How to Colonize an Asteroid
PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THESE POWER SUPPLIES!!! THEY CAN HURT YOU!
Note that the power supplies described here can hold a very high current charge even after they are unplugged. The circuit does specify a bleeder resistor across the capacitor, but it can take several minutes for it to completely discharge the supply.
You will need one of these supplies for each coil in your accelerator - mine contains three.
Parts List; C1 - 5000 Mfd @ 50 vdc D1 - 1N4146 D2 - 1N4146 LMP1 - 14v Incandescent Lamp R1 - 220 ohms @ 1/2 Watt R2 - 100K ohms @ 1 Watt SCR1 - 5 amp SCR
Diode D1 chops the incoming AC into pulsed DC.
Resistor R1 limits the current traveling into the circuit to prevent overloading of the AC supply.
Lamp LMP1 helps with the current limiting and provides a visual indication of the charge state of C1 - if the capacitor is not charged, current will flow and the lamp will be lit - when the capacitor is fully charged, current stops flowing and the lamp goes out.
Diode D2 protects the circuit from potentially harmful reverse voltage feedback from the accelerator coil.
Silicon Controlled Rectifier SCR1 is a kind of electronic switch which allows us to electronically trigger the discharge. DO NOT USE A RELAY to trigger your supplies as the contacts will arc and weld themselves in place.
