LED lamp with tiny 5kV high voltage ion module. (inc schematic)

[@stridermt2k]

Ionizers ARE interesting! One built into a lamp just seems like a love letter to this channel!

[@Shady97342]

Clive I wanted to tell you I've been watching your channel for 1-2 years now and have barely any hands on experience with electronics but with everything going on and being quarantined I ordered a cool LCD clock kit to try to solder together while I'm stuck inside. Hope it works when I'm done but if not it was cheap, I'll buy another and try again!

[@markfergerson2145]

Buy a "blank circuit board" perfboard with holes and copper traces to practice soldering on. It's easy but the practice really really helps. The part you don't ruin (you *will* ruin at least part of it, we all do) will be useful to you later on to build your own designs on.

[@Peter_S_]

Excellent! Best wishes on your assembly! It's all about practice and developing a feel for how molten solder behaves. A little note on technique... It helps to have the iron a bit hotter than you might expect and to work quickly. You want the pieces you're soldering to have enough heat themselves to melt the solder so don't look to the iron to be what you melt the solder onto. Get in quickly with firm metal to metal contact for good heat transfer to the work, apply the solder to the surfaces you want to form the basis of the joint, and get out quickly before you apply enough heat for it to spread up the component leads and damage things. You may also want to get some no-clean type liquid rosin flux to supplement the bit of flux contained in the solder. I use MG Chemicals rosin flux www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/mg-chemicals/8351-125ML/473-1412-ND/9658014 and it's the difference between exceptionally easy soldering and having an impossible time. Welcome to a new world. 😎

[@Chris_the_Muso]

Traps for beginners with those cheapie clocks: 1 The pads are really tiny and easy to rip off the board. Cut one leg at a time and do it very carefully. 2. be careful with the polarity of the LEDs if it has them. The circuit board or the instructions may not be very clear, or just downright misleading. 3 if something doesn't work you learn far more by figuring out why than you would if it just works first time, and problem solving is a rewarding skill. 4 take your time and have fun

[@donbriggs9128]

I have been following Clive's channel for many years now, however I never work with mains. My 'stuff' normally revolves around low voltages and Arduino. But I still come here because of the way in which Clive explains things so well and I do learn useful things. The reason for this comment though is nothing to do with that. I wanted to say that I think it is great how almost instantly, people responded to Shady97342 in a really positive and helpful way. Which is something seldom seen on YT. I wish everyone was so helpful in life. It just goes to show the quality of Clive's subscribers.

[@gregorythomas333]

Please let us know how it goes :) My grandpa got me into math & electronics when I was a kid...I love hearing about others experiences in learning about electronics.

[@Rapscallion2009]

Somewhere a technical college is missing a brilliant teacher.... Clive explains this so well.

[@FarleyHillBilly]

Teaching is for people who can't make a living in the real world.

[@CruelQuertos]

@@FarleyHillBilly that's not funny or true 🙄

[@bigclivedotcom]

By doing it on KZbin it gets to more people and is free.

[@JV-wl6ex]

I think Farley wants his but plug back that he sent in for tear down. Poor guy 👆🏻🍑🚀🚀🚀

[@Rapscallion2009]

@@bigclivedotcom true. KZbin videos must have really changed education. When I was at school you had the local library which *might* have what you want available - if you could find it. But being able to type virtually any question into Google and get a video explaining it is so much quicker.

[@Kumimono]

Got confused, ordered a Psyduck onesie.

[@S3rial85]

Sounds like an absolute win

[@frankowalker4662]

@@analogueavenue No, a Pikachu Hoodie.

[@Bready_Player_Bun]

@@analogueavenue Remember to keep away from Radarange Microwaves.

[@Chris_the_Muso]

Have fun Jari.

[@SquishyZoran]

I got the references and man I wish I didn’t!

[@phillipbartlett1819]

I never know what I will learn from you. I also like how you explain things. You don't dumb it down too much but you don't talk over our heads either. Keep up the good work

[@lukmly013]

3:05 ..did not dissolve the red plastic... Ok, everybody sees colors a bit differently

[@bigclivedotcom]

Yeah, as usual I was thinking way ahead of what I was saying. I probably looked at the little red capacitor as I said that.

[@Tjita1]

You mean you don't see that as red?

[@heinzerbrew]

@@Tjita1 Red Black color blind.

[@Surajkumar0770]

@@bigclivedotcom it's very very very dark Red. close to black

[@gregorythomas333]

I have never lost my amazement of how these circuits...with all that they do...complete their actions 50/60 times EACH & EVERY second :)

[@Anvilshock]

Wait until you realise that you're typing this on a device whose circuits do things hundreds of millions, even billions of times per second.

