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• 12KV High Voltage Generator The hobby circuit below uses an unusual method to generate about 12,000 volts with about 5uA of current.  Two SCRs form two pulse generator circuits.  The two SCRs discharge a 0.047uF a 400v capacitor through a xenon lamp trigger coil at 120 times a second.  The high voltage pulses produced at the secondary of the trigger coil are rectified using two 6KV damper diodes.  The voltage doubler circuit at the secondary of the trigger coil charges up two high voltage disc capacitors up to about 12KV.  Although this circuit can’t produce a lot of current be very careful with it.  A 12KV spark can jump about 0.75 of an inch so the electronic circuit needs to be carefully wired with lots of space between components. 

• LOW POWER 12,000 VOLT POWER SUPPLY
  If you need about 12,000 volts DC for an ion generator this circuit might be the ticket. It draws power from the 120vac power line but it uses a small 6KV camera flash trigger coil. The output signal is isolated from the power line. Although the circuit can only deliver about 5uA of current it can produce dangerous shocks, so be careful.

0 to 300 Volt Adjustable Power Supply:  This is a simple circuit that can provide an adjustable voltage source of0 to330 Volts.  supply is short-circuit proof:  current is limited to about100mA. (added 4/02)

1 kV Power Supply produces a continuous arc:  02/05/04 EDN Design Ideas  /  (added 1/05)  Designing a high-voltage switching power supply that can produce a sustained arc can be challenging. This compact and efficient design delivers 1 kV at 20W and can withstand a continuous arcing, or short-circuit, condition (Figure 1). It uses standard, commercially available components. R1 sets  LTC1871 switching-regulator controller for a nominal operating frequency of 120 kHz....

12 to 120 Volt Inverter:  Ever needed a low power 120volt AC power source for your car, van or truck? Well this circuit should do  trick for you. It will supply 15 watts of AC power to a device. It should power lamps, shavers, small stereos and small appliances. If you draw to much power  circuit will shut down all by itself.  output of this circuit is a square wave so re may be some noticeable hum on audio units plugged into it. To reduce some of  hum increase  value of  output capacitor which is at .47uf now. That transistor in  circuit are high power PNP transistors. Radio Shack part number 276-2025 are good ones to use or TIP32.  transformer is a 24 volt 2 amp center tapped secondary Radio Shack part number 273-1512 or equivalent.  (added 09/05)

25 k Volt Generator Tests Insulation:  06/04/98 EDN-Design Ideas  / (added 08/05) To generate high voltages with proper insulation between  "hot node" and  rest of  circuitry, a car ignition coil can function in place of a high-voltage transformer. se coils have voltage ratings of approximately 20 kV, so you can use m to produce voltages around this value. Because you know  turns ratio of  coil, you can make a stable high-voltage source using a well-controlled voltage at  primary side (Figure 1).

A Single Amplifier Precision High Voltage Instrument Amp:  DN25  Design Notes (Linear Technology) (app note added 6/06)

AN-H35: HV441: High Voltage Ring Generator:  Supertex Semiconductors (app note added 6/06)

AN-H37: HV440 High Voltage Ring Generator:  Supertex Semiconductors  (app note added 2/06)

APD bias circuit has adjustable output :  05/22/97 EDN-Design Ideas / (added 11/05)

Build the Lightning Bulb:  (electronic design / schematic added 2/06)

Circuit delivers high Voltage Swing from Lower supplies:  12/12/02 EDN Design Ideas  /  (added 1/05)  The need for higher voltage swings in applications such as test-and-measurement instruments is constantly increasing, but the power supplies impose limitations on the operational amplifier rails make the high-voltage need a challenge for designers. How do you deliver high-voltage swings to a load without increasing the voltage levels of the power supplies of the operational amplifier? In other ......

Cockcroft Walton Diode Voltage Multipliers:  this document describing some basic voltage multiplier circuit topologies, PDF file (added 4/02)

Construct a Solar-Powered Varmint Zapper:  Nuts & Volts Magazine Construction Project October 1996 (added 02/05)

Current Sense Amplifier Handles High Voltages:  11/06/97 EDN-Design Ideas / (added 6/06)  

Easy Xenon DC-to-DC Converters!:  (design circuit added 8/02)

Electric Fence:  Several circuits included, scroll down to find this one. (added 02/05)

Electronic Dazer:  The Electronic Dazer is a modern, portable, personal-protection appliance. It generates hight potential energy to ward off vicious animals or other attackers. It is an aid to help exape from a potentially dangerous situation. the device develops about 2,000 volts. Higher voltages mabe be attained by adding aditional multiplier stages, but it should be noted that those stage will also increase the overal size of the unit.
The Dazer is very compact, being built into a small plastic case. It is powered by a single 9-volt battery, either NiCad or alkaline. (Editor's Note: the so-called 9-V NiCad actually provides only about 7.5V. Why? NiCad cells only give 1.25 per cell. 6 cells in a 9volt battery gives it 7.5V and so the Alkaline type would be a better choice).   (added 9/04)

Electronic Dazer #2:  (circuit / schematic design added 6/06)