Picture 2

This is my last try to get pictures.
Sorry

TEST#1 - Open Circuit Testing voltages and Currents (NO LOAD) - TAP = 600 Turns.


Transformer's data:


Input coils #1 and #3 Taps: 200, 400, 600, and 750 turns of # 16 AWG.


Output coil #2: 300 Turns of #12 AWG.



Picture 'TableSettingTest1' shows the Table configuration for testing my a single section. See this link: https://imageshack.com/i/0msrlfj
You can see the power supply on the right having an adjustable auto transformer, the transformer's coils on the center, and the step drive and arduino controller on the left.


Picture 'StepDrive2M542Tables' shows a closeup view of the step driver. See this link: https://imageshack.com/i/nq2sjxj


Picture "ArduinoControllerConnection' shows a closeup view of the arduino controller having a shield attached. See this link: https://imageshack.com/i/f1k3nsj


Picture 'ArduinoCodeTest1' shows the arduino program used to provide the pulses to the step drive. See this link: https://imageshack.com/i/mas3npj Notice the frequency is set for 32KHz. The step drive was set for 25,600 micro-stepping generating an output voltage on coil#2 of about 58.8 Hz. Note: the output pin is #13 (not #6 as stated in the notes)


Picture 'CurrentAt120VacTest1' shows the AC current at 120Vac going into the power supply. See this link: [size=78%]https://imageshack.com/i/09bxkdj[/size]
notice that the current is barely visible in the analog scale.


Picture 'StepDriverVoltageOutput' shows the DC PWM voltage out of one of the step driver outputs. See this link: [size=78%]https://imageshack.com/i/n9cijij[/size]
As expected, notice the square shape of the voltage waveform.


Picture 'StepDriveCurrentOutputTest1' shows the DC current out of one of the step driver outputs. See this link: [size=78%]https://imageshack.com/i/0f9wz2j[/size]
Notice the spikes generated. Anyway, the overall shape is pretty good.



Picture 'AcVoltOutputCoil2Test1' shows the AC output voltage from coil #2. See this link: https://imageshack.com/i/0stc73j
The data measured for this voltage are the following: Vrms =16.40 Vac; Vp-p = 40 Vac; Freq = 58.8 Hz. Notice the good quality of the voltage waveform (it looks similar to a modified sine wave provided by inverters). The voltage output looks much better than the one using the seven resistor method.

I also wanted to add that the loses are minimum when using this method to generate the primary voltages. The resistor method generates a lot of heat and losses.

I will run more open voltage test for the other taps to then proceed with the load and short circuit tests.


As I stated before, I am kind of disappointed that none in this forum have gotten good testing results with the resistors. Instead, I see many people confused and moving away in the wrong direction (not the one recommended by Figuera and I). We need to stop the BS theory and move into construction as originally intended in this forum.


Bajac

Note that TEST #1 generated an output rms voltage for the secondary of about 16.5 Vac. To get the 120 Vac target, I would need to build 7 more sections if using that particular tap (600 turns.)
[size=78%]
[/size]
I want to say that a secondary coil with 300 turns is still not ideal. For the next section, I am planning to make a secondary coil with 500 turns of #14 AWG.


Bajac

I just finished for the night but I wanted to share some more findings.


As illustrated in the figures that were posted, the PWM function can be used to generate the two primary voltages. However, the problem with the step driver is that it behaves as a current source. In this initial stage, we want to get away from the current source because it can create issues that can complicate our understanding of the Figuera's device. I am working on using the PWM outputs from arduino and connect them to a high power H-Bridge.


In addition, the performance of the device is better for the taps at 600 and 750 turns. The taps for 200 and 400 turns generate wave forms with a lot of harmonics. The 200 turn tap is the worst.


I will keep you posted. Thank you.


Bajac

Alrightythen...


I have found a simple way to do the coil driving with Arduino!


