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Category Archives: High-Voltage Power Supply

In Memoriam: Robert (Bob) Iannini (1938-2023)

Posted on September 26, 2023 by David Prutchi Posted in Administrative, High-Voltage Power Supply, Instrumentation, Lasers, Marx Generators
Robert (Bob) Iannini, inventor, author, and founder of Information Unlimited

Image Credit: Information Unlimited

I recently learned the saddening news of the passing of Robert (Bob) Iannini on April 3, 2023, just shy of his 85th birthday. Bob, an extraordinary inventor, celebrated book author, and the mastermind behind “Information Unlimited,” succumbed to pneumonia, leaving a void in the world of amateur science and electronics.

From my high school days, Bob’s innovative paper plans and kits were my constant companions. They were more than just gadgets and devices; they were a gateway into the magical world of out-of-the-ordinary electronics, a world where possibilities seemed endless. Those kits, along with his captivating books, were my stepping stones into understanding the nuances of the ever-fascinating realm of high voltage, ultrasonics, and lasers. They nurtured my curiosity and fueled my passion.

Bob’s genius was evident in every project he conceived and every kit he designed. But beyond his brilliance, he had an innate ability to inspire young minds like mine. He made these very complex topics approachable, fun, and endlessly intriguing. With each of his creations, he imparted a sense of wonder that drove many of us to push boundaries and think beyond the conventional.

“Information Unlimited” was more than just a business; it was Bob’s legacy. It was a beacon for those with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, serving as a treasure trove of information, ideas, and inspiration for enthusiasts of all ages. In light of Bob’s passing, his wife Ann informed me that “Information Unlimited” had to be temporarily closed. However, with resilience and hope, Ann aspires to reopen its doors in just a few months, ensuring that Bob’s legacy continues to shine brightly and inspire many more.

As I reflect upon his remarkable journey, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Bob Iannini’s indelible impact on amateur scientists, hobbyists, and curious minds across the world will forever resonate.

To Bob, thank you for igniting the flames of curiosity in countless souls. You may have departed from this world, but your legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

Febetron/Fexitron Marx Bank Module

Posted on March 9, 2021 by David Prutchi Posted in High-Voltage Power Supply, Marx Generators

I have kept on making space in my lab for new projects, and came across 3 new-old-stock Marx generator modules that were made for the Fexitron and Febetron flash X-ray sources and electron accelerators. The Fexitron and Febetron devices were made in the 1970s by the Field Emission Corporation, a division of HP, which is now L-3 Pulse Sciences.

Each module contains two complete 30 kV Marx stages. In the Febetron/Fexitron pulsers, modules were stacked to form Marx generators of up to 2.3MV output. The spark gap distance is adjustable. These modules are designed for use under 20-70 psi air or nitrogen.

My intention was to build a 180 kV fast Marx with these, so I had reverse-engineered the schematic for these modules. I’m putting it here in case that someone is interested.

The following are interesting links related to Fexitron/Febetron units:

  • The Hofstra Group used to carry them. They probably can still repair them.
  • Picture of a 1200 MW flash x-ray tube made for the Fexitron. Beam volume was 3.5 cc (600 kV, 2000 amps, 0.2 µs).
  • Febetron information from RPI.
  • Field Emission Corp patent: Fexitron Febetron Marx Generator Patent US3783289

 

Teaser on upcoming writeup on DIY Pressurized-Vessel MegaVolt-Class Marx Generator

Posted on April 23, 2018 by David Prutchi Posted in High-Voltage Power Supply, Marx Generators
DIY pressurized-vessel coaxial Marx generators by David Prutchi PhD

DIY pressurized-vessel coaxial Marx generators

Original Source for Flyback Driver Hack?

Posted on May 8, 2013 by David Prutchi Posted in Chapter 3 - Atoms and Radioactvity, High-Voltage Power Supply

Flyback driver circuit from Radio Electronics September 1981 David Prutchi PhD www.diyPhysics.com

One of my all-time favorite circuits is the the following DC-to-AC inverter (click diagram to enlarge) based on an old color TV flyback:

High voltage AC driver for 250 kV DC power supply by David and Shanni Prutchi

Continue reading→

d.i.y. 15 kV @ 30 mA Floating-Output AC or DC High-Voltage Power Supply

Posted on February 18, 2012 by David Prutchi Posted in High-Voltage Power Supply, Lasers, Plasma Physics

15 kV @ 30 mA diy High Voltage Power Supply by David Prutchi PhD www.diyPhysics.com

Transformers made for powering large neon signs are inexpensive and very reliable.  Most commonly, the secondary is center-tapped, which prevents the use of its full peak-to-peak output in applications where one of the terminals needs to be grounded.

