While browsing for unusual modules on eBay I came across an odd little unit intended for keeping the interiors of fridges or other small spaces sterile.
Before anyone starts indignantly announcing that the correct way to keep your fridge sterile is to clean it regularly, I should mention that the main point of this device is to stop transfer of odours from stinky cheeses and other aromatic foods, and also to prolong the life of exposed food by limiting the growth of bacteria or mould.
The unit claims to put out positive and negative ions, and it does have a carbon fibre emitter for each that does indeed have a matching charge. However, the main characteristic of this unit is the slight hint of ozone. Ozone gas (an unstable 3-atom oxygen molecule) is increasingly being used at low levels in catering environments to reduce the risk of food poisoning and prolong product shelf life.
The power consumption of this module on 240V is very surprising. Just a fraction of a watt at 0.01W (ten milliwatts).
Before de-potting this unit I had a guess at what might be inside. I expected the common circuit based on discharging a capacitor in pulses through a small high voltage transformer, but I was completely wrong. It's a very neat little circuit, but quite perplexing as the component count is much lower than expected.for the style of circuitry.
Here's a search link for the 220-240V version of this module:-
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=TFB-YA2102&_sacat=0&_sop=15
Here's a search link for the 110-120V version of this module:-
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=TFB-YA1102&_sacat=0&_sop=15
Here's a search link for the 12V version of this module:-
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=TFB-YD12102&_sacat=0&_sop=15
Note that I do NOT recommend using 12V DC ioniser modules on ungrounded plug-in power supplies, as they can create a high enough voltage differential to ground to cause arcing/tracking between the low and high voltage sides of the power supply.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
Before anyone starts indignantly announcing that the correct way to keep your fridge sterile is to clean it regularly, I should mention that the main point of this device is to stop transfer of odours from stinky cheeses and other aromatic foods, and also to prolong the life of exposed food by limiting the growth of bacteria or mould.
The unit claims to put out positive and negative ions, and it does have a carbon fibre emitter for each that does indeed have a matching charge. However, the main characteristic of this unit is the slight hint of ozone. Ozone gas (an unstable 3-atom oxygen molecule) is increasingly being used at low levels in catering environments to reduce the risk of food poisoning and prolong product shelf life.
The power consumption of this module on 240V is very surprising. Just a fraction of a watt at 0.01W (ten milliwatts).
Before de-potting this unit I had a guess at what might be inside. I expected the common circuit based on discharging a capacitor in pulses through a small high voltage transformer, but I was completely wrong. It's a very neat little circuit, but quite perplexing as the component count is much lower than expected.for the style of circuitry.
Here's a search link for the 220-240V version of this module:-
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=TFB-YA2102&_sacat=0&_sop=15
Here's a search link for the 110-120V version of this module:-
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=TFB-YA1102&_sacat=0&_sop=15
Here's a search link for the 12V version of this module:-
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=TFB-YD12102&_sacat=0&_sop=15
Note that I do NOT recommend using 12V DC ioniser modules on ungrounded plug-in power supplies, as they can create a high enough voltage differential to ground to cause arcing/tracking between the low and high voltage sides of the power supply.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
I wonder if they studied how ozone effects the covid virus?
Your videos are fun interesting and so much to learn from your reverse engineering. Thank you.
👍
It's a bipolar ionizer. It indirectly produces hydroxyls, which are potent oxidizers but safer than ozone. The ozone output is quite low.
Wonder why manufacturers don’t fit one as standard in a fridge?
Fucking potting compounds…
Clive.. electrostatic hvac filters are almost as old as maytag…
actuallly the technology has been around for quite sometime, Sharp Air Purifier has this module in all their models and they call it Plasmacluster Ion.
A cheap Chinese product with no consideration for safe or appropriate component working voltage? Never!
When you draw out the schematic, could you please label it? That way when we screen grab it we know what it is when we build it later down the road, when we have time.
The caps are in series and they don't need to be rated for that high voltage. The potential between them is probly ~220 V. Like a batteries in series.
Which is the solvent bicclive?
Ozone is a very dangerous gas to breath
says people don't like the pausing, proceeds to pause for multiple days