Corona supression

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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Richard Hull
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Corona supression

Post by Richard Hull »

For those rolling their own supplies or just hooking up wiring to fusors, the following might be of value.

Many of us use X-ray supplies that have been modified for our purposes. These are most often left encased in oil. This avoids the corona question in this post.

Likewise, demo fusors rarely run at potentials over about 10kv which also is not a corona critical voltage.

For those working on a real neutron producing fusor and wiring or making a supply in a "dry" cabinet, corona will become an issue.

Basically, any time you have a voltage in excess of 10kv exposed on a bare metal area, corona can cause losses or, in some cases, lead to internal arcing and failure of the supply.

Encasing such areas in epoxy or ladling on Corona dope is one solution, albeit a messy one. Such measures make for a corona solution which is not easily dismantled or repaired.

I prefer a bit easier solution to the problem. I use a silicone high voltage putty. It is sold in the "GC" line of electronic chemical and supplies offered by many electronic supply houses locally or even nationally.

The material is a clearish, transluscnet white like silicone glue, but the consistency of putty. It is just wadded up over a joint or sharp end where corona is found or supected. The stuff can be reused and will not set or harden or flow over time. Naturally, very old dirty material should not be reused.

Check it out as an option to suppress high voltage corona.

RIchard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
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