I purchased this circuit on line. It is being supplied with a 12VDC 3A wall wort. I modified the circuit for the purpose of pulsing a coil, which is the objective.
1) I can not identify the six pin MAGTAB component on the board. I can only assume it is some type of a boost converter. Any ideas ?
2) The large capacitor is 100uF 350V. It only charges to around 250V and discharges to 100V. I would like to be able to discharge 250-300V. Is this the wrong type capacitor or something else ? It fires at a rate of 60-65 pulses/min. There is no info on the gas tube but I assume it can handle the 350V of the capacitor, (might be a bad assumption).

 

What is the coil used for?

 

What is the coil used for?

To generate EMF

 

The MAGTAB is a transformer which with Q1 forms an oscillator and then steps up the voltage to 250V. The higher voltage rating of the capacitor may be because this circuit is not very kind to the capacitor (high current discharge) and so some margin has been built in.

The only obvious way of increasing the output voltage I can see is to run it at a higher input voltage but DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND WEAR EYE PROTECTION.

 

The MAGTAB is a transformer which with Q1 forms an oscillator and then steps up the voltage to 250V. The higher voltage rating of the capacitor may be because this circuit is not very kind to the capacitor (high current discharge) and so some margin has been built in.

The only obvious way of increasing the output voltage I can see is to run it at a higher input voltage but DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND WEAR EYE PROTECTION.

The MAGTAB is a transformer which with Q1 forms an oscillator and then steps up the voltage to 250V. The higher voltage rating of the capacitor may be because this circuit is not very kind to the capacitor (high current discharge) and so some margin has been built in.

The only obvious way of increasing the output voltage I can see is to run it at a higher input voltage but DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND WEAR EYE PROTECTION.

The MAGTAB is a transformer which with Q1 forms an oscillator and then steps up the voltage to 250V. The higher voltage rating of the capacitor may be because this circuit is not very kind to the capacitor (high current discharge) and so some margin has been built in.

The only obvious way of increasing the output voltage I can see is to run it at a higher input voltage but DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND WEAR EYE PROTECTION.

Thanks for the info. I don't want to increase the input voltage. What would influence the variance in current discharge ?

 

What would influence the variance in current discharge ?

I don't understand what you mean here. Please explain the question further.

 

I don't understand what you mean here. Please explain the question further.

You stated that this circuit may not be very kind to the capacitor (high current discharge). I did not know, (and I don't know very much), that one could vary the voltage and current through a cap.

 

The circuit triggers at 250v due to the components around the SCR
If the circuit is left to charge the capacitor, what voltage does it eventually reach ?

 

The circuit triggers at 250v due to the components around the SCR
If the circuit is left to charge the capacitor, what voltage does it eventually reach ?

Who knows. If you try it wear eye protection and tell us the result.