TSSP: List Archives

From: "Terrell W. Fritz"
Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 19:43:09 -0600
Subject: Re: [TSSP] Topics on non-linear effects

Hi Bert,

I have checked out the Ross Engineering VD120 and the Jennings Model 13200.
 They seem to be the sort of things that would be good for this.  Probably
a 1000:1 divider at 200kV peak would be nice.  I assume the new prices are
enormous especially from Ross.  I think I have worn out my welcome with
Jennings ;-))

It is probably not too hard to make an oil filled homemade version.  I have
the precision Bertan that goes to 50kVDC that could simply arc to ground to
make the voltage step for calibration.

http://hot-streamer.com/TeslaCoils/MMCInfo/GeekCaps/HVTest.jpg

I would be very interested in any design information or tips for such things.

Cheers,

	Terry


At 07:36 AM 5/29/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>Terry,
>
>Ross Electronics and Jennings make similar units, using either compressed
>gas (advantage: no X-Rays) or vacuum capacitors for the HV cap(s). Do you
>have any idea of the expected standoff voltage required? I have a couple of
>Ross units, one rated at 15 kV (off Ebay!) and the other for 60 kV
>(untested - just picked it up at the Dayton HamFest, looks a bit beat up
>though). 
>
>It might be possible to make an air insulated HV capacitor, or use a chain
>of vacuum caps with grading rings for the HV section. If you want to try
>"rolling you own", I have some design information that might be useful. As
>you indicate, the key would be in calibrating the thing. Assuming you could
>prevent corona leakage, it may be possible to calibrate it by using a
>precision HV DC supply (say 5 or 10 kV) and then "pulsing" the output to
>the divider via a HV SPDT vacuum relay, driving the divider input to either
>the supply voltage or ground. 
>
>-- Bert --
>-- 
>Bert Hickman
>Stoneridge Engineering
>Email:    bert.hickman@aquila.net
>Web Site: http://www.teslamania.com  
>
>
>"Terrell W. Fritz" wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Paul,
>> 
>> Capacitive voltage dividers may be the way to go.  Something along the
>> lines of the $800 Pearson:
>> 
>> http://www.pearsonelectronics.com/Pages/Capacitive_Voltage_Divider.html
>> 
>> Unfortunatly, there were none on E-bay... ;-)
>> 
>> They have the advantage of being calibrated out of the box (5%) and all the
>> thinking is done.  They have 18pF of load.
>> 
>> Most places seem to roll their own:
>> http://www.uni-stuttgart.de/ieh/forschung/einrichtungen/v_general.jpg
>> http://www.uni-stuttgart.de/ieh/forschung/einrichtungen/v_Teilentl1.jpg
>> 
>> The problem is by the time you get all the electrostatic shields and
>> terminals big enough not to arc, the load goes up too high.  However, they
>> are basic physical devices with few tricks and the outputs can be clamped
>> heavily and such for protection.  Calibration is not trivial either.  I'll
>> think on it.
>> 
>> The plane wave antenna is another possibility but it is a wide area device.
>>  Perhaps it could be aimed through a tunnel or antenna like array to hit a
>> small spot...
>> 
>> I used to repair voltage dividers on 375kV power line equipment (live
>> ==:-| ) but I don't think those types would be any good at high-frequency.
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> 
>>         Terry
>> 
>> At 11:37 PM 5/28/2001 +0100, you wrote:
>> >Terry, All,
>> >
>> >Some preliminary notes on your CW brush discharge current
>> >measurements.
>> >
>> > http://www.abelian.demon.co.uk/tssp/tfcw260501/
>> >
>> >Next step would be to determine what the discharge impedance
>> >is, and how it varies with the steady state voltage. But an
>> >essential prerequisite is a means to reliably capture the
>> >peak topvolts value.
>> >
>> >Without this, we can't establish a pattern for brush discharge
>> >loadings, nor can we confirm ET6.12 predictions of breakout
>> >voltage.  So now would be a real good time for budding inventors
>> >out there to get cracking.
>> >
>> >Cheers All,
>> >--
>> >Paul Nicholson,
>> >Manchester, UK.
>> >--
>


Maintainer Paul Nicholson, paul@abelian.demon.co.uk.