PlasmaSonic SSTC II Power Board

The PlasmaSonic™ II SSTC Board

PlasmaSonic II Ordering Information - Now Taking Orders

The new and improved 10kW PlasmaSonic II SSTC Board is now ready for ordering.

Place your order now to secure one of these limited produced SSTC boards. Even if you don't have

immediate plans to build one of these, there most likely won't be another run in the future, so buy one

now for down the road later.

PlasmaSonic II Specifications:

- Improved power handling capabilities up to 3kW (CW)

- Onboard 10 LED Peak/Avg VU Meter (Extremely useful during audio modulation to detect clipping)

- Remote tuning capabilities

- 1kHz to 500kHz operation

- Full Audio Modulation Capabilities - Allows the high voltage discharge to play music - Beautifully!

- User customizable input audio filtering

- Double-sided PCB Board with Silkscreen and Soldermask

- Dual mode operation (Single-Ended for maximizing arc length) and (Push-Pull for audio modulation)

- Onboard Input Rectifiers for maximizing arc length during Half-Rectification Single Ended Operation

- Onboard 10 LED VU Meter - Peak and Hold Delay user adjustable, Bar or Dot Mode Selectable

PlasmaSonic I SSTC

PlasmaSonic SSTC Videos

I finally have some videos of the stereo PlasmaSonic SSTC in action. The videos are courtesy of Terry

Blake and were taken by him at the RATCB Teslathon this year. More teslathon photos and videos by
Terry Blake can be found here. The musical selection is Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded me with Science."

PlasmaSonic SSTC Video (Large 10MB)

PlasmaSonic SSTC Video (Small 1.6MB)

PlasmaSonic I SSTC fully assembled

PlasmaSonic I SSTC Board with heatsinks removed.

Specifications

Printed Wiring Board:

2-Layer

Top Silkscreen

Soldermask (Top/Bottom)

Approx. Dimensions (6.5" x 8.0")

Power Section:

3kW H-Bridge (Tested at 200kHz, CW mode using IXFN44N50 FETs)

Maximum Input Voltage: 240VAC, 200VDC (Tested)

Switchmode Controller:

TL494 PWM Controller

Push-Pull Gate Drive

Duty Cycle: 0% to 50% (adjustable via onboard potentiometer)

Frequency: 1kHz to 500kHz (adjustable via onboard potentiometer)

Audio Modulator:
Audio Input: Line-level input (RCA connector)

Input Impedance: 500k ohms

Frequency Response: Flat out to 50kHz with pole at 100Hz for low frequency roll-off.

Maximum Signal Voltage: 2.5V p-p

PlasmaSonic I SSTC Stereo Audio Modulated System (Photo Terry Blake)

PlasmaSonic I Presentation Outline

The following is my presentation outline of the stereo PlasmaSonic SSTC system. This document is very informative and

provides key points in the design, building, and operation of the stereo PlasmaSonic system. (Requires Adobe Acrobat 5.0)

Click here for the Stereo PlasmaSonic SSTC Presentation (4.6MB)

PlasmaSonic II Instruction Manual

The following instruction manual is for the PlasmaSonic™ II SSTC Board. It can be used as a guideline for building and

testing the PlasmaSonic I SSTC Board as well. The only difference will be some of the reference designators.

(Requires Adobe Acrobat 5.0)

Special Audio Modulation Set-up Notes

The following instructions have not yet been incorporated into the manual. If you are using push-pull mode and intend

to use audio modulation, the following initial conditions will provide quality audio modulation right out of the box so to

speak.

1. Set FREQ using R26 to the resonant frequency of your secondary. Measure the frequency at either TP22 or TP23.

2. Set duty cycle to approximately 18% using BIAS adjust (R24). Measure duty cycle at either TP22 or TP23.

3. Measure the voltage at pin4 of U21 (TL494) If duty cycle is set properly, this voltage should read approximately

1.4V to 1.5V.

4. Use a high impedance line-level audio source (RCA type connector) from a CD player or similar.

If audio is clipping or sounds distorted, you may have to either back down the output level of the line-level audio source,

or reduce the duty cycle using the BIAS adjust (R24.) If audio doesn't seem loud, either adjust FREQ (R26) until

maximum arc and sound output is heard, or increase duty cycle using BIAS adjust (R24.)

Click here for the PlasmaSonic II Instruction Manual Initial Release(393K) September 2003

Click here for the PlasmaSonic II Instruction Manual Revision A (393K) December 2003

Schematics, Parts List, and Electrical Design

The following schematics are for the PlasmaSonic™ II SSTC Board (Requires Adobe Acrobat 5.0)

Click here for the Power Section Schematic

Click here for the SwitchMode Controller Schematic

Click here for the Voltage Power Supply Schematic

Click here for the Parts List (UPDATED : REVISION A)

Last modified August 16, 2005 08:05:21 PM