In the power supply described in this post, I took out the high-voltage transformer out of its metallic enclosure to isolate the center tap from ground.  This requires very careful application of a thick insulated layer to the transformer.  I used a full can of Shellac to patiently coat and re-coat the transformer. Continue reading→

Adding Your Own Primary to High-Voltage Flyback Transformer for Resonant Driving

Posted on February 10, 2012 by David Prutchi Posted in Chapter 3 - Atoms and Radioactvity, High-Voltage Power Supply 3 Comments

High voltage flyback transformer by David and Shanni Prutchi www.diyphysics.com

Our two prior posts show how to build very high voltage power supplies using flybacks from old color TVs.  The advantage of the method we use is that any flyback can be driven, regardless of how its primary is wired.  This is because we wind our own primary using litz wire. Continue reading→

Universal Resonant Transformer Driver (High-Voltage Flyback Driver)

Posted on February 10, 2012 by David Prutchi Posted in Chapter 3 - Atoms and Radioactvity, High-Voltage Power Supply

Universal resonant transformer driver by David and Shanni Prutchi www.diyPhysics.com

We use the flyback-driver circuit shown in our d.i.y. 250 kV DC power supply in many other of our setups, so we built a stand-alone universal resonant transformer driver.  Continue reading→

d.i.y. 250 kV High Voltage DC Power Supply with Neat Trick for Switching Polarity

Posted on February 9, 2012 by David Prutchi Posted in Chapter 3 - Atoms and Radioactvity, High-Voltage Power Supply

d.i.y. 300 kV DC high voltage power supply by David and Shanni Prutchi

High voltage DC power supplies are used by science enthusiasts for powering electron tubes and x-ray tubes, charging high-voltage capacitors, powering electrostatic “levitators”, etc.  Many of these power supplies use a flyback transformer to produce high voltage at high frequency (AC), followed by a “Cockroft-Walton Multiplier” to rectify and dramatically increase the voltage.

The Cockroft-Walton multiplier uses a cascaded series of diodes and capacitors to generate a high voltage DC potential from an AC input through a circuit topology that uses diodes to charge capacitors in parallel and discharge them in series.  The output polarity of the Cockroft-Walton multiplier depends on the way in which its diodes are oriented, so the output polarity (referenced to ground) of a high-voltage DC power supply is usually set during the design.

However, since some of our physics experiments require one or the other polarity, we build our Cockroft-Walton multipliers with an extra capacitor so that we can make our HV power supplies output either positive or negative high voltage referenced to ground.  Continue reading→

diy Low-Cost, Regulated, Variable, Low-Ripple High-Voltage (2kV) Photomultiplier Tube Power Supply

Posted on January 20, 2012 by David Prutchi Posted in Chapter 2 - Light as Particles, Chapter 3 - Atoms and Radioactvity, Chapter 5 - Wave-Particle Duality, Compton Scattering, High-Voltage Power Supply, Ionizing Radiation Detection, MCA/PHA, Photomultipliers, Scintillation Detector, Single-Photon Experiments

diy Low-cost, regulated, variable-output photomultiplier power supply

The book’s Figure 32 shows the schematic diagram for a low-cost, variable-voltage PMT power supply based on a BXA-12579 inverter module that is originally designed as a power supply for cold-cathode fluorescent lamps.  This under-$20 module produces 1,500VAC at around 30kHz from a 12VDC input.

We are posting this picture to help you build your own power supply.  It shows the BXA-12579 that has been modified as described in the book.   The op-amp to the right of the CCFL module is used to control the voltage supplied to the module.  The high-voltage AC output of the inverter is rectified and doubled and filtered by the diodes and capacitors at the left of the CCFL module. Continue reading→

Assembly View of diy Variable-Output, High-Performance PMT High-Voltage Power Supply

Posted on January 14, 2012 by David Prutchi Posted in Chapter 2 - Light as Particles, Chapter 3 - Atoms and Radioactvity, Chapter 5 - Wave-Particle Duality, Chapter 7 - Schrödinger's Wave Equation, Compton Scattering, High-Voltage Power Supply, Ionizing Radiation Detection, MCA/PHA, Photomultipliers, Single-Photon Experiments

Variable-output, low-ripple, high-stability, high-voltage power supply described in pages 38-40 of "Exploring Quantum Physics Through Hands-On Projects."

We are posting this picture to help you construct the variable-output, low-ripple, high-stability, high-voltage power supply described in pages 38-40 of “Exploring Quantum Physics Through Hands-On Projects.”  The schematic diagrams for this power supply are in the book’s Figure 31.  Output voltage (up to 2 kV) and current (up to 1 mA) are monitored via two LCD panel meters. Continue reading→

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