High-Voltage Zappers

"High-Voltage Zappers" "It doesn't take much to generate enough high-voltage to curl your hair." by Charles D. Rakes

Rewritten by Tony van Roon (VA3AVR)

The two circuits listed here are for the experimenter having a touch of Ben and Nikola's fascination for working with high-voltage. But unlike those two brave pioneers who flirted with lightning and gigantic spark coils, our high-voltage circuits are mild in comparison, having outputs of less than 50 kilovolts (KV). Even so, don't ever become careless when working with high voltage. To do so could be dangerous to your health and your good nature. So please take care.
A circuit that generates a high voltage by discharging the energy stored in a large-value capacitor through the primary winding of a high-turns-ratio step-up transformer is known a a Capacitor-Discharge (CD) system. It's the same concept used by many of the high-performance auto-ignition systems to produce a super-hot spark. It's also the same kind of system used by some of the top-of-the-line electric fence chargers. And let us not forget one of the most popular persona-defense devices now on the market, the electronic Stun-Gun, which also generates its zap with capacitor-discharge circuit.

How we make the Zap
As shown in the circuit of Fig. 1, step-down transformer T1 drops the incoming line voltage to approximately 48 VAC and, in the process, adds a degree of safety through the transformer's primary-to-secondary isolation from the power line. T1's 48-volt secondary is rectified by diode D1; the resulting DC chargers capacitor C1, through current-limiter R1, to a voltage level pre-set by R4. When the voltage on R4's wiper reaches about 8.6 volts, Q1 begins to turn on, drawing current through R7 and the base-emitter junction of Q2. Then Q2 turns on and supplies a positive voltage on the gate of silicon-controlled rectifier Q3. The positive gate voltage causes Q3 to conduct, thereby discharging C1 through the primary winding of step-up transformer T2; the end result is a high-voltage arc at the output terminal (X).
The value of the high voltage developed at T2's output is determined by the value of C1, the voltage across C1, and the turns ratio of T2. The frequency or pulse rate of the high voltage is determined by the resistance of T1's primary and secondary windings, the value of R1, and the value of C1. The lower the value of each item, the higher the output pulse rate; the peak output voltage will remain unchanged only if C1's value remains unchanged.

Parts List, Fig. 1
All resistors are 1/2-watt, 5%, unless otherwise noted
   R1 = 100 ohms, 5 watts, brown-black-brown
R2,R5 = 3K3 (3.3K), orange-orange-red
   R3 = 10K, brown-black-orange
   R4 = 10K, potentiometer
   R6 = 33K, orange-orange-orange
   R7 = 15K, brown-green-orange
   R8 = 100K, brown-black-yellow
   R9 = 2K2 (2.2K), red-red-red
	 
Capacitors
C1 = 220 or 440uF, 75-100 volts, electrolytic, 
     or 10uF 220VAC motor capacitor (see text)

Semiconductors
  D1 = 1N4003, silicon rectifier
  D2 = 1N756, 8 volt zener diode
  Q1 = 2N2222, NPN transistor
  Q2 = 2N3638, PNP transistor
SCR1 = NTE5463, 10-amp, 200 volt, silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR)

Other Components
T1 = Step-down transformer, 48VAC, 300mA
T2 = Auto ignition coil, or substitute (see text)

Building the CD System
The circuit shown in Fig. 1 is non-critical, so any parts layout and mounting can be used; perfboard wiring board will probably make for the easiest assembly. But no matter what kind of construction is used, keep T2's output terminal (labeled X) at least 3 inches clear of all circuit components, yourself, and anything else that can conduct electricity.
The transformer used for T2 can be almost any 6- or 12V auto-ignition coil, but one designed with a high turns ratio for a capacitor-discharge ignition system will produce the greatest output voltage. The CD coil that we used produced a spark 1-1/4 inches in length from the output terminal to the coil's common terminal.
An old (but good) TV flyback transformer can also be used for T2. Simply wind about 10 turns of test-lead wire around the transformer's ferrite core and connect the free ends of the wires to the points labeled "A" and "B" in Fig. 1. Some experimenting with the number of turns may be necessary to obtains good results with that type of transformer. Our experiments with the TV flyback produced a voltage that would jump a 3/4 inch gap.
If a small-engine repair business is located in your area, see if the owner or mechanic will give you a few of the old ignition coils. If you obtain several old coils, one of more should be unusable. To produce a high voltage with a small-engine ignition coil, connect the primary leads to terminals "A" and "B", and a 1/2 to 3/4 inch spark should be possible.
To make a "magnetic charger", select one of the ignition coils that has a good primary winding and carefully remove the secondary winding from the coil's core. Connect the primary to terminals "A" and "B". Position any object that you want to magnetize on the exposed core laminations and apply power; you should hear a "Zap" sound as the magnetic pulses hit the metal object.

