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  • Author Author: rscasny
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Calling All EE Students - Build a Simple Flyback Converter to Win an Oscilloscope, DC Power Supply, Hot Air Soldering Station, and More!

rscasny

Can you answer this question about flyback converters?

If you answered (b) and are interested in experimenting with flyback transformers, you might have what it takes to be part of element14's Experimenting with Flyback Transformers competition!

How do I join Experimenting with Flyback Transformers?

imageThe element14 Engineering Community is sponsoring a competition for all engineers and aspiring engineers who have an interest in SMPSs and flyback converter design.

Participants will use the kit of components that we send, free of charge, to build or experiment with building flyback converters.

For your efforts, we are giving away some great prizes that would be useful additions to any engineer's bench!

It doesn't cost anything to participate. To enter this competition, click here.

  • in reply to jc2048

    Hi Jon, That was great to read! I missed seeing that blog post before. Lots of interesting ideas there!

    Also, neon lamps are great, they should be used more : ) 

  • in reply to shabaz

    "I'm too scared to apply an expensive multimeter, ..."

    /products/arduino/b/blog/posts/uno-blue-man-and-the-neon-light

    When I did something similar with a simple boost converter, I used my Tek 'scope to look at the waveforms. I did take the precaution of putting a high-voltage avalanche diode (100V power MOSFET) across the neon to catch the voltage at about 120V. The MOSFET also introduced enough capacitance that it slowed the rise time enough that the voltage was only getting to 10-20V above the 120V clamp before the avalanche started running current, so it was all fairly safe whether or not the neon was striking (well within what the probes/oscilloscope are good for).

  • in reply to misaz

    The output might just be a few hundred volts, it's unlikely to be much higher, but I think I'd still need some sort of FET buffer (since the current capability is going to be extremely low from that transformer) . I was thinking for that effort, I may as well make it capable of a few kV with the resistor chain (I didn't design this, it was given to me, so I would like to use it sometime, and a voltmeter project might be ideal for it). 

  • in reply to shabaz

    Is something like this needed? Is it possible to test it by voltage divider consisting 2 THT resistors (for example, set to divide 20x) in parallel with LED neon lamp?

    I replaced the mistake LED. It is not LED of course Smiley

  • in reply to misaz

    Good question : ) but I have no idea!

    I'm too scared to apply an expensive multimeter, and the cheaper ones are not RMS-responding at the frequency.

    However, I have this cool thing in the photo below that would be nice to turn into a high-voltage voltmeter one day!

    It's a load of 100 Mohm resistors, all chained to make 1 Gohm sections from connector to connector, and rated at 2kV per section. 

    Its going to be around 60V under that neon load (I think that's the voltage at which the gas ionizes), but open circuit could be a lot higher (but extremely low current capability).

    image