AC mains power instead of inverter -> HV transformer?

[antimony]

Hi, I have been reading Don Smith's pdf and about the Kapanadze device.
I would like to maybe playing with these projects as I already have most of the stuff that I need in order to start right away.

What i lack is a inverter and a variac, so i was just thinking that they maybe could be replaced with a mains power (230v 50hZ) variable AC source instead of the inverter+variac?

The inverter are supposed to be a pure sine wave, and i guess that's what mains power is, a pure sine wave?

So, are there any reason for why Don Smith uses a inverter instead of mains?
I guess it has something to do with frequency, but none of his inverters (I have seen so far) have adjustable frequency drive function.

I'm sure it is a simple reason why they use inverters, but I had to ask.

Thanks. 

[Tesluh]

I have purchased cheap "sine wave" inverters that were actually square wave.  the odd thing is that don's Radio shack inverters are modified sine wave (square wave) but seem to have a unique waveform compared to the other ones.  Radio shack ones like he used are cheap ($15-$30 used on ebay).

[Tesluh]

search for "ne-5p neon" instead of a variac.

[mscoffman]

Don Smith used what he called impedance conversion where he hooked his (HV) output RF coil directly to the very low impedance twelve volt battery circuit.
This was completely irrationally insane from the normal electronic design practice where the high voltage would have much higher impedance. Then he needed the inverter
to step the maintained battery 12VDC back up to 120VAC 60hz to run neon sign transformer. The variable autotransformer 120VAC Variac sat between the inverter
and the neon transformer, acting like a throttle, to control how much his output coil was excited.

In a normal design the high voltage RF would have to be rectified and tediously stepped down to regulated 12VDC at relatively high current so as to maintain efficiency.
Where does the high current DC need to run the inverter come from?

---

Why doesn't he use mains power? He wants you to be impressed when the system keeps running without being plugged in. ie. proof of OU in the system!

[antimony]

I have purchased cheap "sine wave" inverters that were actually square wave.  the odd thing is that don's Radio shack inverters are modified sine wave (square wave) but seem to have a unique waveform compared to the other ones.  Radio shack ones like he used are cheap ($15-$30 used on ebay).

I have ordered a 2000w pure sine wave inverter kit that should arrive any day now. I am just going to assemble it.
I payed about 180 swedish kronors/18 euros for it, and i think that may be about 25-35 dollars. I hope it is as good as i think its going to be.

search for "ne-5p neon" instead of a variac.

Nice, i will see if i can get it here at home, but it seems like this can be something for me.

Don Smith used what he called impedance conversion where he hooked his (HV) output RF coil directly to the very low impedance twelve volt battery circuit.
This was completely irrationally insane from the normal electronic design practice where the high voltage would have much higher impedance. Then he needed the inverter
to step the maintained battery 12VDC back up to 120VAC 60hz to run neon sign transformer. The variable autotransformer 120VAC Variac sat between the inverter
and the neon transformer, acting like a throttle, to control how much his output coil was excited.

In a normal design the high voltage RF would have to be rectified and tediously stepped down to regulated 12VDC at relatively high current so as to maintain efficiency.
Where does the high current DC need to run the inverter come from?

---

Why doesn't he use mains power? He wants you to be impressed when the system keeps running without being plugged in. ie. proof of OU in the system!

You have opened my eyes here that i didn´t think of. Thanks ms