All you need is:
1. ONE 10k/100k Ohm potentiometer. Connect the middle leg to Arduino's "A0" analog input. The other two legs of the pot goes to +5V and GND on Arduino.
2. TWO Logic Level MOSFET transistors to do the switching (Logic level - like in IRL series -  means that a mosfet is in a conduction saturation state at just +5V put to its gate). Connect the Gate of one mosfet to "Pin 3" and the others' gate to "Pin 11". Sources go to the "GND" of the Arduino board.
3. Connect +(positive) from a battery to both "North" & "South" coils and their ends to both drains in the two mosfets and -(negative) to the Arduino's "GND" close to the Source legs of mosfets.
4. Connect fast shottky diodes across each coil to do the freewheeling of current.


Program description:
Arduino is generating a digital signal at 32 kHz frequency using 2 PWM outputs. The value for each "sample" is taken from the sine table. There are 256 values of resolution for the "shape" of the sine wave and 256 values of amplitude. You can change phase shift by changing "offset" variable. Potentiometer allows to set the analog frequency from 0 to 1023 Hz at 1 Hz resolution...




NOW copy the code below to Arduino IDE window and save it to the microconroller and HERE YOU GO!

/* CLEMENTE FIGUERAS GENERADOR DRIVER
 * modification by kEhYo77
 *
 * Thanks must be given to Martin Nawrath for the developement of the original code to generate a sine wave using PWM and a LPF.
 * http://interface.khm.de/index.php/lab/experiments/arduino-dds-sinewave-generator/
*/




#include "avr/pgmspace.h" //Store data in flash (program) memory instead of SRAM




// Look Up table of a single sine period divied up into 256 values. Refer to PWM to sine.xls on how the values was calculated
PROGMEM  prog_uchar sine256[]  = {
  127,130,133,136,139,143,146,149,152,155,158,161,164,167,170,173,176,178,181,184,187,190,192,195,198,200,203,205,208,210,212,215,217,219,221,223,225,227,229,231,233,234,236,238,239,240,
  242,243,244,245,247,248,249,249,250,251,252,252,253,253,253,254,254,254,254,254,254,254,253,253,253,252,252,251,250,249,249,248,247,245,244,243,242,240,239,238,236,234,233,231,229,227,225,223,
  221,219,217,215,212,210,208,205,203,200,198,195,192,190,187,184,181,178,176,173,170,167,164,161,158,155,152,149,146,143,139,136,133,130,127,124,121,118,115,111,108,105,102,99,96,93,90,87,84,81,78,
  76,73,70,67,64,62,59,56,54,51,49,46,44,42,39,37,35,33,31,29,27,25,23,21,20,18,16,15,14,12,11,10,9,7,6,5,5,4,3,2,2,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,18,20,21,23,25,27,29,31,
  33,35,37,39,42,44,46,49,51,54,56,59,62,64,67,70,73,76,78,81,84,87,90,93,96,99,102,105,108,111,115,118,121,124




};
#define cbi(sfr, bit) (_SFR_BYTE(sfr) &= ~_BV(bit)) //define a bit to have the properties of a clear bit operator
#define sbi(sfr, bit) (_SFR_BYTE(sfr) |= _BV(bit))//define a bit to have the properties of a set bit operator




int PWM1 = 11; //PWM1 output, phase 1
int PWM2 = 3; //PWM2 ouput, phase 2
int offset = 127; //offset is 180 degrees out of phase with the other phase




double dfreq;
const double refclk=31376.6;      // measured output frequency
int apin0 = 10;




// variables used inside interrupt service declared as voilatile
volatile byte current_count;              // Keep track of where the current count is in sine 256 array
volatile unsigned long phase_accumulator;   // pahse accumulator
volatile unsigned long tword_m;  // dds tuning word m, refer to DDS_calculator (from Martin Nawrath) for explination.




void setup()
{
  pinMode(PWM1, OUTPUT);      //sets the digital pin as output
  pinMode(PWM2, OUTPUT);      //sets the digital pin as output
  Setup_timer2();
 
  //Disable Timer 1 interrupt to avoid any timing delays
  cbi (TIMSK0,TOIE0);              //disable Timer0 !!! delay() is now not available
  sbi (TIMSK2,TOIE2);              //enable Timer2 Interrupt




  dfreq=10.0;                    //initial output frequency = 1000.o Hz
  tword_m=pow(2,32)*dfreq/refclk;  //calulate DDS new tuning word
 
