To those who enjoy a challenge:
Commercial induction cookers are now available for home use at relatively
low prices. They seem to have all the necessary components (e.g. a
microprocessor driving IGBTs), a primary, control and protection circuitry
typically needed for a solid state Tesla Coil, and are rated to deliver
power up to 1.8 KW or so.
The idea is to replace the iron pot "load" with a suitable secondary with
toroidal or spherical top load and enjoy the high voltage streamers. The
challenges include 1) Making a secondary that will resonate at 60 kHz or
lower (probably a series of stacked pie-windings), or perhaps changing tank
circuit values to raise the frequency, or both; 2) protecting the cooker
circuitry from EMF and direct streamer strikes; 3) moving the controls to be
several feet away from the cooker unit; and 4) possibly needing to modify
the controller software.
For those interested in exploring the challenge, here is an informative
starting point:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19443502/Induction-cooker-circuit-design . (This
is a 50 Hz mains application, but of course the principles apply for 60 Hz
power). List members no doubt will be interested in your comments regarding
this subject, and especially your results of trying it.
Steve Y.
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