Low current, high voltage safety

This forum is for specialized infomation important to the construction and safe operation of the high voltage electrical supplies and related circuitry needed for fusor operation.
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SamKothe
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Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2019 6:55 pm
Real name: Samuel Kothe
Location: Washington State, USA

Low current, high voltage safety

Post by SamKothe »

Hi everyone,
I'm working on a project necessitating high voltages (4-5kVDC) at comparatively low current (1-2mA). There are these high voltage DC/DC converters (https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/XP ... dwfA%3D%3D) that I found that would seem to do the job beautifully, at an affordable price. The maximum output current is 2mA, which shouldn't be too shocking, but I want to be as safe as possible and I especially want to show that my project is safe.

Essentially, what I need to know is does voltage matter when the current is so heavily limited, in terms of my life? I assume the output voltage would just drop, or the source would shut off if I bridged the output, but would something else happen? Would I die if I grabbed each contact? I felt that this was an appropriate forum to pose this question, as many of you have extensive experience in high voltage.

Thank you in advance for your help! -Sam
Ad astra explodus!
; )
SamKothe
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2019 6:55 pm
Real name: Samuel Kothe
Location: Washington State, USA

Re: Low current, high voltage safety

Post by SamKothe »

I figure if I put a 14.4 ohm resistor in series with the power supply (12V) and the high voltage generator's input the power would be limited to 10 watts, in case the high voltage generator does not have built in protection.
Ad astra explodus!
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Frank Sanns
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Re: Low current, high voltage safety

Post by Frank Sanns »

You would not want to grab both leads. While there is probably not enough power to stop your heart, you will get a very big surprise. It will bite and bite you hard because at 5KV, that current will flow through your body and it will not be pleasant.
Achiever's madness; when enough is still not enough. ---FS
We have to stop looking at the world through our physical eyes. The universe is NOT what we see. It is the quantum world that is real. The rest is just an electron illusion. ---FS
John Futter
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Re: Low current, high voltage safety

Post by John Futter »

Sam
Even these little supplies are lethal if used with an output capacitor
And by this I mean capacitance such as maybe you using a coax cable ie about 30pf per foot not including the capacitance of the last multiplier output stage to connect with

all of these will give a very nasty current spike that could interfere with your heart rhythm---best to make all safe ie no touchy while power applied
SamKothe
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2019 6:55 pm
Real name: Samuel Kothe
Location: Washington State, USA

Re: Low current, high voltage safety

Post by SamKothe »

Thank you all so much, this is exactly what I wanted to know.
I'll be sure to be very safe and if possible find an alternative to a high voltage.
-Sam
Ad astra explodus!
; )
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