Water Sparkplug

[lighty]

Here is my initial design. I've chosen pic16f876A because i have one. You can choose whatever MCU you like. RC0 pin to drive step up transformer. RC1 pin to switch thyristor to discharge HV capacitor. The rest is same smw1998a's design. Let go to coding tonight. I love programming.

Good work. IMO it would be better to use MOC3021 which doesn't employ zero crossing detector but rather use a random phase trigger. Also, use triac instead of SCR to allow for more oscillations in the LC circuit of primary.

[Dread]

Help

Aaron or Peter,

I Replicated your circuit but I have 2 separate problems.
I couldn't get a spark so I disconnected the relay and tried to fire manually by connecting the 12V (timer) power supply to the coil. I get a small spark as long as the HV Microwave diode (14.4Kv 0.5 Ma) is disconnected. When connected (arrow pointing towards plug +ve) , I get nothing. I am using a 47uF cap with the arrows pointing towards -Ve connection.
Surely It can only be the HV diode or the Cap. (the coil is a new MSD 3 with clearly market +ve and -ve connectors) I know Peter gave a part number for the HV diode but can't get any results on google can you furnish me with a part number?

The Timer.
I have built it exactly the same as the schematic. It works fine until I connect to the relay. Then it will open the relay, then close, then go dead. the led stops flashing and I have to disconnect the 12V power supply and reconnect for it to work again.

This is all very frustrating any help would be very appreciated.
Thanks.
D.

[boxley55]

Aaron,
Nice video. Has anyone made a proper schematic of this for others to try out or is this private?
Thanks,

Bruce

[paulsonaivy]

hi smw1998a pla post the circuit pls i would also like to give it a try
rgd paul

[paulsonaivy]

Hello All,

Here is the schematic of the charge pump driver circuit I used in my videos. It was designed as a pulse generator for the SSG circuit and used CMOS 7555. Because I was driving the 2N 3055 from section B. I knew, because of the limited current output that I needed to replace the CMOS component for the bipolar 555, which can source or sink 200mA. I later had to change the Section A side to a bipolar 555 because the CMOS version failed, probably due to transient voltage spikes. I have had no other failures with the use of bipolar devices.

The section A astable has a non standard configuration. This works well with the CMOS 7555 and gives an almost 50/50 duty cycle across a grater range. However, it does not work as well with the bipolar 555 but seems to function OK for this application. I find this astable/monostable circuit very useful for pulse generation. Particularly when adjustments need to be made on the fly. Section A controls frequency and section B controls pulse width.

A word of warning: The pulse duration of section B must NOT exceed the low period of section A or unpredictable results will occur. I prefer to us the CMOS 4047B as a section A driver but this is the circuit I used in my videos.

Pin 4 of section A receives low and high signals from the control logic. If you connect pin 4 to Vcc the circuit will be switched on, if pin 4 is connected to 0v the circuit will switch off. Output pin 3 of section B is connected to a 1 watt 470 ohm resistor and then to the base of the 2N3055 transistor.

Omission: Each IC has a 25v 47uf electrolitic capacitor across pins 1 and 8. Not shown in the schematic.



Regards Lee...

hi gr8 to see u do that
but pls post the complete schematic pls this will help guys in the grp who r not very good in electronic
pls post the shcematic
rgds paul

[magnetO]

Do I have missed sthg

Hi Aaron,

what do I have missed?

You made the enhancement of spark with HV diode and capacitor in parallel? So the HV side is: HV coil // HV diode // capacitor ?
Untill now the HV side has been: HV coil // (HV diode + capacitor (in line)).

Is it new, HV diode // capacitor ?
Can we get the schematics please?

Thx
magnetO

[Peter Lindemann]

I'd Love to Help....

Aaron or Peter,

I Replicated your circuit but I have 2 separate problems.
I couldn't get a spark so I disconnected the relay and tried to fire manually by connecting the 12V (timer) power supply to the coil. I get a small spark as long as the HV Microwave diode (14.4Kv 0.5 Ma) is disconnected. When connected (arrow pointing towards plug +ve) , I get nothing. I am using a 47uF cap with the arrows pointing towards -Ve connection.
Surely It can only be the HV diode or the Cap. (the coil is a new MSD 3 with clearly market +ve and -ve connectors) I know Peter gave a part number for the HV diode but can't get any results on google can you furnish me with a part number?

