I have always understood the 'Dual Resonance' part of a DRSSTC to be matching the inductance and capacitance of the primary circuit (which indeed, as you pointed out, should resonate at the same frequency as the secondary + topload + streamers) such that the impedance of the primary circuit consists only of the resistance of the coil wire and the ERS of the capacitors; the reactance is thus equal to (or nearly) zero. You pointed out that having your reactance too close to zero results in (often dangerously) high current, but didn't really mention the connection between this effect and the efficiency gains that this "dual resonance" affords. One way to "beat" (pun perhaps intended) the high current is to use an interrupter circuit to ensure that current does not get so high that it leads to catastrophic failure of the driver switches; one needs also to take precautions that 'zero voltage switching' occurs within the driver (or again, the switches - MOSFETs, IGBTs, etc. - will be destroyed).
I guess a top load is the only way to add capacitance to a slayer exciter then? Everything I've made has been in the mHz range and it's not easy on components. Things die when I put caps inline with the primary 😆
Well, yeah, as I say in the video, to decrease the frequency just add turns, or length, or wind on a larger diameter tube.....or add top load. Yeah for the single switch circuits like the slayer exciter and kacher, you cant put a cap in series with the primary. When running those circuits i always choose a very tough transistor.
@@ElectricMonkeyBrain I pretty much did all of the above today and ended up having a lot of fun!! Lit up a bunch of different bulbs and LEDs, made some cool sparks and arcs, and finally made something reliably stable to expirement with. I'm using a TIP3055 at the moment and it seems to be handling the abuse fairly well. I'll inevitably push it too hard but it seems to be a tough little fella so far, if it's even a genuine component lol
Excellent explanation. Thank you. Great help.
I have always understood the 'Dual Resonance' part of a DRSSTC to be matching the inductance and capacitance of the primary circuit (which indeed, as you pointed out, should resonate at the same frequency as the secondary + topload + streamers) such that the impedance of the primary circuit consists only of the resistance of the coil wire and the ERS of the capacitors; the reactance is thus equal to (or nearly) zero. You pointed out that having your reactance too close to zero results in (often dangerously) high current, but didn't really mention the connection between this effect and the efficiency gains that this "dual resonance" affords. One way to "beat" (pun perhaps intended) the high current is to use an interrupter circuit to ensure that current does not get so high that it leads to catastrophic failure of the driver switches; one needs also to take precautions that 'zero voltage switching' occurs within the driver (or again, the switches - MOSFETs, IGBTs, etc. - will be destroyed).
Brilliant! Clear, concise and on point!
thanks
I guess a top load is the only way to add capacitance to a slayer exciter then? Everything I've made has been in the mHz range and it's not easy on components. Things die when I put caps inline with the primary 😆
Well, yeah, as I say in the video, to decrease the frequency just add turns, or length, or wind on a larger diameter tube.....or add top load. Yeah for the single switch circuits like the slayer exciter and kacher, you cant put a cap in series with the primary. When running those circuits i always choose a very tough transistor.
@@ElectricMonkeyBrain I pretty much did all of the above today and ended up having a lot of fun!! Lit up a bunch of different bulbs and LEDs, made some cool sparks and arcs, and finally made something reliably stable to expirement with. I'm using a TIP3055 at the moment and it seems to be handling the abuse fairly well. I'll inevitably push it too hard but it seems to be a tough little fella so far, if it's even a genuine component lol