High Voltage Current Limiter
This rather elaborate device is intended as protection
for my Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplier when it is being used to power
capacitor discharge experiments. The need for such protection became
painfully obvious after my first attempts at
can crushing. The limiter is composed of two strings of twenty
four 100,000 ohm, 10 watt resistors and a safety gap. The components
are mounted on a five foot length of 3/4" X 4" ultra high molecular weight
polyethylene. The resistors are connected in series with crimp type
butt connectors which are held in notches on the ends of six inch lengths
of 1/2" UHMWPE rods, which pierce the board. UHMWPE end pieces hold
the safety gap and four banana jacks.