Water Sparkplug

[jstadwater]

Cap heated up on 2,300 rpm run...........

Hey everyone,

After I shot the vid spinning the V-8 distributor at 2,300 rpm, I noticed the capacitor was too hot to hold. The single HV diodes were only barely warm enough to feel any heat at all. The larger banks of diodes had no detectable heat at all. I should probably use 2 or 3 HV diodes parallel each plug for longer term use, probably the ultra-fast recovery ones Greg uses, that fixes the diodes. Would I be correct to assume that by using a 100 watt light bulb instead of a resistor that "fits the bill" maybe that's why my cap gets hot in a short time? I forgot to check the storage cap at the FWB to see if it also was hot. I am still only charging at 110V at this time. After seeing that spark at 2,300 rpm, and then seeing Greg's spark at 5,000 rpm I'm almost afraid to boost the circuit to the 300V I was going to try out! Would it help my cap heat if I used a lower watt light bulb, I wonder? Any suggestions are welcome, as always, thanks everyone...........................Mike

P.S. That is some serious FLAME-AGE you got firing there Greg!!!

[insane4evr]

@insane4evr




1. Between isolated battery negative post and inverter output lead HOT =115v
2. Between isolated battery negative post and inverter output lead NEUTRAL =115v
3. Between inverter output lead A and inverter output lead B =115v
4. Between car battery negative post and inverter output lead HOT =1V
5. Between car battery negative post and inverter output lead NEUTRAL =115V
6. Between car battery negative post and isolated battery negative post = 0 vac and - vdc (negative voltage)

I do not know how many negative volts it was due to the fact that I had to use an analog meter. It went negative no matter which probe I used on the vehicle battery negative post.

I hope this tells you something and thanks for your help,

LapperL

Hi LapperL,
I don't exactly know the inside of your inverter, but based on readings 1 and 2, I think its AC section is not completely isolated from its battery input section.

Please verify/confirm: Un-powered and no batteries connected, take ohmmeter measurements between points in items 1 and 2 above, they should read infinity.

There are two ways that it can be possibly fixed:

1. Simple but expensive: add an isolation transformer at the AC output of the inverter.

2. Complicated and may or may not work, but if you are up to it, carefully open the inverter, **isolate the AC section** and tap directly to its high voltage DC output. If you are going to do this and post hi-res pictures of both sides of the inverter PCB assembly, I might be able to help. No guarantees though.

[Jetijs]

Great video Greg
Thank you!

[insane4evr]

Insane4evr,

Nice job on the clean-up of the VexUs circuit.
One comment for consideration, since you're showing an adaptation to a Kettering system, I'd show the condensor across the points. It will most likely need to be there to avoid arcing the points.

Timm

Yup, I forgot about that one, Will update on the next revision.

[gmeast]

VexUs high speed - multi spark plug

Hi all,

video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgY81rKw3Hw

[jstadwater]

Here is a video of Greg's VexUs circuit firing plasma via my V-8 HEI distributor. The max speed on the drill I used spun the distributor at 2,300 rpm. No misfires, even if you see that the camera may not have captured them all. A VERY crisp sound from the plasma at 2,300 rpm, I was completely ASTOUNDED!! Here you go, more to come.....................

HEI V-8 VexUs plasma---2,300 rpm

Enjoy, I sure did while I was filming it!

[xpskid]

Plugs ?

Hi All,

I've been working to follow and replicate much of work in this forum and recently have been replicating Greg's great work. I hope to have the VexUs up and running this weekend. I lack a good quality video camera to share, however I wouldn't be sharing anything new, just confirming what others have been doing. I do have access to a high speed video system and was thinking I might be able to contribute that to the collective. This would be a favor so I can't pull this string often, thus I'd like to do a little thinking ahead to design the experiment. I could do the standard vs the enhanced spark, maybe add in a couple booster shots with higher potentials.
I'd also like to compare plug designs if anyone has any. Firestorm, any homemade configurations ? I'm looking for suggestions here, and possibly a couple samples.