[@Kae6502]

Free SIDAC* with every 2w light bulb purchase! *Acetone not included.

[@jort93z]

I recommend LCSC, you can search by parameter and their prices are better lcsc.com/products/Diacs-Trigger-Diode_379.html. They also package everything very well(they package each SKU into small bags and put that into a solid box in my case). minimum order quantity is usually not a lot, so quite useful for me a hobbyist. I've had a great experience with them.

[@UhrwerkKlockwerx]

@@jort93z dude, it was a joke.

[@ianm1470]

I’m almost sure Dr Who encountered the SIDAC’S on his/her space and time travels.

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

his/her

[@ianm1470]

Ghlyall you are correct ~ I stand corrected thank you.

[@markc2643]

You need to send one of these to Electroboom so we can see him get zapped by the high voltage when he forgets to discharge it.

[@drteeth7054]

As I was connecting up the circuit, I removed all the moderator rods from my reactor...not to worry!

[@jyvben1520]

glow in the dark, nice

[@Blubb5000]

So you were the guy from Tchernobyl? Good to know. :-)

[@annelisemeier283]

3.6. Not great not terrible

[@soupflood]

...he said before the boom.

[@Blubb5000]

@@soupflood Actually it was more like a gurgle, splash, splatter. The Tchernobyl reactor did not really "explode". An explosion needs pressure and a sudden rupture of the containment, which then releases all of the built up pressure at once. The Tchernobyl reactor "just" heated up so much, that the containment building and the floors melted away, which resulted in a huge splatter of radioactive, way overheated material.

[@lordmuntague]

I quite independently found Clive, FranLab (of which I'm a Patron) and Techmoan, and I love the fact that they naturally reference and support each other. These channels, along with John Ward and others don't behave like rivals, and from this viewer's perspective they compliment each very well. Nice one Clive!

[@andyhill242]

Today is a good day, I learned something new, a SIDAC, I want one, not that I have any use for it, I just like its name and symbol!

[@FarleyHillBilly]

New stuff is fun.

[@3dlabs99]

You will be SIDAC MAN

[@NY411Info]

Just don't let someone kick you in the Sidac and all will be well.

[@andyhill242]

SIDAC MAAAAN! I like that! My super power would be containing my rage and anger up to a certain level and then it would all let fly in an instant! I wonder what my kryptonite would be other than being kicked in the SIDAC?

[@mumiemonstret]

Yes, the circuit symbol might just be the most kick-ass in all electronics! A superhero emblem right there. Your kryptonite will be cold solder joints.

[@LenKusov]

Another great place to find carbon fiber cords is to save your old spark plug wires when you replace them, if you're driving a car that's got a distributor and not coil-on-plug ignition. The high voltage wires coming off the ignition coil to the distributor, and the ones from the distributor to the plugs, are typically a similar sort of silicone-insulated carbon fiber to what's useful in ionizers, and can be used pretty much exactly like that carbon heating cord wire.

[@kevinjbakertribe]

Acetic acid is also good at getting through epoxy resin - and possibly less destructive than acetone. Can defo recommend the 2 Fran Lab videos about that display - really interesting! And of course SMA - your recommendation a while back has given me many hours watching Mr O fixing stuff.... and estimating the age of a video by how worn his cap is.

[@evensgrey]

It's still going to destroy the component potting, though. It's more or less chemically identical.

[@SBCBears]

👍 on the Fran Lab vid. I stumbled across it a couple of days ago. Strange and expensive item.

[@phils4634]

Seems like a SIDAC is "a sort of avalanche zener", or perhaps more accurately a zener meets thyristor hybrid! Got to get a few to try out!

[@rysacroft]

Could you not just use a neon lamp? They strike at about 100V.

[@phils4634]

@@rysacroft Dumping large current pulses through neons will significantly reduce their lifespan, and their drop out voltage is pretty high too.

[@michaelwilson5055]

the new format of colour coding traces and components on the zoomed in pictures is very helpful to the eye, also drawing on them as you speak. 👍

[@Graham_Langley]

Been an electronic engineer for over 45 years but have never heard of the SIDAC. Could have been useful in one particular application I was involved with back in the 90s as it would have taken up less room than the DIAC or neon plus thyristor used.

[@eclecticneophyte2581]

Interesting video. You can also use a neon bulb in place of a sidac, which fires at about 90 volts. I built them decades ago in High School electronics class, where we made our own resistors using graphite (pencil 'lead' rubbed on paper), and capacitors out of wax paper and aluminum foil. The whole thing was referred to as a 'relaxation oscillator'. The rate of flash is determined by the RC time constant...

