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Teslathon-argon
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From: Bill the arcstarter [SMTP:arcstarter-at-hotmail-dot-com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 1998 10:03 AM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com; wwl-at-netcomuk.co.uk; klugmann-at-hotmail-dot-com
Subject: Re: Teslathon-argon
Mike, Paul, fellow coilers,
Someone wrote:
>>I've looked at the teslathon link posted on this list and there is an
>>interesting photo with a nozzle lying on a Tesla generator with a
>>bottle of argon attached to it. Sadly the generator doesn't seem to
>>run, so how would this look like?
>
>What do you mean ? If you mean there are no sparks, this is
>because the argon tube is sucking all the power - discharges
>happen in argon more easily than in air. My 'fun with argon' page
>www-dot-netcomuk.co.uk/~wwl/argon.html has more info, and a link to
>stuff elsewhere. Remember the ambient light on the teslathon photo
>was quite high -the tube lit up a lot brighter than it looks in the
>picture.
>
>>Is it worth buying a bottle of argon?
>A small one, yes!
Those of you in the USA might be curious at what sort of $$$ it takes to
start fooling with argon.
I'm leasing (from a welding supply company) a large tank which holds 125
cu ft at STP of argon. Cost me $140 for a 15 year lease, pro-ratable,
which converts to something like $9/yr! If I get tired of doing this I
can give the tank back and get the remainder of the lease time back in
cash, etc. Thats worth $9/yr in my book...
Refills cost about $15. I haven't ever run out! You can do lots of
neat things with argon, as Mike Harrison has indicated on his page.
>I had a thought on another argon experiment I'd like to try:
>Set up a jar or tube of clear mineral oil, containing two electrodes,
>one connected to the coil, the other connected to (or other within
>striking range) of ground , spaced such that the coil discharge won't
>break down the oil's insulation (i.e. nothing happens when you zap
>it). Then bubble a stream of argon through the oil - would the
>bubbles light up?
Don't know what would happen. Does the argon glow due to the frequency
(ie - capacitive coupling) or would it work with DC at all?
I'm might try building an argon-triggered spark gap (for a non-tesla
application-crush crush!). Two polished electrodes which are positioned
far enough away as to hold off 20kv or so. Triggering would be
accomplished by blowing a puff or argon into the gap. I'm told that
argon has a better ionization percentage than does air - it might make a
less lossy switched gap.
Comments? I've blown argon over RQ gaps attached to my coil and not
seen in change in output so maybe this won't work...
There is a surgical tool called an ABC - short for Argon Beam
Coagulator. Also called an APC - Argon Plasma Coagulator. Argon passes
over a HF/HV electrode - and emerges as a plasma. This plasma then
'scorches' tissue to suppress bleeding, etc. A nontechnical webpage is
at:
http://www.erbe-med-dot-com/produkte/index_e.html
Follow the links for electrosurgery...
-Bill Pollack (Arcstarter)
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