120, 000 Volt Multiplier

This video shows how to build a cockroftwalton type voltage multiplier using a flyback transformer as a first stage driven by a ZVS driver with a 12V input. This circuit outputs 120, 000 volts DC and arcs from 4 away. Within about 2 feet of the device, you can feel the ion wind, and your hair being pulled toward it by electrostatic induction. I didn t use any current limiting resistors, so the discharges are very dramatic but also extremely hard on the capacitors in the multiplier. After about 45 seconds of continuous discharge, there s little to no output, and the device needs a minute or two to recover before it can be used again. My guess being that the caps are swelling under such a high load. The flyback and ZVS driver are both homemade. The circuit for the ZVS driver is explained in more detail in my video on induction heating : Parts List: 1nF, 20kV Capacitors: