Zvs Flyback Driver For Mac
ZVS drivers are fairly cheap to build, the only pricey part may be the MOSFET's. I got most of my parts from Farnell and some of it I had lying around.
• Flyback transformer
Newer flybacks are recommended as they are very robust. You can use an older flyback for higher current output, however, they are more likely to burn out due to excessive voltage.
• 2x 470Ω 2W resistors
The color code is yellow/purple/brown
• 2x 10KΩ 1/4W resistors
The color code is orange/brown/black
• 2x 12v 1/4W zener diodes
• 2x 400+ volts fast diodes
I used UF4007 diodes.
• 1x inductor
The value is not critical but it should be 47uH to 200uH rated at 10A or more. You can find an inductor from a computer PSU or you can simply make your own, just wrap 20 turns of 16 gauge of enameled wire around a ferrite toroid.
• 1x 0.68uF 250v (or higher) capacitor
This capacitor must be bipolar and must be good quality, such as MKP ot MMC types. NEVER use an electrolytic capacitor, they will blow up. You can test various types of capacitors to see which one suits your ZVS driver well.
• 2x IRFP250 MOSFET's
They are a bit pricey, however, you can use other MOSFET's that has Vds 4x more than the power supply and has the Rds(on) lower than 150mΩ. Unfortunately those MOSFET's are a bit over my budget so I used the IRFP254 MOSFET's instead, not the best, but it is cheaper and it and it should give me good arc results. I also tried using the popular IRF540 MOSFET, however, it gave me very poor results.
• 2x small heatsink
They won't be necessary if you are going to run your ZVS driver lower than 12v.
• Large variable voltage power supply
Now this can cost quite a big chunk of change, you can a computer power supply unit for 12v power source. If you want a higher voltage power supply, then you might want to consider modifying a microwave oven transformer, but this is another project. As I don't have a large power supply so I used six 6v sealed lead acid batteries all in series to gain 36v to power my ZVS driver.
Then finaly the other bits and pieces you may need such as solder, thick wires, etc.
Last summer I encountered some videos of the ZVS driver online. I had derped around with single transistor flyback drivers, but it wasn’t anything too serious. Everybody who is interested in high voltage herd about the zvs driver for the flyback transformer. Parts: 2x IRFP250 n-fet 2x 12v zenner diodes 2x 470ohm resistors 2x 10kohm resistors 2x 400v fast diodes 1x inductor 200uH 1x 250v capacitor 0.68uF or higher. The output voltage from the ZVS driver and flyback transformer to the plasma torch (quartz tube) was determined using Falstad circuit simulation. The simulation on the waveforms generated from the ZVS circuit correlated well with the actual voltage measurement at the output of the ZVS circuit.
There was a time when making a high voltage project like a Jacob’s ladder took time to build or scrounge some kind of high voltage circuit. The neon sign transformer, Marx generator, or voltage multiplier was the hard part of the project. But nowadays you can get cheap high voltage modules that are quite inexpensive. [PaulGetson] picked up one for under $20 and turned it into a quick and easy Jacob’s ladder.
Zvs Flyback
Honestly, once you have high voltage, making a Jacob’s ladder is pretty simple. [Paul] used a cheap plastic box, some coat hanger wire, and some stainless steel bolts.
Zvs Driver Kit
If you haven’t seen a ladder before, the theory is pretty simple. The high voltage ionizes the air between the two electrodes. The ionized air gets hot and since hot air rises, the spark rises with it, and the electrodes can get further and further apart. Once the spark rises above the electrodes, the process starts over again. You can see these in many old movies to signify some sort of mysterious scientific equipment.
Zvs Flyback Driver Circuit
We have covered Jacob’s ladders before, but few of them as simple as this. We’ve even seen simulated ladders, in case you are too timid to work with the high voltage.