the lab, or anywhere for that matter"!

Brad
 

Radical Brad

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That seems feasible.

Running in reverse, the 16:1 step down should offer about 12 volts / 50 amps from 120 AC.
I would imagine that tripping a breaker would be an issue since these beasts are not current limited.

When I tested this power supply, I dropped a piece of celery across the output terminals and watched it light up like an alien life-form, start to smoke, and then burst into an amazing arc of chaos. At that point, I tripped the breaker!

Yeah... it was more fun than just connecting my expensive HV probe to verify I had 2000 volts coming out!

Brad
 
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That seems feasible.

Running in reverse, the 16:1 step down should offer about 12 volts / 50 amps from 120 AC.
I would imagine that tripping a breaker would be an issue since these beasts are not current limited.

When I tested this power supply, I dropped a piece of celery across the output terminals and watched it light up like an alien life-form, start to smoke, and then burst into an amazing arc of chaos. At that point, I tripped the breaker!

Yeah... it was more fun than just connecting my expensive HV probe to verify I had 2000 volts coming out!

Brad
Didn't I see you in a movie, awhile back. You know, the one with all the lightning, and hair raising.
 
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I don't recall you saying ' why ' you wanted 4000v ?
 
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Ah - sussed it. I know why you need 4000 volts. It's to make that Norwegian Blue go voom.



No parrots were injured in the making of this post.
 
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Radical Brad

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Oh yeah, it sure was!!
Now you might think I am joking about using a 400 pound "pole pig" in connected in reverse to generate 100 Kilovolts from a 480 volt industrial AC supply, but that's what I did back in 2002 on another project!...

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Yes, that's the thing inside the large can you see on a hydro pole. I drained the oil and removed the transformer.
About to plug the beast in....

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The crazy prototype did actually work that day.

Now if only I could get a line up to one of those huge high tension towers to power my next project.
Brad

Flux capacitor. lol .
Wouldn't like to use a mains transformer

That could be a tad dangerous
 

Radical Brad

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Since this is now officially released to the public, here is why I needed 4000 volts!...


I am working on V2 of the power supply now in my basement lab, and hope this falls on receptive ears.
Being able to reuse N95 masks in a few minutes would be a big deal right now.

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Hope to test the unit on active Covid-19 samples very soon.

Brad
 
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That would be so super for the world and the hope, it would for you as well.
Ok, press on, back to inventing!
Good Luck Brad.
 

Radical Brad

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Thanks!

Made the power supply 2x more powerful using a total of 4 transformers.
Added cooling fans (recycled form the ovens) and welded the transformer together for better heat sinking.
This baby can fly now!

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4808

4809

Variable & phase switchable 4000 volt capable at 1 amp.

Brad
 
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