[@brianleeper5737]

Digi-Key (USA) has sidacs for around 80 cents each, quantity 1

[@FarleyHillBilly]

50 bucks minimum order, great.

[@brianleeper5737]

@@FarleyHillBilly Digi-Key didn't have a minimum order last time I ordered from them about a year ago. I just checked and they still don't.

[@brianleeper5737]

@@FarleyHillBilly And they'll ship via first class mail if your order is small enough.

[@sdalimon]

@@brianleeper5737 They don't have a minimum order, but in Canada if you don't order at least $100 they add $8 shipping. A quick check shows a minimum of £33 or you have to pay £12 for shipping.

[@Chris_the_Muso]

@@FarleyHillBilly They are also might be the voltage for UK, AU etc. Depends on the application.

[@ltdees2362]

...yes I watched Fran's Bina-View...quite fascinating technology...and I have many ionizers on my ebay watch list...among other things...

[@NY411Info]

Yeah I watched it awhile back as well. Imagine the cost to make that today .lol. Was too complicated as well , like newer cars. Too many things to go wrong.

[@ffrreeddyy123456]

Applying acetone with a paint brush every fifteen minutes for twenty three days works to remove the resin and not kill the components. You’re welcome for that life hack, thanks for the helpful videos! 💛

[@someoldguy22]

We used neon bulbs for the sidac function. Made a fun little flashing lamp with minimal components

[@SurajGrewal]

In that application, it becomes Gas discharge tube

[@karenfay4545]

The line side is essentially a mains voltage relaxation oscillator using a sidac. A relaxation oscillator with a GUNN DIODE can be a microwave source. Often used in AESA radars in an array to produce the steerable radar beam. Mark Fay US MMC Jr. Engineer QMED AS-E

[@robvandeschepop8595]

I would never think of using the tip of my soldering iron as ground reference... Note that inside the soldering iron there will be a series resistor between the tip and the mains earth.

[@MrMarcinpluciennik]

If anything that resistor will be of a small value so it is still a good ground reference unless you're passing lots of current. My Weller WAD101 measures 30ohm between the tip and main earth pin on the IEC socket.

[@Gerard-oo8os]

I have always wondered what was inside those ionizer thingies. You mentioned in some of your videos that you opened one but I couldn’t find it. This video was just suggested to me by YT.

[@bigclivedotcom]

Search my videos for ioniser spelled with an S.

[@ahettinger525]

That display video was awesome! I saw it when she put it out. she has two or three videos (breaking her promise not to actually fix it in the first video!) they are great! Super neato.

[@Youtronics]

Those high voltage inonizer modules are also used in ion-hairdryers. Found one in mine when i took it apart after the plastic radial fan exploded.

[@UtkarshAmitabhSrivastava]

"plastic radial fan exploded" that sounds fun!

[@urugulu1656]

i guess the fans in hair dryers are axial fans and they shatter or simply break and dont explode but we get the idea

[@FarnhamJ07]

Yep, gots me one in my random parts bin from an old broken hairdryer too. Neat seeing the magic inside!

[@Youtronics]

@@urugulu1656 Both styles are used, my new one is axial.

[@muzikman2008]

Mine has one too.. A Philips hair drier. Really works too stopping your hair from frizzing out 😂

[@carbon1255]

You prepare these videos so well.

[@XFolf]

I'm all in on your vids, but then you had to do that line with the prooooobe.... Yeah, I came for the vids, I stayed for the probe(?).

[@titanCrafter]

Thanks for giving a shout out to Fran,(Franlab) she is awesome, and well worth the watch time

[@6F6G]

A sidac is the alternating current version of a diac. In the case of USB ionizers run from 5V mains adaptors, the adaptor normally have a class Y capacitor and a 10M resistor across the mains isolation barrier. The 10M resistor should act as a ground return preventing excessive voltages building up.

[@bigclivedotcom]

I rarely see the resistor used in USB power supplies. Unfortunately the ioniser modules can cause a significant voltage across many supplies and cause insulation failure. A diac is bidirectional by default as it has to trigger a triac gate on both halves of the sinewave.

[@rebsdioramas]

Those negative ion generators are great for making static grass applicators for dioramas and stuff. I made one with one of the 12v modules and it outputs around 15 - 20kV. It does give quite a whack if you don't discharge it though so that's always fun.