Let me know your ideas,

Timm

[cowboyrx]

The bridge is a 'Fastpack' FWB package. The number I find on the package is MB356. There is a logo on the part too ... "TC:" the " : " is part of the logo. I'll be posting the VexUs circuit running at high speed in a few minutes along with the accompanying scope capture.

Thanks for your interest. Peace,

Greg

Is this the one? $2.57 each
RECTIFIER BRIDGE 600V 35A MB-35 - MB356


Comparable seems NTE5342:

http://www.nteinc.com/specs/5300to5399/pdf/nte5340_44.pdf

[lapperl]

Bill's Nexus Circuit Update

@insane4evr

Hi LapperLL,


When using the isolated battery to power the inverter, can you measure AC voltages between the following:

1. Between isolated battery negative post and inverter output lead A =?
2. Between isolated battery negative post and inverter output lead B =?
3. Between inverter output lead A and inverter output lead B =?
4. Between car battery negative post and inverter output lead A =?
5. Between car battery negative post and inverter output lead B =?
6. Between car battery negative post and isolated battery negative post = ? AC, = ? DC

1. Between isolated battery negative post and inverter output lead HOT =115v
2. Between isolated battery negative post and inverter output lead NEUTRAL =115v
3. Between inverter output lead A and inverter output lead B =115v
4. Between car battery negative post and inverter output lead HOT =1V
5. Between car battery negative post and inverter output lead NEUTRAL =115V
6. Between car battery negative post and isolated battery negative post = 0 vac and - vdc (negative voltage)

I do not know how many negative volts it was due to the fact that I had to use an analog meter. It went negative no matter which probe I used on the vehicle battery negative post.

I hope this tells you something and thanks for your help,

LapperL

[gmeast]

full bridge

What is the part # for the full wave bridge rectifier?

Hi cowboyrx,

The bridge is a 'Fastpack' FWB package. The number I find on the package is MB356. There is a logo on the part too ... "TC:" the " : " is part of the logo. I'll be posting the VexUs circuit running at high speed in a few minutes along with the accompanying scope capture.

Thanks for your interest. Peace,

Greg

[xpskid]

Hi Greg,

No problem. I hope this is what you want. I also added the distributor (found an Orcad symbol I was able to use). If you want anything else changed, I will see what I can do. I know I have not done any test to contribute yet as I don't have all my parts yet.

Insane4evr,

Nice job on the clean-up of the VexUs circuit.
One comment for consideration, since you're showing an adaptation to a Kettering system, I'd show the condensor across the points. It will most likely need to be there to avoid arcing the points.

Timm

[cowboyrx]

What is the part # for the full wave bridge rectifier?

[gmeast]

schematic

Hi Greg,

No problem. I hope this is what you want. I also added the distributor (found an Orcad symbol I was able to use). If you want anything else changed, I will see what I can do. I know I have not done any test to contribute yet as I don't have all my parts yet.

Hi insane4evr,

Thanks for your time in cleaning up my circuit diagram. I did a redraw in MS Paint of the first one you sent with the inductor. It made it clearer for me and likely it will for others too. The change is just how C1 goes to ground. Functionally it's identical what you drew. You really grasped the principle of the VexUs circuit and the Resistor-Inductor bears real consideration after looking at my redraw. Here it is.

Looking forward to more exchange. Peace,

Greg

[Ansis Freimanis]

To Poii

Superior Idea! Have You soldered this circuit? And how about Spark parameters- is there difference between Nexus, VexUs and Yours?

[poii]

Motly Circuit

LapperLL, et all

Here is the inverterless circuit I described a few pages back only with an automotive coil and the primaries in parallel. C1 charges to ~300v when the points close and discharges when the plug fires. It has the db and uv we all have come to know and love.


On the subject of EMI:
My O'scope went blank every time the plug fired so I did some research today and found that ngk makes 5&10k ohm resistor connector caps for spark plugs.
You could connect the 300v to the plug after the resistor using shielded audio or RG6 tv cable. With the MOT, c1 and the diodes in a metal box, the plug would be the only part unshielded. RG6 solid core might have vibration fatigue problems if not well secured.

Thanks to Everyone