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ESD Generator - ESD Gun simulator

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AllTheGearNoIdea:
Does anyone know how the switching of the ESD is done on commercial ESD gun simulators.  I am looking to build something to recreate the human model for precompliance testing and want something more controllable than a grill starter.  I am assuming that they maybe use a  high voltage vacuum relay  but not sure how they achieve the very fast rise times.  I have had a look on eBay but these are very expensive. I would probably be looking at discharging up to 10kv from a 100pf door knob capacitors. 

Just wondered if anyone had opened one up and had a look inside etc.

Thanks regards a Chris

capt bullshot:
To my (limited) knowledge, they use relays. A mercury wetted relay achieves fast enough rise time (faster than semiconductor switches anyway), then there's a defined impedance in series to shape the pulse.

Leo Bodnar:
Why bother making one?
Keytek 2000 is cheap and available on eBay.  Most of its complexity is in pulse train generation using 1980's tech.
Here is its operating instructions and service manual: http://manuals.repeater-builder.com/te-files/KEYTEK/KEYTEK%2020XX%20Operating%20Instructions.pdf

If you are trying to save cost, get only the gun and make the driver yourself.  I think the HV cap is at the back of the gun and is replaceable (I have not used mine in years...)

Hg wetted relays risetime is into picoseconds, it is probably an overkill.  Standard ESD pulse has only about 1ns risetime.
Leo

AllTheGearNoIdea:
Thanks that’s really useful especially the manual. I have had a look for one on eBay for a few months and all the working ones were still relatively expensive and had shipping on the top which was expensive for the U.K. But maybe if I keep looking I will get lucky. I do still want to have ago at building a simple homebrew version I know it won’t be traceable to the standard etc but I still think it would be better than the grill starter option.

Thanks again really useful.

Regards Chris

Leo Bodnar:
You can borrow mine to play with if you want.

If you keep offering £200-£300 to sellers you will eventually get one.  Shipping is not that easy to tackle though.

Leo

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