The Timer.
I have built it exactly the same as the schematic. It works fine until I connect to the relay. Then it will open the relay, then close, then go dead. the led stops flashing and I have to disconnect the 12V power supply and reconnect for it to work again.

This is all very frustrating any help would be very appreciated.
Thanks.
D.

Dread,

First of all, its great you are trying to run the experiment yourself!!! Second, I can tell you that whatever the problem is, it is probably minor. We just have to figure out what it is. To do that, I would need a clear photograph of what you have built, to see if I could see the problem. Without that, you will have to figure it out with my help.

Part of the problem seems to be your general unfamiliarity with electronic parts and nomenclature. For instance, DIODES have two terminals, an ANODE and a CATHODE. Polarized capacitors have a (+) terminal and a (-) terminal. When you say "the arrow is pointing..." I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you mean. From your description, it's possible that your HV diode is installed backwards, but I can't tell. The correct way to connect the HV diode is for the ANODE to be connected to the low voltage (+) terminal of the ignition coil and the CATHODE to be connected to the high voltage (+) terminal.

Also, you say that your HV diode is rated as "14.4kv @ .5ma" Hopefully, you mean either ".5 amps or 500 milliamps". Perhaps there is an error in how you have described the diode specifications. Whatever the case may be, if we are looking for a very small detail to correct, it's important that your posts are extremely accurate.

As for the timer, this is odd. The relay I have used is from Radio Shack. Its coil impedance is about 1000 ohms, so it loads the output of the transistor similarly to the 1000 ohm resistor in series with the LED. This relay coil must have a reverse diode across it to discharge the inductive collapse of the relay coil, or it will burn out your transistor and maybe even your 555. Make sure the CATHODE of this diode faces the (+) power supply side of the relay.

You say you have "built it exactly the same as the schematic". Have you made any substitutions in the parts list? Are you using a Radio Shack relay? Are you using the same resistor values, a 1 megohm potentiometer, a 2N4401 transistor, a .5uf timing cap, etc...?

All of these question are not meant as criticism. The problem is most likely a very small detail that has been missed, so each and every "LITTLE THING" has to be re-examined.

The simplest thing to do is just for you to carefully go through the circuit and the schematic again, and make sure every detail is exactly the same. Make sure all diodes are in the right direction, etc.... you might find the problem yourself.

Peter

[smw1998a]

Logic Circuit

Hello All,
Sorry for the delay but life kind of got in the way, as it does. This circuit took much longer than I thought. I felt I had to redo it twice before posting because it looked far more complicated than it is. This is the fourth and final part of the circuit. The four schematics represent the actual circuit I ran in the Water Sparkplug III demo.

Everything here is from my working circuit. I can already see improvements that can be made and others have also put in some good suggestions for improvements. But, it should provide a basic model to work from. I will post a little more information regarding the circuit operation and tuning as I get time. Hopefully, other people will be able to improve on what I have done here. My purpose was to see if I could produce the effect through a low voltage solid state circuit, basic as it is, and study the HV discharges at various voltages and frequencies.

A word of warning. Don’t start your circuit with the flip flop (4001B) and 555-H11D1 connected to pin I, as in the schematic, try pin B or C to start with. Also, start with a larger capacitor in the RC loop on the 4047B, start with a lower frequency. Don’t connect to pin J, give the charge pump a little room to breath.


All the best Lee…

[Aaron]

booster caps

Hi Bruce and Magneto,

The video says booster caps in parallel with diode....that might be confusing...it is booster caps with a diode in parallel with plug.

I already posted my booster cap schematic here and it is identical to that.
Just that I'm using a string of 15 diodes (1000v/6a).

Look at Luc's schematic...he has the inverter through bridge in parallel with plug...simply put caps across the plug in addition to the power source.

