Recently purchased this product: Amazon.com: Aramox High Voltage Generator, AC 220V High Voltage Generator Module Continuous Igniter ≥12kV 1A‑2A : Tools & Home Improvement

When I plugged it in it did not work. I opened it up and made the circuit in LTSpice. I don't understand the circuit and would like some guidance.

Here is the circuit:


All values are correct. Including inductance values for transformer. I do not understand how it can make a continuous spark if it gets converted to DC. I also do not understand the purpose of the resistors and capacitors in series with the source and primary coil.

Thanks and have a good one.

 

What does LT spice say about it?
Probably not much.

Probably D5 is NOT just a standard diode, but some fancy avalanche device.

 

What does LT spice say about it?
Probably not much.

Probably D5 is NOT just a standard diode, but some fancy avalanche device.

When I run transient analysis, it doesn't finish. D5 is definitely different. The others are all 1N4007 diodes, but D5 is noticeably larger. The part number is facing down, so I can't read it.

 

The same thought about D5 occured to me. Otherwise, how could it work? If you can read the marking on D5 that might tell the whole story.

By the way that 12 kV "1 amp or 2 amp" power supply is not a 12 or 24 kilowatt power supply. Got a giggle from that!

 

Can you post any pictures of it pcb , it looks like a transformer-less supply feeding a bridge rectifier...

 

The sim works fine if D5 is an avalanche device. I modelled one using the standard switch model with hysteresis.

 

I think that D5 is a diac, not an avalanche diode.

 

 

Posted pictures of each side of the pcb. I can see the symbol for the diode in the silk of the pcb. A quick search tells me it’s a TVS diode.

 

I just looked again and I can barely see the part number on the silk. It is DB220BW

 

Sidac is a type of Diac , it strikes between 190V to 220V .
So it pulses C2 across the coil when the voltage reaches it's strike range.

 

Should work ok from a 220 volt or more power line. Suspicion confirmed!

 

I think that D5 is a diac, not an avalanche diode.

A diac is a 2-terminal bi-directional avalanche device. Doesn't that make it an avalanche diode?

 

A diac is a 2-terminal bi-directional avalanche device. Doesn't that make it an avalanche diode?

An avalanche diode is just a zener . A diac is a four-layer device which latches in when triggered. I suppose it is the avalanche effect of one of the junctions that triggers it.

 

Below about 4.7 volt they are Zener diodes and above that voltage they are avalanche diodes. Don’t remember where I read this.

But look, it says something similar (different voltages) on the internet so it must be true. Check out the graph on this page: https://byjus.com/physics/difference-between-zener-breakdown-and-avalanche-breakdown/