Building TEA Laser

[Dvorhagen]

Thanks for the schematic, meatball! I'm going to try this, I think. Does anyone have any advice on harvesting the actual transformer from a disused color TV? I've got one that's just itching to be torn apart....

 

[brando132]

You won't find a pre-assembled one so easily. The best, cheapest and most powerful driver you can get is the ZVS. Its like magic.

Dude I'm in grade 10(and very responsible so don't you worry)... that's not happening. But thanks anyways!

By pre-assembled I meant something like a NST where I just have to plug it in.

I got all the parts except the high voltage power supply.

 

[Meatball]

Thanks for the schematic, meatball! I'm going to try this, I think. Does anyone have any advice on harvesting the actual transformer from a disused color TV? I've got one that's just itching to be torn apart....

Use a heat gun, there is usually over a dozen pins that need to be desoldered before any flyback will come lose... The very old B&W TVs have the best flybacks however.

That site that brando posted earlier had several flybacks available. Any TV repair shop ought to have some they could sell you for about $10.

 

[Cyparagon]

Don't those little plasma balls have flyback transformers in them? Or are they too teeny to run a laser?

 

[brando132]

I just talked to my grandpa and he said he had tons of OBITS(he tinkers with all kinds of stuff) but he threw them all out a while ago, damn. buuut, he said he knows a junkyard type place where he can get some for like a dollar so he is going to try to find me one.

 

[Dvorhagen]

So I managed to get the flyback out of an old TV. Then I built a 555 oscillation circuit to drive it. Then I converted an old computer's PSU to a DC power supply to run the circuit. Finally, I hooked everything up, and promptly exploded the driver's MOSFET. I'm pissed. I'm going to try again, after I heatsink the MOSFET..Anyone have any comments on the following circuit and its ability to run a flyback transformer?

http://www.elecfree.com/electronic/efficient-flyback-driver-circuit-by-ic-555-irf510/

 

[c4r0]

This one with 555 has really low efficiency. I'd rather use the ZVS, but simple mains transformer like NST is definitely THE BEST option. I used x-ray transformer with variac to run my TEA laser and it works perfectly, but it's even harder to find I think.

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

That circuit should have a shotkie diode across the fet to protect it from HV spikes. A diode across the primary would also be helpful.
HMike