Chizhevsky ion generator unit

I've not put it on my website, but may do so.

Big Clive

I've been thinking about that. A case with a dedicated emitter housing.

Big Clive

The meter test relies on the very low ionisation current and the 10 Mohm meter impedance to give a rough indication of ion output as a voltage.

Big Clive

Each diode/capacitor sees a portion of the supply. Each stage adds just one voltage multiple to the total.

Big Clive

I tried it in a few ways. A terminal crimp, just heatshrink against a threaded section, and in the past I've folded the carbon fibre over a wire loop and heat-shrinked it.

Big Clive

https://www.rapidonline.com/hammond-1591xxatbu-abs-enclosure-multipurpose-translucent-blue-100-x-51-x-25mm-30-3777

Big Clive

As someone with no knowledge/experience about PCB design, I would love to be able to download this and tinker (to e.g. add placeholders for the 2nd neon he mentions or change the number of stages) as opposed to starting from scratch, which seems like a daunting task to me right now.

Theodor Ciobanu

This looks nice. Did you put this PCB design on your website?

Simeon

I love these build videos. I would happily consume one every week... You might want to look into 3d printing the project boxes. This way all components are available for everyone!

Bas

Useful tip to know about the static build up and discharge. I built a small pen with resistor and neon to push lift buttons, as my mobiliuty scooter builds up a charge and I kept getting shocks off the call buttons- but no more!!

Mike Hughes

A similar trick is also handy for testing or demonstrating electrostatic discharge - Hold one lead of the neon and touch the other against a grounded object. If you've a static charge build-up, it will flash. A few steps on carpet works well to flash the neon.

Seán Byrne

Ugg I hate using my phone to type massage's any way thank you Adrian, one wrong finger tap and you delete your massage.

Jonathan Hughes

It's a feature of the Cockroft-Walton circuit - each stage only sees a fraction of the full voltage. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockcroft%E2%80%93Walton_generator

adrian

Another nice build. I found out that if you take a regular orange/red neon bulb, hold one leg in between themb and forefinger, and bring the other leg close to, but not touching the emmiter, if it is ionizing, the lamp will glow. (it saves risking destroying the meter)

Mike Hughes

Yeah that case is beautiful I have to say. Nice choice

Michael Thompson

I have a question how do you not exceed their breakdown voltage in every stage of the voltage multiplier if your diodes are only rated at a thousand volts and the polifilm capacitors are only rated at say 660 volts how are they not breaking down

Jonathan Hughes

looks like https://www.hammfg.com/electronics/small-case/plastic/1591xx

Woo full build! It's almost as good as doing myself except without the solder and coffee smell, but that's easily enough remedied! With solder...and COFFEE! You rock man, and you rock the Isle of Mann!

Michael Thompson

speaking of fpga's - there is a retro project - the mega65 which is using an FPGA to create the commodore 65 computer. there are also cores for other retro hardware like the gamebox

Russell Peake

Hi Clive, thank you for an an excellent project. I shall have a go at making one. Please can you explain how you attached the carbon fibre to the nut. Is it glued in? If so does the glue need to be conductive?

Awesome video Clive! I didn’t catch the model number on the Hammond case?