Maximum Spark
If you want to achieve a maximum spark, select a CD ignition coil, and use a 440uF, 75-100WVDC electrolytic capacitor for C1. Using a DC voltmeter, monitor the voltage across C1. Adjust R4 so that the Q3 fires when the charging voltage across C1 reaches between 50-55 volts. That setting should produce a spark 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches long every second or so.
To obtains a faster pulse rate, with some reduction in the output, change C1 to a 10uF, 220VAC motor capacitor (or any other lower value with a rating of 75 volts or more). Experiment with different component values to obtain the desired results.
An excellent electric fence charger can be made by building the CD circuit in a suitable case and selecting a 220uF capacitor for C1. Adjust R4 for one to two pulses per second.

Battery-powered High Voltage
A high-voltage generator circuit that can operate from a battery or other low-voltage DC source is shown in Fig. 2. Output voltage great enough to jump a 1-inch gap can be obtained from a 12-volt power source, and with a higher pulse rate that the circuit in Fig. 2.
A 555 timer IC is connected as an astable multivibrator that produces a narrow negative pulse at pin 3. The pulse turns Q1 on for the duration of the time period. The collector of Q1 is direct-coupled to the base of power transistor Q2, turning it on during the same time period.
The emitter of Q2 is direct-coupled through current-limiter R5 to the base of power-transistor Q3. When Q3 turns on, there is a minimum resistance between its collector and emitter. That causes a high-current pulse through the primary of T1, which generates a very high pulse voltage at T1's secondary output terminal (labeled (X). The pulse frequency is determined by the values of R1, R2, and C2. The values given in the Parts List were chosen to give the best possible performance when an auto ignition co8ild is used for T1. Here too, a CD-type ignition coil will produce the greatest output voltage.
Performance wiring board construction is a good choice for this circuit, but remember to be careful when working near the output terminal of T1 while the power is on.

Parts List, Fig. 2
All resistors are 1/2-watt, 5%, unless otherwise noted
R1 = 10K, brown-black-orange
R2 = 4.7K, yellow-purple-red
R3 = 1K, brown-black-red
R4 = 100 ohms, brown-black-brown
R5 = 15 ohms, 5 watts, wire-wound
R6 = 270 ohms, red-purple-brown

Capacitors
C1,C3 = 0.22uF, 100 volts, Mylar
   C2 = 0.47uF, 100 volts, Mylar
   C4 = 470uF, 25 volts, electrolytic
	 
Semiconductors
IC1 = 555 timer (not the CMOS type)
 Q1 = 2N3638, or NTE129, PNP transistor
 Q2 = 2N3055, or NTE130, NPN power transistor
 Q3 = 2N3055, or NTE130, NPN power transistor with heatsink

Other Components
T1 = Auto ignition coil (see text)

Copyright and credits:
This article originally was written by Charles D. Rakes and the editors of "Electronics Now" and "Popular Electronics" magazines and published by Gernsback Publishing, 1992 (Gernsback Publishing is no longer in business).

Editor's note and Disclaimer: This device is presented here for educational and experimental purposes only as part of our High-Voltage Projects. Build and/or use at your own risk. The Sentex Corporation of Cambridge Ontario, host of "Tony's Website", or Tony van Roon himself, cannot be held liable or responsible or will accept any type of liability in any event, in case of injury or even death by building and/or using or misuse of this device or any other high-voltage device posted on this web site. By accessing, reading, and/or printing this article you agree to be solely responsible as stated in the above disclaimer.