Rosemary Ainslie circuit demonstration on Saturday March 12th 2011

[poynt99]

As I previously mentioned, Faraday's law states that a voltage develops across an inductor any time the current (flux) through it is changing, and it is Lenz's incorporated law which determines the polarity of that voltage.

From Hyperphysics page:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/farlaw.html

.99

[Rosemary Ainslie]

So guys.  It seems that the real danger is nothing to do with the actual circuit variations - but that the variations are then so 'off the mark' that they no longer have relevance to the original circuit objectives.  That would be a pity.  Because - in essence - what we've got here is a method whereby we can dissipate some hefty wattage at the load with apparently no energy expended from the supply. 

I need to stress this point.  There is nothing that this circuit does that cannot be done with the MOSFETs in the traditional setting.  And I would re-iterate that the object of our demonstration was NOT to guage those high wattage outputs - but simply to resolve that extraordinary waveform.  You see this I trust.  The fact that we can exceed those equivalence principles then implies that the 'sky's the limit' when it comes to applying more energy.  Or.  Possibly it would be better to say that the amount of energy that is then dissipated is actually the next most challenging aspect to unfold.  And THAT is when Q1 most certainly comes into play and - possibly - where we need to keep to some semblance of those early first principles used in that original design.

In any event.  There is a gross tendency to 'wax obscure' especially when it comes to determining the properties and the functions of sundry transistors.  The explanations becomes somewhat more confusing than the rather dark art that is applied to the manufacture of these transistors in the first instance.  In the interests of keeping this explanation as simple as possible I'm therefore proposing my own 'take' which has the real merit of focusing on the measurable effects rather than proposals as to what or why these are happening.  And more to the point.  It's also all that's needed.  Just follow the logic.  It's straight forward.

We know that the circuit can be fully connected to the supply and yet - if the functions generator is not 'turned on' then the circuit remains open.  I know this well.  It's the easiest way for me to disconect things at the end of our tests and it's all I ever do.  So.  When we turn it on - we're closing the circuit.  And we're first applying a positive signal to the gate of the FET.  This provides that 'bridge' across a gap that then also allows current to to flow through the circuit.  Under usual conditions the current then flows to the negative terminal and this persists until the end of that 'on' period. In effect, the applied voltage at the postiive terminal of the battery is able to bridge that open condition courtesy the positive signal applied at the gate.

Then the signal defaults to negative.  Immediately the battery stops conducting and there is a return of negative voltage induced from the collapsing fields of all those circuit components.  (Faraday's Law.)  Now.  Just as the positive charge was presented at the drain courtesy the MOSFET Q1 - now a negative charge is presented at the source courtesy of the MOSFET Q2 (and upwards as required).  And in the same way that the Gate provided a positive charge during the 'on' time - it now provides a negative charge during the 'off' time.  And appropriately, this is provided at the source which then allows for the 'negative' voltages throughout the circuit to flow freely.  Prior to this - under usual conditions - only the reverse body diode allows this path.  And while there is no 'problem' with using this path - it is also NEVER enough to fully allow that continuous resonating condition.  We know this.  We've tried it. 

So.  The actual focus is that there is this much negative voltage that then flows this freely as negative current.  Of especial interest to me is that it also never seems to fully discharge without re-establishing the potential difference at the battery - which then needs to discharge.  And on and on.  What we have here is a continual current flow.  And it's not a ripple - as was early argued all over the place.  It's evidently energetic and it's most certainly sustaining a temperature at the load and, indeed, over some of the circuit components. 

I'd be very sorry to find that we delve into an obscure explanation related to a lot of simulated schematics and consequent waveforms that also then took the focus off this point.  There is a relationship established between the supply and the circuit components that seems to mutually re-inforce each other that the current can persist over some considerable time and to some considerable advantage to the energy supply source.   What I personally, would like to resolve is how it is that there is this small 'window of opportunity' so to speak, in the setting of the 'offset' that also allows that oscillation at a zero discharge from the battery during the 'on' time and yet it fully enables the negative voltage and all the consequent oscillation.  It is almost as if the circuit is able to get energised without a flow of current - and I can't see how that can be a realistic explanation.  Nor, MileHigh, is it energy that is being delivered to or from the functions generator because, self-evidently, it can all be achieved without using one. 

