AliExpress/ Chinese drsstc drivers

[oneKone]

With my drsstc project on the horizon I had to start thinking about the driver. I've seen many rev 2.7c boards and the awesome through hole 1.3b board mads has created, but one thing I haven't seen are many Chinese boards being used.

My overall goal for this thread will be to have different Chinese driver boards so people can basically have another option without completely buying in the dark.

I've just ordered this board to test after I build my drsstc. If all goes well I'll order different variations and see how they go.

Link to the first board:
 http://s.aliexpress.com/viAVr6Vb

[futurist]

A lot of those cheap chinese drivers appeared on ali/ebay, listing descriptions are almost non readable so it's no surprise people are not buying them

Check out this one, it uses some kind of CPLD/FPGA
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Tesla-Coil-Drives-the-Essence-of-PDM-Tune-DRSSTC-Music/32815847552.html

24$ 555 interrupter with ST fiber TX
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Tesla-coil-DRSSTC-arc-extinguishing-arc-extinction/1167644_32805913948.html

Since BOM of UD2.7C is around 60$ I'm really curious if those can be used instead

[CCX191]

You can usually find those exact modulators and drivers in taobao for a much cheaper price. Since I'm not too entirely well verse with electronics and Tesla Coil circuits although after building one I refrained from buying them as of now. Those links in the PCB usually leads you to a Chinese HV forum which consists of many interesting builds. Here's one: http://www.hvdiy.com/forum.php

[Mads Barnkob]

I was not even aware of DRSSTC drivers being available "publicly" like this, usually it has always been group buys of PCBs etc, I guess even the slightest thinnest market is enough for some Chinese manufacturers to set up a series, or maybe there is a huge Chinese in-land market that we never hear of?

This google translate link to the AC Tesla coil part of the forum helps understand what is going on: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hvdiy.com%2Fforum.php&edit-text=&act=url

The driver in the first link says "Steve-4" on it, which refers to Steve Wards 4th DRSSTC: https://www.stevehv.4hv.org/DRSSTC4.htm that used the UD1.3, which is now the UD1.3b: https://www.stevehv.4hv.org/new_driver.html

25$ is still a fine price for a populated UD1.3b driver

I am looking forward to see your tests with these drivers!

[Garyf]

Never able to resist a bargain, I bought a couple of these bare boards from Ali:

I've got one just about populated but a schematic would be nice.  They call it a 1.3B "enhanced".
Has anyone been able to download the schematic for this from hvdiy.com?  It says you have to register to download, I tried that with the translation page from Chinese without success.
Its in the "tesla coil zone" under "DRSSTC file sharing UD 1.3b enhanced version":

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hvdiy.com%2Fforum.php&edit-text=&act=url

[Mads Barnkob]

It looks like a nice and clean layout, it will be fun to see the results. I guess the "enhanced" means that it has 2 GDT outputs but no phase lead section.

About hvdiy.com....

It was easy enough to fill out username, password and email.

But their security question before the CAPTCHA is not fun! Translated it says "* Verify the question and answer: for one The basic material for the diode is __ material (hint: the answer is a Chinese character), this material is called "semiconductor". Another kind of semiconductor material "germanium", is no longer used."

The answer is clearly silicon, translated with google translate using simplified Chinese I got "硅"

Now I have signed in, which can only be done on a non translated page... and it says this when I try to open a thread "Sorry, your user group (waiting for verified members) can not do this"

I have to wait to be activated by a moderator or something.

[Garyf]

Good work!  I got stuck at the security question.

[FilipŠebík]

Never able to resist a bargain, I bought a couple of these bare boards from Ali:

I've got one just about populated but a schematic would be nice.  They call it a 1.3B "enhanced".
Has anyone been able to download the schematic for this from hvdiy.com?  It says you have to register to download, I tried that with the translation page from Chinese without success.
Its in the "tesla coil zone" under "DRSSTC file sharing UD 1.3b enhanced version":

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hvdiy.com%2Fforum.php&edit-text=&act=url

Here you go. I checked both files with antivirus and they are negative
It took me 2 minutes to register and download the driver schematic, so here you go.
Does it contain any malware??? Nope, checked both files

[Mads Barnkob]

Thank you for downloading them!

