This is all excellent to hear, thank you very much everyone!

Bless your heart, I just bought one of these. I’ll try to post results in a few weeks

Hello everyone,

I wanted to get a few other peoples' input on probing techniques for troubleshooting (DR)SSTC H-bridge circuitry. Currently, I have been using a used analogue CRT scope from Tektronics for probing pretty much everything from my driver to the actual power side of the coil(s) that I've been working on. The benefit of the analogue scope has included being able to see very short/transient spikes, as well as the fact that it has an add feature that allows for differential (I believe) measurements. I've been able to tune my primary, probe current waveforms, and even turn phase lead on the driver, but I've been nervous about taking any measurements when powering the bridge via mains. I just bought a Hantek digital storage scope, and an additional 1-100X probe so my old scope will now be my back-up one and provide an additional 2 channels in case I need more than 2 for one test.

My question is simply to inquire as to how everyone else probes their bridge; particularly probing the high side IGBT's and tuning phase lead, and whether or not you use a high voltage differential probe.

Thank you kindly in advance!

Thank you so much for your input! I am specifically using this capacitor: https://www.ebay.com/itm/DTR-0-18UF-2500V-AC-60A-4000V-DC-high-pressure-Resonant-capacitor-G1031-XH-yh/182178680534?hash=item2a6ab20ed6:g:LGoAAOSwzJ5XaLxM
I can't find a datasheet in english, so I'm hoping that the 60A rating is the RMS current rating.

The coil I'm working on is small to midsized, roughly 115 khz unloaded (though I don't have the exact measurements right now and I'm making a new topload), 9cm diameter, with roughly 1600 or so turns with 34AWG . I have two IXGN60N60C2D1's with certificates from a reputable dealer after I learned the hard way that most of them from eBay are, predictably, not genuine. I decided, however, to use a CM200DY-24H for a half bridge w/ voltage doubler. I'm only experimenting right now, and I have a nice variety of different inductors for tuning phase lead, so even though it's overkill at the moment I like having the breathing room until I can optimize everything. My budget is limited (as is my knowledge and experience), and the IXS SOT-227's were a bit too pricey to be experimenting with at the moment

I'll post some pictures and measurements either tonight or tomorrow, and I'll be happy to let everyone know how this capacitor performs! If things go well, I'll likely get three more for an MMC of two parallel rows of two in series for a rating of 0.18uf, 5kVAC (8kVDC), 120Arms.

Hi bogdan, I'm new to this forum as well. I started building solid state circuits for Tesla coils about a year ago, but for GDT's, I have had good experiences with EPCOS toroids made from type n30 material and cat 5 wire, as well as commercially available pre-wound transformers like 673-PH9400233ANLT from Mouser.

If you do end up winding a smaller secondary, the slayer resonator circuit you were using is where I started as well. The power supply I used was just a mid-sized 60hz iron core transformer, bridge rectifier and electrolytic as a bare bones unregulated supply.