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HV DiodesOne good source for High Voltage Rectifiers is... Old Microwave Ovens! These typically contain a 7.5KV to 15KV diode at fairly high amperage ( 1/3 amp or higher). Follow the usual safety precautions during disassembly of course, same as you would when messing with TV sets and tube-type amplifiers. Hint: some ovens hide their diodes within the can of the high voltage filter capacitor. Those cans are full of dielectric oil, so sawing them open can be messy.
Some electronics suppliers now sell replacement oven diodes, so
high-current, hi-volt diodes are no longer that rare. Check out your
local seller of TV repair parts (ECG, NTE, etc. replacement lines).
All Electronics
has incredibly low prices on 200mA, 6KV rectifiers, $0.50 (# R6000)
TRY THESE:
UX-FOB 8KV 500mA 40nS ultra-fast
HVR-1X3 12KV 500mA Vf=11v (HVCA)
CL01-12 12KV 350mA Vf=12V
PRHVP2A-20 20kV, 2000mA, slow
See popular replacements NTE517, NTE541, NTE542, NTE 548
Another source of diodes is old CRT computer monitors, however these
diodes are
usually only rated for 50mA or less. There is always a HV diode in series
with the HV connection to the "rubber cup" against the side of the CRT
tube. However, often the diode is cast inside the plastic block which
holds the HV transformer secondary coil (flyback transformer.) While
their current is low, these diodes usually have a higher rating for
reverse voltage (sometimes as high as 100KV for large screen CRTs.)
Also note that Surplus Sales has some rare
High Voltage Connectors, also try
Ultravolt
DC KILOVOLT MODULES why build your own? (from eBay) |
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THIN "MAGNET WIRE" FOR TESLA COIL SECONDARY COILS, ETC.Where can you find thin-gauge copper wire cheap?Odd Wire SourcesA creative scrounger can avoid buying new wire. Think OPEN-FRAME SOLENOIDS from surplus junk shops! A typical 12-volt or 24v DC solenoid may contain up to a half-pound of #30 wire costing two or three dollars. Note that some solenoids are nearly impossible to open, while others pop apart after bending with a screwdriver or some vise-grips. So if you're going to buy twenty of them for their wire, it's wise to first buy a single one to tear apart.
Also think power transformers! Power transformers and small AC
shaded-pole
motors. If you
obtain an old power transformer or small AC motor, sometimes you can pry a
couple of laminations free
using pliers and a knife,
and the whole stack will then easily disassemble. You're left with a
spool full of wire for free. Besides power transformers, larger "choke"
coils are also a source of free wire. For thin wire, try finding a
transformer with a high voltage secondary such as those used in old
tube-type equipment.
I've heard that you can take apart OLD CAR ALTERNATORS and obtain coils of
wire. Might not be very thin wire though.
One final source of wire: Mail-order surplus companies.
These companies often sell damaged 10 lbs spools of electromagnet wire.
Even a slight ding in the spool will cause an automatic coil-winding
machine to tangle, so "damaged" wire is often not really damaged at all.
Over the last few years the price has been around $40 - $60. But a 10lb
spool will last you a lifetime. (Perhaps offwind it onto other spools and
sell to other TC hobbyists?)
Here's a table for: AWG, American Wire Gauge
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Wire SuppliersFor full price, Allied Electronics carries 1lb and 5lb spools, but it's NOT cheap. A good price for wire is around $8 per pound, not $30 per pound! http://www.alliedelec.com
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Rolls of HV wire can be had from various suppliers: