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Build a simple Marx Generator

Build a simple Marx Generator

you like the idea of tesla coils and other high voltage sparking stuff, but don’t have the time, money or patience to build something that is elaborate
Well, here’s a fun ‘n’ simple project that can make big, fat, noisy sparks at least 2 inches long, and can be built very quickly and cheaply. It might be even more fun to use a marx generator than using a ‘very complicated to build’ tesla coil

The capacitors are charged up in parallel through the resistors, so they each become charged to the input voltage. When all of the spark gaps fires (sparks), the capacitors get effectively connected in series, therefor multiplying the input voltage by the number of capacitors and causing a long spark at the end of the marx generator



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Rb has a ballasting effect, it is used to prevent a continuous arc forming across the first gap – this prevents further firing of the marx generator. The value of the resistor will mainly depend on the type of power supply is used, in this case, we are going to use an 10M resistor for this marx generator on this instructable. However, you can reduce the Bb’s value to try get more ‘bangs per second’ without causing an arc forming on the spark gap

The marx generators are dangerous high voltage generating machines, they produce a pulse discharge of many thousands of volts at approximately 5 to 10 amps! If the spark from the marx generator bites you, your life is over

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