Low current on 110v -> 550v amplifier

[Jinouchi]

I've been working on constructing a voltage amplifier (/full wave rectifier) to boost from 110VAC to ~550VDC. It works fine, except that the current is very low (20mA) and I'm not sure why. I'm using 250V 1uF film caps and some 1N4007 diodes assembled as seen here (minus the resistor, sub a 250mA fuse, and with only thee stages): **broken link removed** . With my limited knowledge of electronics, it seems that without any resistor to limit current, I should be able to get a LOT more than 20mA out of this thing. I'd like to end up with around 100-200mA.

Originally I had some 0.1uF caps and replaced them with the 1uF caps in hopes that the current would increase, but no such luck.

What is limiting the current?

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

1uF is far too low, it's reactance at 60Hz is over 2500 ohms.

 

[Jinouchi]

Ah, ok thanks. I had a hunch that that may be the problem, but wasn't sure. What capacitance would you recommend for the desired output?

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Ah, ok thanks. I had a hunch that that may be the problem, but wasn't sure. What capacitance would you recommend for the desired output?

Well crudely, 10 times the capacitance should give something like ten times the current?.

What are you actually trying to do with it?.

 

[Jinouchi]

Aha, that makes sense. I'm using this amplifier to charge another cap (/cap bank) which I'm using as a spot welder. As of now, it does charge, but it takes a very long time - 10+ minutes to full capacity.

 

[Jinouchi]

So, this cap should work just fine then, giving me ~200mA, correct?

QXK2E106KTP Nichicon Polyester Film Capacitors

It's the cheapest one I can find.