Designing a 550 V, 3A DC power supply using a multiplier circuit

[trini]

Ok so i received the suggestion to get such a power supply by rigging a variac to a bridge rectifier, but variacs are rather expensive, so after some snooping around i came around this site:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/9779212/ebook-free-energy-50000-vdc-power-supply

they basically just use a combination of capacitors and diodes to get a pseudo DC effect, and it is mentioned that by altering the values of capacitance, i can get the DC pulse trains i require, however they don't mention an exact relationship between the two. What i would like to know is if i use such a circuit, what formulae may i use to determine the size and amount of capacitors to use?

 

[famousken]

That circuit is called a Villard Cascade, the size of capacitors you decide to use depends on the frequency of the input and what is an acceptable amount of ripple, as well as how many stages your multiplier uses. It is also good practice to place bleeder resistors across each capacitor in the circuit as these voltages are potentially lethal. Here is a link to all the formulas you could want for capacitance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance

 

[oswaler]

I would like to caution against using the information provided on websites like Scribd for designing a power supply. While they may seem like a cheaper alternative, they often lack proper scientific principles and can be unreliable.

In order to design a 550 V, 3A DC power supply using a multiplier circuit, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the principles of electricity and circuit design. This includes knowledge of Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, and basic circuit analysis techniques.

A variac, while expensive, is a reliable and proven method for controlling voltage in a circuit. It is not recommended to use alternative methods, such as the one described on the website, as they may not provide the necessary stability and safety for a power supply.

In terms of determining the size and amount of capacitors to use in a multiplier circuit, it would depend on the specific design and requirements of the circuit. This would require careful calculation and consideration of the capacitance values, as well as the voltage and current requirements.

Overall, my advice would be to consult with a professional or do thorough research on reliable sources before attempting to design a power supply. It is important to prioritize safety and accuracy in such a project.