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2n3055 flyback transformer driver for beginners

by Alex1M6 on September 19, 2011 Table of Contents 2n3055 flyback transformer driver for beginners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: 2n3055 flyback transformer driver for beginners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Mount the transistor onto the heat sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Preparing the flyback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: Putting the circuit together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: Check everything . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 5: Safety first! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 6: Powering the circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 7: Finding the high voltage return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 8: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 3 3 5 5 6 6 7 7

http://www.instructables.com/id/2n3055-flyback-transformer-driver-for-beginners/

Author:Alex1M6

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Intro: 2n3055 flyback transformer driver for beginners

What you will need: 1x Flyback transformer 1x 2n3055 transistor + heatsink 1x 220 ohm 5 watt resistor 1x 22 ohm 2 watt resistor (Note: The resistor values do not have to be exact. Say if you had a 33 ohm and a 200 ohm resistor they would still work fine for this circuit). Some enamelled magnet wire, single core bell wire also works well too. A fast diode. Although this is not needed for the circuit to work, it protects the transistor from back emf spikes and can help prolong the life of the circuit. +Some way of connecting the components such as alligator clipped cables or wire and solder.

Step 1: Mount the transistor onto the heat sink

Mount the transistor onto the heat sink. The heatsink is a must as the transistor gets hot. I just bought the cheapest heatsink maplin sell. The 2n3055 is a TO-3 case style. You can use an insulator pad if you want but I just used a small amount of old thermal grease I had lying around. To mount the transistor to the heatsink I just used some spare screws and nuts I had in the garage. Make sure that the pins do not touch the heatsink.

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Step 2: Preparing the flyback

Using some enamelled magnet wire wind two coils around the core of the transformer in the SAME DIRECTION. 11 turns primary and 7 turns feedback is a good starting point but you can try more or less windings to see what gives the best results. Using a sharp knife carefully scrape away the enamel coating from the very ends of the magent wire. You do not need to worry about finding the HV return pin yet.

Step 3: Putting the circuit together

Connect all of the components together as shown in the images above.

Image Notes 1. This fast diode is not needed but I do recommended it to help protect the

http://www.instructables.com/id/2n3055-flyback-transformer-driver-for-beginners/

transistor.

Image Notes 1. Base from feedback coil. 2. Emitter to ground. 3. Collector from primary coil. 4. Remember to mount the transistor onto a heatsink, I am only doing it like this to show you.

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Step 4: Check everything

Check to make sure that your circuit is connected up correctly

Image Notes 1. This fast diode is not needed but I do recommended it to help protect the transistor.

Image Notes 1. 12v from power supply/battery positive. 2. 12v 3. Ground (to the power supply or battery's negative terminal). 4. Emitter to ground. 5. Base 6. Collector 7. To feedback coil. 8. To base 9. Feedback 10. To collector

Step 5: Safety first!

You should never touch the high voltage wire or any of the flyback base pins when the circuit is turned on. I strongly urge you to make a chicken stick, which is a 1 foot long minimum insulating stick of some sort. PVC pipe is very good for this. Some people use wood but when damp wood can become a conductor at high voltages. You then tape an electrode of some sort onto the end of it, a sharp pointed nail of some sort works well for low power drivers. You can then attach a wire of some sort to the chicken stick, the other end will be attached the the ground return pin on the flyback transformer.

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Step 6: Powering the circuit

To power the circuit you can use any 12V source that can supply a minimum of 2 amps, as a rule. AA battery's in series can be used but they will not last long and the arc length will get smaller and smaller as they drain. 2 6v lantern battery's can be used and will power this circuit nicely for a decent amount of time before the arcs start getting smaller. A 12v lead acid battery is a very good way of powering this circuit and what I personally use. A power supply can also be used. I do NOT recommended 9v /PP3 battery's as they will not last long at all and even when new are unable to provide the current needed.

Step 7: Finding the high voltage return

To find the high voltage return first attach your chicken stick to the high voltage out (the big thick red wire) and turn the circuit on. You should hear a high pitch noise. If you don't here this noise then go to the trouble shooting page at the end. Bring the chicken stick close to the base pins on the flyback and go past each one individually. Some of them may give a slight spark but one of them should give a solid constant HV arc, this will be your HV ground. You should now disconnect your chicken stick from the HV out and connect it to the HV ground pin instead. In the image below is quite a large arc for the 2n3055 driver, most flybacks will only give around a 1-2cm arc on 12V input and upping the voltage only increases heating on the transistor in my experience. Have fun and remember not to run this circuit for periods longer than 1 minute as the transistor gets hot fast.

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Step 8: Troubleshooting
Ok so you have made the circuit and it either does not work or it does not work very well. If nothing happens and you cannot hear any high pitched noise from the flyback transformer then try reversing the connections to the primary and feedback coils, if you still get nothing try just changing the connections on one of the coils. Usually this resolves that issue. If you have tried that and still nothing then you should check the circuit and make sure all connections are secure and nothing is shorting out. Sometimes people will forget to remove enough enamel on the magnet wire primary and feedback coils and there will be no electrical connection being made. If it works but the arc is small try reversing both the primary and feedback coil connections. Remember that 2cm is the maximum arc length you are going to get out of this driver, and 1cm may also be the maximum on some flybacks.

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