For some reason I am still stuck with a user that says I am not allowed to view any threads and the admin never replied my email. Oh well doesn't matter now.

It is virtually a clone of the UD1.3b with two supply rails for output mosfet stages, which looks like they used the same substitutes as I originally published IRF540/9540, and some cheaper mosfet drivers TC4423 than the rather expensive UCC parts.

But what is the purpose of the extra AND gate, hex inverting Schmitt trigger and SW2?

[Garyf]

Thanks Filip! Ive got one just about done, ill see if i can figure out the extra circuitry.

[Garyf]

Finished the board, works good on the bench.  Extra circuitry is to shorten the interrupter interval for low frequencies to prevent overdrive.  R18 should be 1K instead of 18K printed on board.  GDT dual outputs:

Boards are 2 for $12 on Ali

[oneKone]

So a bit of an update! Now I've built a drsstc with the driver I first linked I can say I'm happy with it. It's extremely cheap, compact and gives Steve ward the recognition (name printed on the board). I can safely (based on my experience) recommend the board!

So to my next one!

I've been looking at one of these on eBay:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F122502340154

Again it seems cheap enough, but from what I've seen there's not a lot of info about them.

[profdc9]

Do the IRF540/IRF9540 get hot?  Being packed so tightly I am concerned that there is little opportunity for cooling.  I left them staggered in my layout so a heatsink could be added.

[oneKone]

@profdc9
I guess it would depend on what igbts and configuration are being driven. In my case a pair of fdd8424h driving a halfbridge of ixgn60n60 don't get warm at all.
_______________________________
I ended up buying one of these drivers from eBay:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F282775670593

The seller also sent me this link about the driver, unfortunately I haven't had time to read any of it.
https://www.kechuang.org/t/81570

[Hydron]

Most of the gate drive power dissipation will be in the gate resistor. The MOSFETs are running either fully on or fully off, so won't be getting too hot. The tab of the TO-220 parts in free air is probably a better heatsink than the copper pad used on the SMD fdd8424h based drivers.

[Mads Barnkob]

I would also worry more about the heat sinks / heat from the regulators so close to the electrolytic capacitors, that is simply not enough distance and you will cook those poor cans over time.

In my DRSSTC4 I did have to heat sink the output stage MOSFETs, but that was also when running 5000 uS on-time

[CCX191]

Now I have signed in, which can only be done on a non translated page... and it says this when I try to open a thread "Sorry, your user group (waiting for verified members) can not do this"

I have to wait to be activated by a moderator or something.

Before creating an account I am able to open a thread :/

I have also created an account via wechat which took just 10 seconds
A very interesting forum with many builds and guides available.

Here are some of my favorites.
A short comic series regarding electrical safety (can't be translated sorry) : http://www.hvdiy.com/thread-35903-1-1.html
Their tesla coil section: http://www.hvdiy.com/forum-13-4.html
UD 2.9? http://www.hvdiy.com/thread-35198-1-2.html
This really big and cool tesla coil build http://www.hvdiy.com/thread-33920-1-2.html

Enjoy

[DJthefirst]

I don't know if anyone had posted about this driver in another thread but I just ordered a Chinese "DRSSTC Dual Totem Phase Shift Compensation Driver Board Dual Resonant Tesla Coil" https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003158740528.html? . I have had to replace one of my output transistors on my UD 2.7 because it was overheating and sinking current even without being connected to the control circuitry. After working for a while has begun overheating again. This looks like a Chinese clone with some modifications of the 2.7 so ill let everyone know how it goes. I am also at College so I have plenty of friends to help translate the product page.