big plasma ball

• To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
• Subject: big plasma ball
• From: "Paul Mathus" <pmathus-at-learningco-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)
• Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 17:06:18 -0600
• Approved: twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net
• Delivered-To: fixup-tesla-at-pupman-dot-com-at-fixme

     Folks,
     
     I've been thinking about designs for a BIG plasma ball, maybe 8'-9' in 
     diameter.  I was thinking of making a geodesic sphere from pvc or 
     steel pipe, and cauking on clear plastic sheeting, or perhaps screwing 
     on clear plexi plates and sealing with weather stripping.  It would be 
     a bit leaky, but I imagine you could hold gas long enough for a show.  
     You would then fill with argon or your gas of choice, pumping in more 
     as needed to replace loss while you astounded the masses.  This is a 
     possible Burning Man installation I've been tossing around for my 6" 
     coil.
     
     I was wondering what the best geometry for placing a coil in this 
     contraption would be.  If the primary was inside you would risk 
     primary strikes from the increased spark length, no?  If the primary 
     was outside, the sphere would interfere with coupling, wouldn't it?  
     
     Also, does anybody have any guesses/experience on the spark length and 
     other effects you get from running a coil in an gas mixture?  Would it 
     look similar to the typical gift store plasma ball?
     
     thanks,
     paul


______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Coil ideas for experiments
Author:  Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> at INTERNET
Date:    4/16/00 3:12 PM


Original Poster: "sundog" <sundog-at-timeship-dot-net> 
     
*grin*  After having broken, burned, poked, electrocuted, mashed, 
jabbed,etc... almost every extremity and a lot of non-extremeties, 
I've learned the hard way that even "trivial" things can really 
make your day horrible.  I got 1 pair of eyes, and my eyesight is 
bad enough already :)  As Murphy can prove, (and I can attest to, 
got scars!), it's the least likely and least suspected thing that 
will get you.  :)  Anywho, the laser idea isn't something *I'd* 
try, lack of money mostly, but it is an interesting idea :)  Laters
     
Sundog - hmmm.....
     -----Original Message-----

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