  // running analog pot input with high speed clock (set prescale to 16)
  bitClear(ADCSRA,ADPS0);
  bitClear(ADCSRA,ADPS1);
  bitSet(ADCSRA,ADPS2);




}
void loop()
{
        apin0=analogRead(0);             //Read voltage on analog 1 to see desired output frequency, 0V = 0Hz, 5V = 1.023kHz
        if(dfreq != apin0){
          tword_m=pow(2,32)*dfreq/refclk;  //Calulate DDS new tuning word
          dfreq=apin0;
        }
}




//Timer 2 setup
//Set prscaler to 1, PWM mode to phase correct PWM,  16000000/510 = 31372.55 Hz clock
void Setup_timer2()
{
  // Timer2 Clock Prescaler to : 1
  sbi (TCCR2B, CS20);
  cbi (TCCR2B, CS21);
  cbi (TCCR2B, CS22);




  // Timer2 PWM Mode set to Phase Correct PWM
  cbi (TCCR2A, COM2A0);  // clear Compare Match
  sbi (TCCR2A, COM2A1);
  cbi (TCCR2A, COM2B0);
  sbi (TCCR2A, COM2B1);
 
  // Mode 1  / Phase Correct PWM
  sbi (TCCR2B, WGM20); 
  cbi (TCCR2B, WGM21);
  cbi (TCCR2B, WGM22);
}








//Timer2 Interrupt Service at 31372,550 KHz = 32uSec
//This is the timebase REFCLOCK for the DDS generator
//FOUT = (M (REFCLK)) / (2 exp 32)
//Runtime : 8 microseconds
ISR(TIMER2_OVF_vect)
{
  phase_accumulator=phase_accumulator+tword_m; //Adds tuning M word to previoud phase accumulator. refer to DDS_calculator (from Martin Nawrath) for explination.
  current_count=phase_accumulator >> 24;     // use upper 8 bits of phase_accumulator as frequency information                     
 
  OCR2A = pgm_read_byte_near(sine256 + current_count); // read value fron ROM sine table and send to PWM
  OCR2B = pgm_read_byte_near(sine256 + (uint8_t)(current_count + offset)); // read value fron ROM sine table and send to PWM, 180 Degree out of phase of PWM1
}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC70s3tYaGs&hd=1

Hi all,

I am pretty sure that with a magnetic amplifier (saturable reactor) we can get the two opposite signals needed for the Figuera´s 1908 patent. For example: with a magnetic amplifier an audio amplifier (push-pull) may be implemented.

Idea: use a rectified AC signal as input to a magnetic amplifier in order to regulate the output signal with negative feedback, (negative gain) so that an increase in the input will make a decrease in the output (see attached sketch)

Some important facts about mag amp:

"The magnetic amplifier, like the vacuum tube and the transistor, is an electrical control valve where a smaller current controls another circuit´s larger current"

"With a magnetic amplifier you can control AC load current only. For DC applications it is possible to control an AC current and rectify the output"

"Magnetic amplifer control circuits should accept AC input signals as well as DC input signals. The DC input signal is called "bias". The most effective way to apply bias to a saturable core and also allow AC input signals to control the magnetic amplifier is to use a bias winding"

I attach an schematic to clarify this idea. The schematic is just to show the main idea. It is not a working design because I am not an expert (maybe someone more skillfull into mag amps may design a working device...). The main advantage is that this will be a very easy implementation. Any expert around here?

http://maybaummagnetics.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/68-71-27-2.pdf

http://avstop.com/ac/apgeneral/magneticamplifiers.html

http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/33587/controlling-a-current-with-another-home-made-alternatives-to-the-transistor

http://www.tpub.com/neets/book8/32o.htm

http://www.rfcafe.com/references/popular-electronics/magnetic-amplifiers-jul-1960-popular-electronics.htm

http://www.tuks.nl/pdf/Reference_Material/Magnetic_Amplifiers/


Regards

The reason why the power output is increased by just adding turns to the secondary is because there is no relation between the input and output currents, that is, there are no effects of the Lenz's law.
In standards transformers, adding turns to the secondary coil would decrease the output current to maintain the I_primary/I_secondary current ratio of these transformers. And, if the secondary current is increased, so will the primary. This is no the case for the Figuera's devices.