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Marx generator 240 000 V

    "Marx generator kills dudes who want huge sparks and thus nobody should build it" :-)

    Marx generator is generating very high voltage pulses with a huge currents. It was inventer in 1924 by Erwin Marx (not to be confused with Karl Marx). It consists of a large number of capacitors, which are charging in parallel and discharged in series. The the capacitors charges from high voltage power supply until flashover occurs at the lowest spark gap. This will increase the voltage accross next spark gaps, which also ingite and so on, until all the spark gaps are ignited. Now capacitors are connected in series and at the output the very high voltage pulse appears. Ignited spark gap has a very little resistance and the charging resistors have no effect at that moment. Lowest spark gap should have slightly smaller distance of electrodes, to set fire at the first. You have to experiment with the distance. Pulses have a frequency of about 1Hz. Resistors may have 100k to 2M2, capacitors 1nF or more. Resistors must withstand high voltages. My generator is supplied by voltage of 12kV and a has 20 floors, so it makes almost 240 kV voltage and discharge more than 20 centimeters long. Current is maybe one thousand amperes and pulse discharge are therefore very noisy. Lowest spark gap has gap of about 3 millimeters and the other 4mm. When operating the generator generates electromagnetic pulses and sometimes the electrical appliances switch on and off by itself occurs, CD player skips, digital clock resets, the computer restarts, radio changes stations, digital camera shoot by itself and fluorescent lamps also flash.

     Warning! This device is extremely dangerous and it can be constructed only by a persons with knowledge of the principles of safe working with very high voltage. Voltage of hundred thousand volts and current thousands of amperes is absolutely lethal, even at a distance of tens of centimeters. Capacitors remain charged even long after turned off to the deadly voltage. The device creates a very strong electromagnetic pulses that can destroy electronic devices and circuits, or storage media for long distance. This has to be taken into account when placing this device. You build it at your own risk and the author accepts no responsibility for any personal injury, property damage or legal conseguences of operation of this device.

The schematic of Marx generator of very high voltage
The schematic of Marx generator of very high voltage

Marx generator operating - very high voltage sparks
Marx generator operating - very high voltage sparks

discharge 23cm. Arcs in ignited spark gaps are visible.
discharge 23cm. Arcs in ignited spark gaps are visible.

Marx generator in dark
Sparks from Marx generator in dark

Marx generator operating


Bottom of marx generator
Bottom of marx generator

Homemade capacitors, large high voltage resistors
Homemade capacitors, large high voltage resistors


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