testing double pane windows with a small TC?

• To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
• Subject: testing double pane windows with a small TC?
• From: Jim Lux <James.P.Lux-at-jpl.nasa.gov> (by way of terryf-at-verinet-dot-com)
• Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 17:35:03 -0600
• Approved: terryf-at-verinet-dot-com

Slightly off topic, but here goes. I just bought a house with double
pane windows theoretically filled with Argon. Some of the windows were
damaged in installation, and there may be others with no visible damage,
but with a broken seal, inevitably causing a problem.

I figure I can check them by somehow looking to see if it is still Argon
inside. As I recall, Argon produces a noticeably different discharge
color (and much easier to ionize) than air, so it occurred to me that
one could check these windows by using a small TC (or a handheld Oudin
coil (e.g. a "leak checker")) near the window and looking at the color
and kind of discharge.

All of my playing around with this was at low pressures (< 1 torr). Has
anyone tried this?  Other ideas?

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