[@BRUXXUS]

Oh wow, that SIDAC is super interesting! Definitely seems like the perfect, simple component for generating high voltage circuits, which it is... haha It's a heck of a lot easier than trying to make and tune up something like a 555 timer or a few overheating transistors to generate HF pulses, which is one of the only ways I've seen it done for goofing around with HV stuff. Although, the drawback is definitely clear if you needed like, feedback to generate resonance. Also, I thought that ceramic capacitor was a piezo for a second, lol. Edit: Wait... I suppose you could manually tune the SIDAC with a variable resistor.... 🤔

[@bigclivedotcom]

An alternative to the SIDAC is a thyristor. There's a very similar circuit that charges the cap on one half wave and then discharges it on the other.

[@urugulu1656]

also that cap could be a piezo indeed they come in a similar formfactor and bare bones appearence. also why do they even bother doing it this way any regular old ceramic disk cap (those iconic brown ones) is rated for 500v if i am not mistaken....

[@stanburton6224]

Dave Jones has a video where he shows that many low tolerance high value mulitlayer ceramic caps do indeed exhibit the piezoelectric effect and can both be transducers as well as microphonic.

[@dreedee]

so I finally understood how ion drive thrusters work. thanks clive!

[@williamsquires3070]

This is just a cute relaxation oscillator; a neon bulb with a dropping resistor would probably also work. I suspect the output voltage would be lower, but the frequency of oscillation would be slightly higher, as a neon bulb typically has a breakdown voltage between 60-90 volts.

[@amorphuc]

Well that one took a bit of time to finish. Thanks Big Clive. I'd never heard of that component before. (the Sidac) Interesting.

[@lwilton]

So a sidac is basically a higher voltage diac. I think one of the main reasons for those 22K input resistors is to keep the sidac from shorting the input supply when it triggers. The input voltage will likely be near peak when the cap charges up to the trigger voltage.

[@trevorvanbremen4718]

Woooohooo... A 5kV LED!!! Life is finally complete!

[@chrissnyder2091]

hello Clive I suggested this sidac circuit is actually quite similar to a traditional automobile ignition coil circuit with a capacitor and a set of points that open and close.

[@NY411Info]

Yep.make and break.

[@stevebollinger3463]

Or a flyback transformer. Such as is used to fire a Xenon flash. All are the same principle.

[@keithking1985]

Fran Labs Bina View Was Awesome well worth the watch!! P.S. is that heating cord whats inside electric blankets?? (coz i have one & never took it to bits yet and would be nice if there was some in there.. thanks Clive)

[@BastiElektronik]

I didn't even know that these things existed.

[@joshm264]

That's why I watch Clive

[@markfergerson2145]

They're very specialized parts. You can use several other components to do the same thing but then you have more possible failure points.

[@Graham_Langley]

Me neither, and I've been in electronic for over 45 years.

[@BenjaminEsposti]

Graham Langley, SIDACs are like a big, heavier duty DIAC, typically with higher breakdown voltage and higher power rating. Both of which are in the Thyristor family. Check out all the various different types ... most are use-restricted to high power things, for example, GTO (Gate Turn-Off thyristor) and such: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyristor#Types P.S. Ever heard a musical train? Here is a Japanese EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) with the classic singing VVVF inverter, based on GTO: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epCvqoqlariFgKM The sound changes when the voltage (VV) and frequency (VF) is changed.

[@BastiElektronik]

I really meant the lamp with the ionizer itself. Not the sidac.

[@Chris_Grossman]

Very good video. I learned two things from this. 1: your method of depotting using acetone. I will try it and compare it to MEK which might work faster. 2: I learned about SiDAC

[@Chris_Grossman]

(I accidentally posted this before I was done because I was using my cell phone instead of a computer, so continuing): SiDACs. I had never encountered one of these before. They are as little as $0.52 from Mouser in single quantities. Thank you

[@redoverdrivetheunstoppable4637]

a sidac can be found also in sodium lamp igniters, it acts basically the same way except the secondary is in series with the lamp (variations may occur)... anyways it's a slightly more powerful version of a diac, not sure it shorts totally when triggering or provides pseudo-short pulses like a neon lamp, it may depend on short circuit holding current maybe

[@markfergerson2145]

