How to measure charging of Cockcroft Walton Multipliers?

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    Charging Measure
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around measuring the voltage of a Cockcroft-Walton multiplier over time to observe its charging behavior. Participants explore methods for capturing transient waveforms and the implications of using oscilloscopes in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the effect of using an oscilloscope on the charging behavior of the capacitors in the Cockcroft-Walton multiplier.
  • Another participant suggests that oscilloscopes do not impose significant loading on the circuit and recommends using a differential input to observe various waveforms.
  • A participant expresses a desire to see the oscillation with an increasing amplitude offset over time and notes their current setup with a half-wave multi-stage multiplier.
  • There is a mention of not observing the expected amplitude increase, leading to speculation about the driving frequency being incorrect.
  • Participants discuss whether it is better to measure voltage across the capacitor at the highest stage or relative to ground, with a caution about connecting the oscilloscope across ungrounded elements.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effectiveness of their measurement techniques and the conditions under which accurate observations can be made. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to measure the charging behavior.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions about the driving frequency and the grounding of the measurement setup, which may affect the observations being discussed.

shrinky
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How do you measure the voltage of a cockcroft walton multiplier over time to observe the charging behavior? Does measuring with oscilloscopes discharge the capacitor hence you can't observe the charging or not?
 
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The oscilloscope doesn't impose much loading on the circuit. You are wanting to observe the actual pumping up? That will be a short term transitory waveform. Using a CRO with differential inputs might be handy, if you wish to observe all waveforms around the circuit.
 
Yeah. Ideally I'd like to see the oscillation with amplitude offset increasing as time goes on.

Right now I have a simple half wave multi stage multiplier set up. I can measure the rectification part, so the sine wave only goes to the positive and not negative, but I don't see the amplitude increase so that the dc offset is always zero essentially.

It could be my driving frequency isn't correct perhaps?

Rhetorical I guess but is it better to measure the voltage across the capacitor at the highest stage or measure the potential relative to ground.
 
shrinky said:
Yeah. Ideally I'd like to see the oscillation with amplitude offset increasing as time goes on.
Well, it's a transient, so unless you have a storage CRO or a synchronised camera, you won't see it.

Right now I have a simple half wave multi stage multiplier set up. I can measure the rectification part, so the sine wave only goes to the positive and not negative, but I don't see the amplitude increase so that the dc offset is always zero essentially.
Are you saying it's not working?

It could be my driving frequency isn't correct perhaps?
It shouldn't matter.

Can you post your circuit schematic?

Rhetorical I guess but is it better to measure the voltage across the capacitor at the highest stage or measure the potential relative to ground.
Unless your driving source is floating, you can't connect the CRO across any ungrounded element.
 

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