I need help getting high voltage for science project!?

Question

I'm making a science project abt electric wind and need high voltages, something like 2000 volts. How do i get such high voltages? by the way, there is really high resistance, so should that help? what power source and current should i use?

Hi every body thanks for answering. My output current should be abt 0.5 A. If i could get that high voltages from 9 V, that would be cool.

Answer 1

Do you mean magnetic flux?

A Tesla Coil can deliver all the electricity that you need, and I'm pretty sure you can find directions on how to build one on-line, then go to Radio Shack and get the parts you need. But always be very careful, you don't want to end up dead. Voltage hurts, but it's the amps or current that'll kill ya.

Answer 2

I'd first make an oscilator circuit, which turns the 9v DC into pulsating 9v DC (this quickly switches the current on and off), this lets you use the 9v battery to drive a transformer (which doesnt work when connected to a constant DC current, therefor the circuit)
circuits can be found online, for example here: (scroll down for the 555 timer pulse generator)
http://www.geocities.com/mistertippy/schematics/ignition.html
with this circuit you can adjust the frequency, you may not need that, for easier options you can look on google for oscillator circuits.

Then you can use this to drive a regular step-down transformer in reverse. For example a 220v to 3v transformer, which has a ratio of about 70, would give you a 630v output when run in reverse.
If you then use a 3 or 4-stage cockroft walton voltage multiplier, you should be around 2000volts. (if you use a transformer with different ratio, you'll need to adjust the number of multiplier stages).

some other usefull HV circuits you can use:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/circ/hv/hv.html

Note; I wouldn't go for the neon sign transformers or tesla coils as other people have suggested. Neon sign transformers are rated around 10000volts, tesla coils much higher and I doubt its usefull for your project. Besides, the concept of tesla coils is easy, but the actual construction is not a one weekend job.
Allso, converting 9v to 2000v using only a cockroft walton voltage multiplier isnt an option, you'd need 200 stages for that..
As stated before, a 0.5A output is very high, you cannot get this from a 9v battery but I highly doubt you need it.

If you would need really high voltages, you can use the variable frequency oscillating circuit in that link I gave you to drive a car ignition coil (you often get these quite cheap, car dealer, junkyards..). This will give about 10000v-40000v depending on the coil. Its a simple setup, you don't even need a voltage multiplier for this.

Answer 3

You can make a "voltage multiplier" and easily get to 2000V from a 9V battery.

The circuit is known as a Cockcroft-Walton Voltage multiplier.

The circuit is basically comprised of an oscillator to turn the 9VDC into a sine wave (approx 12 V AC) and then to the voltage multiplier circuit.

The basic multiplier circuit can be found here :

http://www.techlib.com/files/voltmult.pdf

As to what power source and current, that really depends on what voltage and current you want at the output. A few more details would help.

FURTHER INFO :

Based on what you've added (extra info) you can't do it from a 9V battery.

Do the math :

2000V x 0.5A = 1000W

That's a seriously dangerous power base - at a couple of killervolts!

The average 9V battery couldn't supply the power required (it's lucky to supply 0.5A @ 9V). Even a deep-draw 12V battery would be lucky to supply 1000W for any period without burning out.

I can't imagine why you'd need 2000V @ 1/2 A.

Answer 4

If you can lay hands on a sign transformer, that would work nicely. (Other types of power transformers for voltages that high tend to be expensive.) Another way is to use a voltage multiplier, which is an arrangement of diodes and capacitors which I can't draw a picture of using characters but you should be able to track down the design. (You connect the capacitors in two series strings, and zigzag the diodes between them.) A ten-stage multiplier (ten diodes and ten capacitors) will give you about 1600 volts if fed from a 120 volt source, and you can use more stages if that is not enough. (Be careful in handling such voltages -- they are dangerous.)

Answer 5

here's a zero to 2000 volt supply for sale on e-bay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/C23865-CPS-Precision-H-V-Power-Supply-0-to-2kV-5mA_W0QQitemZ260005270128QQihZ016QQcategoryZ58286QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

be careful! always stick one hand in your back pocket when handling something that could possibly be connected to high voltage. this will minimize the chance of current passing thru your heart if you do happen to get zapped.

Answer 6

you gonna need a transformar(spel worng) to get high voltage. the one i use to use back in my country where the voltage issn't always 220V, so we had to use our own transformar to get 220v.

Answer 7

Make use of a step up transformer

Answer 8

You have to use your finger at a power plant, don't you?