But having said all that.  Please remember that we're not out to 'solve' the puzzle of that oscillation in our replications - for those of you who wnat to go this route.  We're trying to maximise the energy output at the least possible cost to the supply.  And for that you need that Q1 because you also need that initialising 'on' period with its consequent positive voltage during that time.  And here there's a wealth of potential discovery.  Because we've hardly opened the door a fraction.

Kindest regards
Rosemary

[i_ron]

So guys.  It seems that the real danger is nothing to do with the actual circuit variations - but that the variations are then so 'off the mark' that they no longer have relevance to the original circuit objectives.  That would be a pity.  Because - in essence - what we've got here is a method whereby we can dissipate some hefty wattage at the load with apparently no energy expended from the supply. 

snip
Kindest regards
Rosemary

Rosemary,

Excellent post as usual.

Now for a builder, the logical schema at this time seems to be the two FET model, one forward, one backwards?

So what is the ratio of on time to off time for FET 1? I know you have said but if you could repeat once more please? And the voltage of the Function generator, is it plus minus 5 volts or 10?

What I was considering was doing away with the FG and using just a battery and a timed change over relay. Would this work? Has the group approached this from this angle?

Warm regards

Ron

[Rosemary Ainslie]

Rosemary,

Excellent post as usual.

Now for a builder, the logical schema at this time seems to be the two FET model, one forward, one backwards?

So what is the ratio of on time to off time for FET 1? I know you have said but if you could repeat once more please? And the voltage of the Function generator, is it plus minus 5 volts or 10?

What I was considering was doing away with the FG and using just a battery and a timed change over relay. Would this work? Has the group approached this from this angle?

Warm regards

Ron

Hello Ron.  What a pleasure to see that you're going to try this.  I don' know how to do away with the functions generator.  But Harti gave a schematic using a battery to supply the required signal.  I'll see if I can find it.  The guys have only got an oscillation at this stage.  And it's not stable and it certainly is not able to show a gain.  Still very much a work in progress.  I'm a clutz at design - unfortunately.  I was rather hoping that Poynty's schematics would evolve to something 'doable'.  Perhaps that's still on the cards. 

But if you can explore ways of doing this all with a switch and those 'back to front' FET's as you describe them - then that would be a good thing.  Once you get testing you'll see the point of what I'm going to say here.  It is absolutely IMMATERIAL what frequency you apply.  It finds its own resonating frequency.  What you WILL need is a reasonably good pot to explore all this potential.  And it would be WONDERFUL if you could try this with batteries that are not quite as long lasting as our own.  It would certainly answer some questions that keep coming up. 

But let me see if I can find that schematic that Harti gave us.   I'll get back here.  Delighted to see that you're up for this. 

Kindest regards
Rosie

[Rosemary Ainslie]

Hi,
what about this circuit ?

Just use a 9 Volts battery and a pot to supply the
negative bias voltage at the gates.
To get it to oscillate you might need to switch the
9 Volts battery on and off a few times.

Then also as Humbugger said the shunt will only
have the battery current and not the 9 Volts battery current.


Well to measure also the battery voltage with a dual channel scope that
has a common ground you need to do this circuit then.

See attached picture.

Many thanks.

Regards, Stefan.

I can't do anything about posting over the schematic Ron.  But this is the post
« Reply #347 on: March 26, 2011, 04:09:20 AM »

I think the same schematic is applicable - just add in that MOSFET. 

I'll be able to get hold of the guys early next week and I'll ask them for that schematic they're trying out.  Then I'll post it here.

Hope that helps.  I'm afraid you'll need to be very creative as I absolutely can't help here.

Again, kindest and very best of regards,
Rosie