How does a DC air ionizer work?

[supak111]

I understand inside a AC air ionizer is a simple marx generator, but whats inside one of these $6 china made DC ionizers? There are just 2 power wires, and 2 white wires have carbon fiber strands where the HV comes out. I have one I just don't feel like destroying it just to find out how it works thanks

Like this one:

 

[Gryd3]

There is no reason it could not have some kind of fly-back transformer or other circuitry to create an AC current from DC to allow the marx generator you are familiar with to be used.
Ultimately, there are multiple ways of doing it, I am just unsure which approach was actually taken with this product.

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Considering that the health benefits of ionised air are unproven (AFAIK), there might not be anything in it! But I'd be keen to see inside it.

Teardown! Teardown! Teardown!

 

[supak111]

Oh ok thats what I just assumed but assuming isn't learning lol. I asked because I wanted to see if there is anything else out there like marx that just makes HV straight from DC without extra circuitry but couldn't find anything like that. Marx generator is brilliantly simple

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

So are you going to take Dave Jones's advice and "Don't turn it on... take it apart!" ?

 

[supak111]

Oh I don' really care about it actually doing anything as far as the health benefits are concerned, I just like HV. And KrisBlueNZ the thing defiantly works and it does so on DC. It makes HV and a bit of corona if you dim the lights

PS now Im thinking buy another one anyways and open it

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

http://www.d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y.com/

 

[supak111]

Haha, I just learned something today