Best way to rectify 30kv flyback output

diodesflybackseries

i have made a flyback transformer for some HV experiments and am hoping to get around 35kv from it, which i want to use to charge a capacitor, so i will need to rectify the output… i think perhaps some kind of asimetrical spark gap might be able to do the trick but was hoping and wondering if I would be able to string together a load of diodes in series to do the job?

I have some 1n4007 diodes with a max reverse voltage of 1k… if I put 40 in series will it work, or will they all just melt? something I read suggested that I would need resistors somehow involved with the diodes to make it function? how would that work?

if the answer is no, does anyone have any suggestions about ways to do this?

Best Answer

1N4007 are not really suitable for such a high frequency circuit due to their slow recovery time (microseconds). At mains frequency you could use series string. You could try a series string of UF4007 diodes (75ns recovery time).

You can buy packaged 80kV 200mA 100ns rectifier stacks for about $30 if you look around.