06/09/2008

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage G

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator
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This is a fun and useful circuit for demonstrating high frequency high voltge. It can produce up to about
30KV, depending on the transformer used. It is cheap and easy to make, thanks to the standard TV
flyback transformer used. It can power LASERS (although I have never tried), demonstrate St.Elmo's
fire, and even cause a fluorescent bulb to light from as much as 2 feet away.

Schematic

Parts

http://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/hv

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Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage G

Part Total Qty.

Description

Substitutions

R1

27 Ohm 5W Resistor

27 Ohm 10W Resistor

R2
BR1

1
1

240 Ohm 5W Resistor

50 Volt, 6 Amp Bridge Rectifier

240 Ohm 10W Resistor

C1
1
Q1, Q2 2

8000uf, 35 Volt Capacitor

2N3055 NPN Power Transistor

T1
T2

1
1

24V 5A Transformer (See "Notes")

TV Flyback Transformer (See "Notes")

S1
MISC

1
1

115V 3A SPST Switch

Case, Wire, Heatsinks, Line Cord

Cat Generator
Sets
Diesel or gas
powered, 7 to
16000kW standby
and prime
applications.
www.cat-electricpower.c

Notes
1. T2 is a high voltage flyback transformer salvaged from an old TV, or ordered from Fair Radio Sales
(see Where To Get Parts). Look for the biggest, most intimidating transformer you can find. Old
tube TV's are a good place to look. The transformer should not have a rectifier built in.
2. You will need to rewind the transformer's primary. First, remove the old primary, being careful not to
damage the high voltage secondary. If the transformer is wound with all windings incased in plastic,
use another transformer. Second, wind on 5 turns of 18 AWG wire, twist a loop (center tap), and
then wind on 5 more turns. This becomes winding C-D. Now, wind on 2 turns of 22 AWG wire, twist
a loop, and wind on 2 more turns. This becomes winding A-B.
3. Q1 and Q2 will run HOT if not used with a large heatsink. After the circuit has been running for a
minute or two, you should still be able to put your finger on the transistors without being burnt. Also,
R1 and R2 will run hot.
4. If you experience arcing on the exposed transformer leads, select a lower voltage for T1. If you are
powering the circuit with a power supply (see Power Supply), just crank down the voltage.
5. For a real high voltage output, connect a voltage multiplier (from an old TV or computer monitor) to
the output of T2.
6. If the circuit does not work, reverse connections A and B.
7. I finally got around to taking some pictures of the circuit in operation. Here they are:

http://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/hv

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The first picture is the high voltage generator without the voltage multiplier. Notice how hot the arc
looks. The second picture is the high voltage generator with a voltage multiplier installed. Notice
how much brighter the arc is.

The above pictures of myself were taken with me standing on an pie plate that was resting on the
top of a plastic bucket. The pie plate was connected to the high voltage generator and charged to
about 40,000V. If you do this, be sure to have someone else turn on and off the high voltage
generator. Also, don't touch anything when you are charged. Have everything you are going to
hold/play with already sitting on the bucket and away from grounded objects. Remember to take off
your watch...

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http://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/hv

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Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage G

High Voltage Resistors

Find The P ower R e sistor You
Nee d & P la ce Your O rder Easily
W / O hm ite!
www.ohm ite .com

High Voltage - Nicrom

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High Frequency Capacitors

C ustom high volta ge film
capacitors ripple freque ncies
from 5-150k Hz
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Power equipment
P o we r e quipm e nt a nd
Mea sure m e nt syste m s.
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Comments
D.C..
Coxnonymous

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

Monday, July 28, 2008 11:19:16 PM

I use a BUF420 M power transistor. It's rated at 450 VDC 30 Amps and will not fail like the 2N3055's
do. this single transistor in a large TO-3 heatsink will drive large flybacks. I also stock large flybacks
based on the old 1968 large Zenith TV sets (3,800 turns on sec). Mine have 4,200 turns of #42 AWG on
sec for more output. These will drive plasma globes up to 24 inches in dia.
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Monday, June 23, 2008 5:54:04 PM
anonymous
Generator
You can find it if you follow the red cable from the top of the screen... cant miss it...
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 6:56:38 AM
Generator
abhikant; I think you need variable duty cycle to vary the output voltage. You would need a 555 driver
circuit for that.
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Saturday, April 12, 2008 2:20:34 PM
Asep Sopyan
Generator
can u gave more information about Tesla generator. i want tray to build the generator.that just for my
hobbys
spark

abhikant

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

can we control its high voltage if so then how

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
derric
Generator

Friday, March 14, 2008 6:16:04 AM

Sunday, January 27, 2008 8:19:52 AM

What a great man Ken you are, your site is so fabulous thanks to god who gave you that knowledge.
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 6:12:12 AM
apis
Generator
How can we regulate the output voltage?
anonymous

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

Thursday, December 13, 2007 11:00:44

AM

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

Tuesday, December 11, 2007 12:23:53

AM

cool site
anonymous

i have an Ignition Coil from a ford modle A its in wood with a relay ontop and 3 coper rod contions 2 on
side 1 on the end. it looks like it could take a lot more volts than the newer ones. Have any good ides. let
me know.
Raven

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

http://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/hv

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

10:17:23 PM

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Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage G

