Inside a weird (dead) ionizer.

I'll guess that like many specialist UK manufacturers it probably operates from either a small industrial unit or a room in someone's home.

Big Clive

Thanks for the recommendation of the Astrid, I have just ordered 2. D J Clarke Electronics are in Hornchurch Essex, literally 5 minutes drive from me. Shame they don’t have an address instead of a P.O. Box or I could have saved the postage.

evilution

And without knowing what it measured originally, no way to be sure. Looking at the schematic you did, there is a common ground side, so you could test for an open circuit between that and the carbon fiber output possibly, but if it wasn't open, you'd have to have a second working unit to compare the readings with.

My guess is that the secondary of the transformer may have tracked over.

Big Clive

Yeah, I remember you mentioning the sound. Just ended up curious about whether the failed part was inside or outside the potting compound.

Yes I did. Still no output although I could hear the circuit purring.

Big Clive

Did you try powering up the ionizer part on it's own, without all the 555 circuit in the path?

Ooh, less than a minute in and I spy the Chinese not-quite-a-proper-US-plug!

Jamie Magin

Okay! I have to apologize... At the very beginning I thought you were going to pull an AvE and say is it was a piece of crap because it stopped working after you took it apart.

Lostngone

It's not really mouldy smell, just "old". Think the first thing would be a large consignment of bin bags and a couple of skips to clear out the crap lol. Probably would be best flattening the place and starting again.......it's over 100 years old and built of granite. Don't think the place was waterproof or dry from day one lol. Thanks for the recommendation - think will get one of those. Treat myself for xmas :D :D

John Carr

Is it the classic slightly mouldy smell? If the place is naturally humid it might be worth considering a dehumidifier. The best traditional ioniser is a Mountain Breeze. You can still buy brand new Astrid UK made ionisers. <a href="https://www.djclarke.co.uk/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.djclarke.co.uk/</a>

Big Clive

Nice teardown. Shame it didn't work properly. Could you recommend a cheap (€20 - €40) ionizer for an old house. The place is starting to smell. Not damp, just age. Tried the doors and windows open but an hour or two after they are closed, the smell starts again. I'd love to get an ionizer but the ones I've been told about are in the €200+ range which is way beyond my means. Thought I'd ask in here rather than on YT.

John Carr

Bummer. The case looks interesting.

Michael Thompson

i built one 2 years ago using 27 10 uf 600 v caps running on a 120 to 200 v + 6.3 transformer meant for a tube pre amp 2 3 meg 4 watt resistors are on the out put the neutral is connected to the positive of the output stack

God 420

Yes it should, especially with carbon fibre emitters. But keep in mind it has to be DC and only requires microamps of current.

Big Clive

do you think 4500 volts would be enough to work

God 420

Maybe it was originally designed to house different circuitry or possibly a small fan.

Big Clive

Why on earth did they see fit to cramp the electronics into one half of the case, yet the other half of the case was empty? Thoughts?

Gadgetman