Is there a Switch that can Withstand a Very High Current?

Is there any compact electronic component used to make a switch that can withstand large currents from a series of capacitors connected in parallel with a total voltage of over 600V?

leVanw said:

Is there any compact electronic component used to make a switch that can withstand large currents from a series of capacitors connected in parallel with a total voltage of over 600V?

How "compact" is compact? What kind of switch -- thrown mechanically or electrically?

Have you looked at contactors yet?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contactor

OK, yes. But, this may be the worst component specification ever. We don't know what you actually need.

But I'll guess: A high current 600VDC capacitor discharge is likely to be done with a big SCR. But there are many other choices.

Note: Real engineering design skill will be require here. You are perilously close to my standard "if you have to ask, you shouldn't do it" answer. But then, you haven't even really asked, more like you put us on notice that a switching application will be specified sometime.

BTW, you get bonus points for showing us an equivalent circuit schematic. Nothing too fancy, just sketch it by hand and post a picture.

leVanw said:

switch that can withstand large currents

You might also tell us how large is "large".

You want large current, but specified voltage. Like @DaveE and his rule of thumb, I have to wonder if maybe you shouldn't be doing whatever you are planning.

Vanadium 50 said:

I have to wonder if maybe you shouldn't be doing whatever you are planning.

Oh lighten up you guys, geeze. We've all used large capacitor banks for laser fun at uni...


https://www.tfiny.org/blog/detail/real_genius_our_favorite_science_films

leVanw said:

Is there any compact electronic component used to make a switch that can withstand large currents from a series of capacitors connected in parallel with a total voltage of over 600V?

Yes there is.
There are many possible solutions.
What is the total capacitance ?

Why are you doing this?
What will the current flow through when the switch turns on?
For how much time will the current need to flow?
When will the switch be required to turn off.

I actually worked with a DPDT knife switch that carried about 6 kA. It lived in a big metal box, maybe 1 meter on a side. I asked if I could be there the next time they reversed it. The reply was "Can't. Fused."

Um...that does not mean they put a fuse on it.

berkeman said:

Oh lighten up you guys, geeze. We've all used large capacitor banks for laser fun at uni...

View attachment 338870
https://www.tfiny.org/blog/detail/real_genius_our_favorite_science_films

Some of us got paid* to do it too! This one had a flashlamp pumped YAG with two PFNs at 1KVDC, 1KApk, 45J, 10Hz



*Disclaimer: It's not as fun as it looks in the movies, that's why they have to pay you. It also took a damned site longer than asking about how to do it on social media.

berkeman said:

Oh lighten up you guys, geeze. We've all used large capacitor banks for laser fun at uni...

View attachment 338870
https://www.tfiny.org/blog/detail/real_genius_our_favorite_science_films

OK, off topic, but I can't resist: Anytime you see a "laser beam" going through space like this picture, it's 100% fake, or perhaps you have a trash can fire or fog in your room (in which case you should turn it off and go home). That's not what lasers look like IRL.

DaveE said:

OK, off topic, but I can't resist: Anytime you see a "laser beam" going through space like this picture, it's 100% fake, or perhaps you have a trash can fire or fog in your room (in which case you should turn it off and go home). That's not what lasers look like IRL.

That‘s why, in films, they call it a:

DaveE said:

or perhaps you have a trash can fire or fog in your room

Well, back in the day, the smoke in the laser lab wasn't from a trash can fire...

And then there is this old joke:

Two engineers were in the development lab arguing over a complex optical setup. They couldn't agree where the beam waist was.

The technician that built the apparatus stood by and listened for some minutes.
Eventually he walked over, blew some cigarette smoke at the beam, and walked away.

Sheepskin ≠ Common Sense.

Standard DTTAH warning.

This circuit breaker finder just popped up on reddit. Works every time. Amperage guaranteed high enough.

nsaspook said:

Standard DTTAH warning.

That chap is, I believe, a high voltage safety consultant for govt and industry. And mad scientist.

Clever people doing silly things make the best videos.