High Voltage DC Power Indicator

[rdvernon]

I have a 20kVDC pulse flowing to an igniter. 2500 pulses per minute. I want to know if it is possible to use the high voltage pulses of DC to induce sufficient voltage in a coil wrapped around the power cable (through which the current is flowing) to energize an LED (in synch with the pulses). Any advice on this would be sincerely appreciated.

 

[berkeman]

You don't wrap the coil around the power cable. To use the current in the cable, you need to form a "current sense transformer" where one lead of the cable goes through a ferrite toroidal core, and then you wind some number of turns on the toroid as a secondary coil. The one pass through the toroid by the power lead is a single turn coil, and your secondary has some number of turns that you tune to give you enough voltage to light your LED. This taps a little bit of power off of the power lead, but not much as long as you limit the current through your LED.

See "Instrument Transformers" or Current Transformers here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer

 

[oswaler]

I can say that it is possible to use the high voltage pulses of DC to induce voltage in a coil and energize an LED. This process is known as electromagnetic induction and is a fundamental principle in electromagnetism. The key to achieving this is to ensure that the coil is properly designed and positioned in relation to the power cable. The number of turns in the coil, the size and material of the wire, and the distance between the coil and the power cable will all affect the amount of voltage induced.

In order to accurately determine the feasibility of using this method, it would be helpful to have more information about the specific setup and components being used. This includes the type of power cable, the size and material of the coil, and the specifications of the LED. Additionally, it would be important to consider any potential safety concerns, such as insulation and grounding, to ensure the safe operation of the system.

In terms of synchronizing the LED with the pulses, this can be achieved by using a circuit that is triggered by the pulses to activate the LED. There are many resources and guides available online for designing such a circuit.

Overall, with proper design and precautions, it is possible to use high voltage DC pulses to induce voltage in a coil and energize an LED. I would suggest conducting further research and experimentation to determine the most effective and safe way to implement this in your specific setup.