I'll post another schematic or something later.

[Aaron]

Booster Cap schematic

I'm using a separate power supply on the booster caps instead of charging them with the same power supply on the front side.

[tstorey]

photo's of effect

Can't thank you enough for the photos and youtube video of plasma.

I am pretty much unable to "freeze" the effect on youtube, this may not be saying much, but, it does assure us that this is fast as all heck.

It seems to be a shockwave. I thought it might be the "combustion" of hydrogen...this, I assume, would be called "thermal."

But, it is so darn fast. Seriously, it is really fast. Perhaps there is simply more than "one thing going on" in this effect and "calling it something" slows down the identification process.

I have looked at hundreds of pictures of plasma and I just haven't seen anything like this.

Email if you have a chance, maybe we can get a picture of this somehow.

tstorey1@cox.net

[tstorey]

I am going to stop calling it a plasma...it is far better served to call it the "effect." I have banged on the "plasma" effect long enough to not be able to support it. For a moment it looks like one, but, I can't seem to support it.

[smw1998a]

Ligic Circuit Description

Hello All,
Time has caught me again as I have none! I will try and draw the logic circuit schematic tomorrow. Until then, I will just try and explain what it is. The circuit was built for a different purpose, like the charge pump circuit. I just cobbled it in and adjusted it to suit my needs.

The heart of the circuit is a CMOS 4017 decade counter. When the decade counter receives a suitable clock signal each of the ten outputs switches from low to high in sequence and then starts over. These little chips are great for “Night Rider” type sweeping LED’s etc. The clock signal for this circuit is generated by a CMOS 4047B monostable/astable IC.

What I wanted from the circuit was a means to switch on the charge pump circuit to charge the capacitor for a set time. Then, to switch off the charge pump and initiate the capacitor discharge. At it’s most basic level, the logic circuit’s output is nothing more than a square wave with a fixed 90% duty cycle regardless of frequency.

The third IC is a CMOS 4001 quad two input nor. Two of the nor gates on this chip are configured as a set/reset flip flop. The output of the flip flop goes to pin 4 of the section a timer in the charge pump circuit. The first output “A” of the decade counter sets the flip flop and this sends pin 4 of the section A timer high, switching on the charge pump circuit. Output pin “I” on the decade counter resets the flip flop sending the output to pin 4 low, switching off the charge pump. Output pin “J” provides the pause between charge pump cycles. Hence, the 90% duty cycle.

Output pin “I” of the decade counter is also connected to an edge triggered monostable. The purpose of the monostable is to light the LED in the H11D1 IC and thus triggering the capacitor discharge. When the output from pin “I” goes from high to low the monostable lights the Led for the time dictated by its RC components.

Frequency is controlled by the potentiometer in the 4047B’s RC network. Because of the decade counter the duty cycle of the charge pump is always 90% and the edge triggered monostable driving the LED in the H11D1 ensures that the pulse duration is not affected by adjustments to the frequency of the main logic circuit.

As circuits go, it’s not as complicated as it looks and the components are cheap and easily obtained.

All The Best Lee…

Hi Guys,
I have attached a representation of the waveforms from various parts of the logic circuit. I hope it helps.

Regards Lee...

[rmitoday]

Thank Lee. It's useful information for me to make a microcontroller program. I complete my board now and will make a spark in next day

[tstorey]

Further study on effect

I continue to study, I think it is 8 different replications of the water plug to attempt to gain a conclusion/suggestion that might help.

Due to the brightness of these effects all bets are off.

I still conclude it is Hydrogen. The "brightness" is astounding.

The brightness is part of the effect in that this level of "lux" is high enough to not only be an indicator of the "effect" but is contributing to the effect.

Your workshop 50 lux
Big office 400 lux
Sunny day 32,000 Lux to 100,000 lux

Water plug spark....? lux Has to be more than 35,000?

This effect has high enough lux to have an effect of the H production and your eyes....(Eye protection.)

So we have SPEED
We have LIGHT
We have shock wave SOUND

Way to go guys.