SIDACs are a lot like DIACs except with an extra layer, two symmetrical negative-resistance regions in their V-I curve, and they operate at higher voltages and currents. DIACS are used to trigger other devices like triacs but SIDACs generally do the job themselves. The negative resistance means that once they start conducting they stay conducting until the current through them falls below a certain level, then they go high-Z making them analogous to spark gaps but at much lower voltages (explanation for other viewers, not you). It's really cool to see a SIDAC that small, but are you sure it's not a DIAC? I've seen them used in similar applications because you can get away with overvolting them if the current is low enough. Run current-limited AC through it and scope it- if it has negative resistance regions it can't be a DIAC. Also, I disassembled a gifted "joke lighter" that doesn't produce a flame but does deliver HV shocks. No fun parts like SIDACS or DIACS, just a kind of HV version of the Joule Thief mostly due to the way the transformer was wound. I have a hard time believing someone was paid to design the damned thing. The whole (unpotted!) circuit is the size of the three SR44 button cells that power it. Can't imagine what I'm going to use it for. If I had one to send you I would but they're very commonly available. Also also, I propose Clive's Law- "When preparing to record a KZbin video you will forget at least one critical item without which the video will be pointless, requiring you to step away from the camera briefly while covering with semi-relevant apologetic patter". (You sure aren't the only one to do it but you do it with such uncommon grace.)

[@bigclivedotcom]

A diac tends to trigger at around 30V and isn't rated for quite the same current as a sidac.

[@therealchayd]

Well....despite being into electronics since i was a nerdy teenager (30-odd years), I have never heard of a SIDAC. Thanks for the education :)

[@joshm264]

I'm a (nerdy) teenager right now :P

[@Francois_Dupont]

i remind me of a Zener diode, i am missing something? a Zener start to conduct after X volt. maybe a SIDAC conduct higher current? or work at higher voltage?

[@MrMegaPussyPlayer]

Same here ... Tho, the German wikipedia calls it "just a brand name of a DIAC"

[@NightmareQueenJune]

The components are more commonly named "diac". SIDAC is a name that was new to me. Wikipedia says that sidacs have a higher ignition voltage than diacs.

[@mumiemonstret]

@@Francois_Dupont A zener does not have negative resistance and by default is unipolar. A zener clamps the voltage, a sidac (diac) shorts it to effectively zero. So please don't replace them with each other!

[@Allbbrz]

SIDAC, silicon diode for a/c ... I've known that as a "diac" since the late 70's.. interesting component along with the uni-junction transistor, was our analog "timer" component when buiding strobe lights... yeah, the cheap and humble neon also works.

[@bigclivedotcom]

The Sidac has the advantage of being rated to handle much higher current than a diac.

[@jkobain]

Oh, SIDACs are basically semiconductor spark gaps? Nice, nice!

[@lynsnyder9165]

I built an ozone generator years ago that uses a small flyback former and five short copper tubes with sharp nails inside each copper tube. It works quite well, actually.

[@tncorgi92]

Clive, have you seen the new CPAP cleaning gizmos? They just seem to be an ozone generator with a fan to blow the gas thru the CPAP's air tubing. One wonders if they really generate enough ozone to sterilize. They sell for $100-$200. I bet a hobbyist could make one for a tenth of that.

[@RODALCO2007]

Interesting, those sidacs are expensive on ebay. Close family to diacs which are used in dimmer circuits to trigger a triac. Diacs break down at ± 36 volts, wonder if three diacs in series could be used instead. Diacs are about 20 cents each.

[@bigclivedotcom]

It depends how well the diacs would deal with a high current pulse from a bigger capacitor than that used in dimmer circuits.

[@tonysfun]

Nice video again! I like to see a sipler LED blink that would run on 5V, but excluding any chips, transistors, self blinking LED's... But the one you demo here was getting close. Thanks!

[@bigclivedotcom]

You can buy self flashing LEDs.

[@tonysfun]

@@bigclivedotcom I have about 100 of them, but I wanted to use it as a teaching tool for kids. I've made some using transistor, cap+resistor, but I was hoping for couple components or so. So far I have not find any other than 555 chip, transistor or two....

[@rogerpallitt3531]

Hey Clive, just FYI ,you can get ionizers for the car and also buy the potted component separately,(auction site) Ive made a static grass applicator with one they work quite well and give a little tingle if not used correctly :)

[@channelsixtysix066]

Here he goes again, checks if the soldering iron is on, by touching the heating element. 17:02 Ooh, Clive, if you were to stick that around your bits, will that give you a tingly sensation @ 7kV? 24:35

[@-yeme-]

you can get SIDACs from proper component sellers like RS/farnell/mouser etc for sensible prices, 20-50p each in packs of ten. theyre just not the kind of thing the ebay listers are going to have any demand for.

