120,000-Volt Multiplier

This video shows how to build a cockroft-walton 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 4-5 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: