Re: Charging a capacitor to 6kV

z wrote:

On Apr 1, 8:27 am, birdburdy <birdbu...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I would like to charge a very small (1nF - 500pF) capacitor to fairly
high voltage: 6kV (enough to get a reasonable spark). I believe the
easiest way to do this is using a Flyback Transformer, or a Blocking
Oscillator? I would like to use just two AA batteries for this.

I don't especially want to wind my own flyback transformers - is it
possible to use an ordinary audio transformer as a crude flyback, then
use a Villard cascade to get the voltage up?

used to be the Model T spark coil was the experimenter's tool of
choice for such things. where did they all go?
anyway, i tried to make HV using a (modern) car ignition coil with a
doorbell buzzer in series to provide the breaker points action; no
luck. don't know why. it buzzed nice.

You'd need a diode on the coil output in order to charge a cap with one
of these. If you just connect the cap to the coil, it will discharge
back through the winding following the HV pulse.

Putting a cap (or any load other than a spark gap) on the output of such
a coil might load it down and reduce its output voltage.

--
Paul Hovnanian paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Procrastinators: The leaders for tomorrow.
.

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  • Re: Charging a capacitor to 6kV
    ... high voltage: 6kV (enough to get a reasonable spark). ... easiest way to do this is using a Flyback Transformer, ... You'd need a diode on the coil output in order to charge a cap with one ...
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