[@TinkerLynx]

I've found boiling hot water works better. Using a pot on the stove, it softens the resin enough to be pulled apart easily. SIDACs can be had on Digikey etc for under $1

[@michaelthibault7930]

Would a low oven (~225° F/110 C) for _x_ minutes (depending on mass of potting goop) speed things up? That potting goop needs a new formulation -- something that becomes some combination of tacky and runny on exposure to one or more gaseous environments. Or exposure to UV. Essentially, formulate it so that it's chief benefits can be undone in particular 'reachable' conditions.

[@TheEPROM9]

I used the info you provided to reverce engineer a voltage multiplyer that I could then used by hooking its into to a CFL inverter. I then used this rather zappy & dangrus thing to power a night vision tube. Videos on my channel. The tube has now become a scope night vision for me to play with. Sure its a gen1 with horrific screen burn, but it was a fun project. Well the parts I was not waiting to silicon to dry. Oh my insolation techneek still needs work & it can give you a zing while using it, so its super fun. =-D

[@timkeip]

That might actually be a diac (which is a half wave sidac) Diac's are relativity cheap on ebay (at least they were 5 years or so ago when I purchased some) . It would be interesting to look at the wave form on the transformer primary, you may find that the pulse frequency is much higher than the line frequency. I have a guess that the circuit is operating as a relation oscillator at a higher frequency, that would also work better with the small capacitance on the output. Many years ago I used to build power supplies (zappers) with a neon lamp relation oscillator, the transformer was a 'backwards' audio output transformer so it wasn't in the kV range but was a healthy zap. Interesting video, thanks! BTW- That's an interesting safety line power connector... Most of my work is done with a "Widow-Maker" (an old power cord with clip leads attached [don't try this at home kids ;-) ] )

[@GiNodrog]

The 20meg output resistor has two functions 1 protection , 2 the main reason is to Impedance match the output to the free space .

[@stonent]

I thought you were going to say "not only a lamp, but a candle as well"

[@kimmy_future4265]

the more and more i learn about electronics the more it just seems like magic lol.

[@thomasmetz9460]

Seriously I love this channel 🤘you’re the man Clive

[@PilotPlater]

240v capable SIDACs can be found from common suppliers like Digikey for 1-2 dollars at low quantity.

[@mikebeatstsb7030]

Awesome vid yet again Mr Clive

[@TheDefpom]

@11:20 the diode placement will be so that the negative rail floats up slightly

[@TravelBiscuit]

This gets me thinking if there would be any way to adapt one with say a 12V source to induce a charge in a filter as part of a filter mask (potentially 3d printed). Basically use a static effect to improve the effectiveness of the filter for smaller particles. The ground return path would be something of an issue and it may not be any more effective than the natural electrostatic effects of some materials, but it does get me thinking.

[@darkbyte2005]

brilliant demonstration Clive i was transfixed.. great!!!

[@noakeswalker]

So the SIDAC as used here, is a _bit_ like the spark gap in the Tesla coil being shown in DiodeGoneWild's latest vids. Along wth the carbon fibre tests, all very interesting Clive :o)

[@dudechill]

SIDAC, that’s some good bit of info.

[@ZomB1986]

Don't you love it when your boss sends you a bigclive video at 4:50 AM to refer to a new feature for one of our products?

[@AlanJenney]

I thought I would have a go at modifying the Heaven Fresh HF100 (AKA Pure Mate PM100) 'ozone generator' to create a 'proper ioniser'. From the two-core output from the mains adapter, I figured out which was the common connection to all the boards and the 'collecting plate' and tapped that wire onto the neutral pin of a mains plug (noting that the current is so low it is not going to affect or trip anything, we just need a reference voltage at about earth as noted in this video). I unplugged and discarded the indicator panel because that served no purpose. I taped up and stowed the cable for the 'collector plate' and removed the 'collector plate' altogether so that there is no earth near the pins. I used the existing insulated stand-offs to mount the high-voltage comb with the pins so that the tips are at the front of the grille. I am not sure how effective it is, but on powering up, there's no longer such a powerful ozone stink, but I can feel the electric charge.

[@AlanJenney]

This is how it progressed (see (i) on each photo for description) photos.app.goo.gl/6WLYLg11dxAHw1HH9

[@bigclivedotcom]

I'd be cautious about doing that as the power supply might not like the higher floating voltage and the potential difference from the needles to ground might cause insulation stress in the plug-in power supply causing it to arc internally and potentially fail with the output referenced to mains.