Raven

Generator

10:17:23 PM

maid my own tater gun and such but i need to learn how to build this badly lol im trying to use a sparker
from a small hand held lighter that has the long neck and only works 1/100 times or so so were can i get
most of theese parts alot of them i think i might already have but were can i get some of the from
componets? ( computer screen?)
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Saturday, November 10, 2007 5:49:19
JW
Generator
AM
I built this circuit years ago for igniting my spudgun, it worked great! I tried the version with only one
transistor as well but this version works much better! Thanks for this circuit! JW
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 8:02:08 AM
Generator
hm i used this flyback (on the pictures) for runing real tesla coil. it is interesting effect as i dont need
large capacitetors(high frequency). flyback is runned with 2- 3055 transistors on 18V and neon light is lit
1m away.. i think it is pretty good for round 80W...
kolovrat

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:28:28 AM
Generator
where would i locate the voltage multiplier in a CRT pc monitor?
Charlie Whittaker

Bhathiya

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

Thursday, October 25, 2007 7:52:19 AM

It's really great to see.But it should be very careful.i like to know the principle of this.
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Monday, October 15, 2007 8:04:32 AM
charlo
Generator
your project was great!!! i love it. im always viewing your page ever since my first view but i still viewing
it until now. i just wan to learn from your good invention.. can ou teach me about it? thanks for your site...
Ken P

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

'thoroughly enjoy your web site' very usefull thanks ken.

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
boxa888
Generator

Wednesday, October 03, 2007 12:14:14

AM
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 7:15:49
PM

hey so if you jump off being that charged wont you get really shocked or hurt when you ground???
please tell me . i never uderstood charging someone like a capacitor
Duma

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 9:37:53

AM

Hey, could you use a cascade with this? btw seeing how everyone is complaining about the one person
who is upset about the fact that this is not a coil i will too! NOT A COIL
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Thursday, September 06, 2007 7:15:44
Matt
Generator
AM
That is friggin cool. I'm starting to get into electronics, and browsing through some projects when the
word "tesla" caught my eye.....had to look. Anyone else reminded of C&C Red Alert? :-)
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Tuesday, September 04, 2007 6:36:57
spacifique
Generator
AM
Hi. Would it be easier to use a signal generator and some transistor or opto-coupler to control a car
ignition transformer? I am working on a system to have high voltage pulses at low amps. Thanks.
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
http://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/hv

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anonymous

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage G

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

Saturday, August 04, 2007 7:05:31 PM

Vary good project. This isn't a tesla coil, but I think this is better then tesla coils, becourse you have the
full power out (by the way, does this have any out-frequency?). I made an 220VAC converter to
624VCC, using two Eletrolytic 350V 10,000F and four 5404 (two in paralell, becouse of the high
current. It is vary powerfull, even without lightning, try to put the terminals in water with salt, when fullloaded. It gives a nice boom.
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:34:13 PM
Generator
Hey u guys need to calm down. the guy is sharing his project with people so they can learn and have fun.
No its not a real tesla coil but its still a fun project with easy parts to come by. Thanks for sharing. P.S. if
you would like help building a real tesla coil feel free to e-mail me.
Lloyd

anonymous

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

Sunday, July 22, 2007 1:31:42 PM

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

Saturday, July 07, 2007 11:53:53 PM

wow!!
Corbet

Hey dude calm down we all know its just a flyback driver but its still kinda neat
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Wednesday, July 04, 2007 12:52:35 PM
ValveSmith
Generator
2N3055's! You need some real transistors with some hfe. How about a 2SA1943?
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Sunday, June 17, 2007 9:18:06 AM
Joo Crispim
Generator
I've just made one of this high voltage generator. it works fine but i need more. i already got 2 secondary
coils in series on one ferrite. the primary is not made yet. i wanna know if a can duplicate the 5 turns to
10 turns in order to get more power out of it and make The power transistors cool down a bit. I'm
powering it with 12V cos 24V made the power transistors get really HOT (and yes. they are on a really
big heat sink). what should i do ?
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Saturday, June 09, 2007 5:43:52 PM
Alex
Generator
as the rest said it's not a real tesla coil BUT with one of this you can go further and power a SGO tesla
coil (the real stuff) ... basicaly to use this instead of the neon sign transformer CHEERS !!! nice job and
congratulations ! hope to see more ! Good luck !
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Sunday, June 03, 2007 7:48:26 AM
anonymous
Generator
Have you any idea how to regulate frequency using a function generator to influence the primary?
Thanks, Gordon
Bernard

A regulator Schematic

Sunday, April 15, 2007 7:13:10 PM

Hi , can you please fin me the schema of a regulator who can have the faulowing caracteristic ?? input
:150-230 V AC output : 230 V AC power ;4-6 KVA thanks
Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage
Tuesday, March 27, 2007 6:49:09 AM
bobrgv
Generator
Hello Nice cct, I have one going at the moment giving about 8kv and used for research into ZPE and
oscillators. I tend to agree it is not a Tesla coil and it does not work on the theoretical Lonitudanal wave
concept. It is neat because it uses the natural resonant frequency of the loop via feedback. A useful
http://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/hv

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WEB site during my very brief tour it has captured my imagination. Bob
anonymous

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

Monday, March 26, 2007 5:35:21 PM

Solid State Tesla Coil/High Voltage

Generator

Friday, March 16, 2007 7:58:23 PM

this is not a tesla coil

anonymous

are you calling this a Tesla Coil? is just a flyback driver tesla coils are high frequency high voltage air
cored transformers this is not air cored
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