4/14/2012

Today I built the bridge rectifier circuit for the amplifier.

I decided to string 10 6A 1000PIV diodes together on each leg of the bridge.  I discovered, that even though they are rated 1000volts they only really handle 700 volts RMS.  So allowing for the possibility of more than 5000volts I used 10 in a string for 7000 volts RMS.

Below is a picture.  Not pretty, but it worked,

So, the next step is to test the circuit.  I took it out to the workshop where the PolePig transformer and Caps are.

The guy that sold me the Polepig said that he had operated it on 220v.  I decided to bring it up slowly on a variac at only 110v.

Much to my shock,  on 110v in I was getting 5000v out. WOW.  The rectifier was working and I used a Bachman high voltage probe with my fluke multimeter to measure the voltage.

Next I decided to try putting the voltage into the two 8mfd 4000 volt oil filled capacitors.

The caps charged up to 5000v and then I realized I did not put bleeder resistors on them.  I had to discharge them the hard way with a long screw driver.  Pow!

So now I know that the power supply is going to work,  I need to begin assembling it.