[@AlanJenney]

@@bigclivedotcom Thank you for replying promptly. I have tried to understand your answer on the possible failure mode of my modification, but I suspect I am a bit ignorant of it. I had figured that the zener diodes were capping the input to the high voltage stage which would limit the output. I had not considered that there may be a path that could result in a high voltage being presented back to the plug-in supply (which is what I think you mean by 'doing that') when I simply coupled the bottom end of the high-voltage supply (which was already connected to the 'zero' rail on the barrel plug) all the way back to the neutral on the mains side. Still, it was fun taking it apart and seeing how the original was woo-woo.

[@SomeMorganSomewhere]

Yeah, SIDACs are basically solid state spark gaps. The unit's pretty much a tiny little tesla coil with some extra output capacitance.

[@marcse7en]

"SIDAC" Sounds like something from Doctor Who! 😂😂😂

[@jonnywaselectric]

I like to listen to your channel when I go to bed, your voice is calming and I can shut my brain off and listen and fall asleep. I've been doing it for over a year, thank you.

[@bigclivedotcom]

You're welcome. A lot of people use my videos to help chill out.

[@Subgunman]

Had a similar lamp minus the ionizer, lasted about a year and a half until it failed. Upon opening half of the LEDs had literally let the magic smoke out and all of the plastic had yellowed and turned so brittle the case came apart in my hands when squeezed.

[@ericrandall3539]

You always, rather uneventfully, test the capacitors with your finger. I think I speak for all of us when I say I eagerly await the day (and your reaction/language) when one is not fully discharged.

[@briandeschene8424]

Eric Randall As you wish... kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ-1pHmhgMqoj5Y

[@squib308]

Cool video. I kinda like ionizers too. More the practical application of, like in my garage/shop. Never heard of carbon fiber heating rope, that's something that seems obvious now I've seen it exists. Not sure why the copper plate doesn't charge up to a higher voltage, seems like it would. (I didn't see the other multimeter probe end, I note)

[@bigclivedotcom]

The meter acts like a discharge resistor to ground.

[@squib308]

@@bigclivedotcom If I had a super cheap DMM... I don't want to fry a decent-for-me one :p

[@NY411Info]

Lol , yeah I watched the electro-mechanical display Fran showed a couple of weeks ago Clive. Imagine what that would cost to produce nowadays with all the relays that were in it. They looked to be fairly big relays as well. I think there were 6 of them. As for the moving sliding plates, wow. A lot that could go wrong with that over time. Over complicated.

[@djbare9]

The module looks like the ones I have called Anion generators model CL-R03 from Xiamen Comwell electronics, input rating is given as 110~250 volt, out >2.5KV, apparently these were used for some medical purpose, I don' know the details, I fitted mine into an old gutted out UK mains voltage adaptor, I have one in the living room and one in the pantry. Anecdotal: they appear to reduce mould growth, I would guess the spores are made heavy and fall to the ground before they can land on any foods.

[@dang1099]

Ah, the mountain probe comment had me dying. As always good video.

[@Miata822]

Mouser in the US has Littlefuse brand 100V sidacs for 0.84USD

[@bigclivedotcom]

I'll have to check that out. There is another way to do it with a thyristor that charges the cap on one half wave and then triggers the thyristor on the other.

[@Miata822]

@@bigclivedotcom Amperage ratings are low. Lot sure what the circuit needs.

[@hyperboloidofonesheet1036]

@@bigclivedotcom Would a neon lamp or spark gap have the same effect?

[@arraybytes]

The irony of the foot detox comercial befor one of your videos.

[@Gambiarte]

Need to check if it is generating ozone, probably is! Ozone is very nice but you shouldnt breath it, it is very unhealthy to breath ozone, also, it would not be pure ozone as the air has other gasses. There is a similar ionizer for USB use, the one I have has the same carbon brush, but internal circuit is much more complicated.

[@rogerbarton497]

I like the way you short the capacitor and then use your finger to see if it's been discharged. You might as well not bother! Did you check the meter with test probes disconnected at the meter end to check whether that background reading was being generated within the meter? Google "Neon Relaxation Oscillator" for a comparison with the Sidac.

[@urugulu1656]

3:07 yes yes this plastic looks very red indeed up to 100% (up to obviously starts at zero (or negative infinity depending on what you are talking about) as we have learned here on the channel already)

[@dragade101]

You have a grounded soldering iron???! Wow.

[@markburton5292]

you can buy the 12 modules on amazon and i have used them to make static grass applicators . I use batteries though not mains.

[@TheAlex11211]

You should try using break cleaner as the solvent to dissolve the resin it works a treat I use this technique at work all the time!

[@bigclivedotcom]

I may try other solvents.

[@TheAlex11211]

bigclivedotcom Good has to hear! Break cleaner is harsh enough to eat it’s way through silicone based epoxys but won’t damage components or FR4 👍

[@smokyatgroups]

Thanks Clive for beautiful clear description and safety advice, the big ioniser attracting dust ..is that only for positive outputs or negative as well? Thinking nice to experiment with negative resistance effects utilizing SIDAC's and Ionizers.

[@bigclivedotcom]

It's generally considered that negative ionisers are a better option since they produce an excess of electrons in the air.

[@r0cketplumber]

It seems to me that a 5:1 transformer and then only 4-5 stages of multiplier might be more effective, particularly for 120V mains in the US.

[@bigclivedotcom]

That's the technique Amcor used to use.

[@JUANKERR2000]

'Is it discharged?' - ouch! - no!

[@deltab9768]

One time I forgot to discharge a faulty CFL bulb before dissecting it for components. It had 66uf worth of capacitors at probably 165v. I felt a steady, warm tingle and thought "stupid me, that was in the ceiling a couple hours ago, I should've discharged it." Assuming it was all dead (a phrase you never want to hear) now, I went back to work dismantling it. Another shock, this one worse than the one before. I ended up laying it down on an insulating surface and pressing a penny against the capacitor terminals. I got a nice spark (no shock because it was isolated) and the gift finally stopped giving. It taught a lesson about assuming a circuit is dead, and also just how high your body resistance can be and how little power it takes to shock you.

[@vgamesx1]

I once cleaned a camera sensor because it got some dirt in there, so I partially reassembled it to of course test if it was clean before putting it back together and after confirming it was clean I didn't touch the flash cap itself but an area near it and got a mean bite, it even ever so slightly singed my skin at the points of contact.

[@censusgary]

I knew a guy who would sometimes test voltage by putting the wires in his mouth. “Hmmm,” he’d say, “Feels like six volts.” His guesses were not always correct. Last I heard, though, he was still alive.

[@JUANKERR2000]

@@censusgary When I was much younger and had no test gear it was common to put a battery or cell on the tongue to check that it still had some 'oomph' in it - hardly scientific or quantitative in any way.

[@zarach11]

@@vgamesx1 I once disassembled a disposable camera to change the film and I touched the fully charged flash capacitor which triggered the flash and gave me a decent shock

[@JimJohnD]

Similar to an old style car ignition system. Ah, the good old days:)

[@evensgrey]

I was thinking that, too. Given the way it's designed, it is an auto-transformer with a different means of regulation that is used in a car. (I also couldn't find any reference to this being called a SIDAC, the only references I could locate for a SIDAC describe it as a type of thyristor designed for AC, which is what I though the base thyristor was, but never mind...)

[@FarleyHillBilly]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delco_ignition_system

[@rlsimpso]

20:08 when the drum beats go like this...

[@Phil..._]

"eyyeeahhh..."

[@carlubambi5541]

Great as always

[@phonotical]

I bought that heating cord because of your video, had to wrap mine around a rum bottle, shit goes everywhere

[@David_11111]

Another good one Clive :)

[@logangraham2956]

i'd probably try to make it battery powered so even if the transformer does spark across it doesn't have a connection to the mains , and then just get a wire and clip or something for the ground

[@brianleeper5737]

I think these SIDACs are also sold as surge protection devices under the SIDACtor name.

[@LDuncanKelly]

Also called a Silicon Avalanche Suppressor in such applications IIRC...

[@551moley]

Hi Clive, you mentioned a boiler spark generator, can you do a video on flame rectification, ionization and flame conduction, used to show the ignition has lit the burner. I sometimes need to commission new Static Caravans that haven't had the electricity connected, I use a pure sine inverter fitted in my van, some makes work fine sometimes the lack of an earth connection means they just go to lockout....yes I know! inverters and earthing is can of worms.

[@fillg]

20:08 "Put the needle on the record" Pump up the volume, pump up the volume, dance, dance

[@bigclivedotcom]

That's what was going through my mind.

[@fillg]

@@bigclivedotcom It was the first thing that went through my head when you said it. I had to go listen to it. It's been years since I've heard that song but I loved it.

[@JV-wl6ex]

Agreed, this was a fav when I was a kid and tunes like this one will stay with me most of the day. I wonder sometimes if everyone experiences this background music behavior or if I should see a specialist. It sometimes can be a gift and other times a total curse.

[@bigclivedotcom]

@@JV-wl6ex I think a lot of us have an internal backing track running a lot of the time.

[@dashcamandy2242]

Glad I wasn't the only one that thought that!