Re: A question about UV and homemade plasma globes

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "robert heidlebaugh" <rheidlebaugh-at-desertgate-dot-com> 

Bob: I have used auto airconditioner  and other compressors for vacuum pumps
and you nead a small oil input to prevent burn out. I use an oil input to
the vacuum side through a small tube silver soldered to the input side. A
small tube such as a hypodermic needle works well to inject light oil like
10 wt oil.  Air tool oilers also works.  Oil will collect in the exhaust so
you should have a catch can to stop an oil mess .
       Robert   H
-- 


 > From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 17:16:41 -0600
 > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Subject: Re: A question about UV and homemade plasma globes
 > Resent-From: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Resent-Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 17:24:11 -0600
 >
 > Original poster: "Bob (R.A.) Jones" <a1accounting-at-bellsouth-dot-net>
 >
 > Original poster: "David Speck" <dave-at-davidspeckmd-dot-org>
 >
 >> into a can to collect the oil drippings to avoid a slippery mess in your
 > shop.
 >> Also, put some sort of shutoff valve in the vacuum side of the pump, in
 >> case you lose or shut off power while there is a vacuum in your test
 >> chamber.  Otherwise, the vacuum will fill your chamber with oil from the
 >> compressor.
 >> I don't know or a way to get the oil back into the compressor, so
 >> eventually, the unit will fail due to loss of lubrication.   (In normal
 >> operation, it's a closed system, so the oil is never lost or
 >> contaminated.)  I believe that the cavity of the motor housing is open to
 >> the intake side of the system, so it might be possible just to pour the
 > oil
 >> (after you filter the dirt out of it) back into the inlet side of the
 > pump,
 >> but I've never tried this.  Might be worth it to take apart a dead unit
 >> just to find out, but I've never had time to try it.
 >>
 >
 > On the unit I cut open the vacuum inlet  was open to the cavity.
 > So yes you can pour oil back in. If the inlet is at the top there is no
 > chance of sucking up the oil.
 > But the shut off valve is a good idea anyway.
 > The main problem is the units I have used overheat and fail.  probably
 > because the motor is not designed to run in a vacuum.
 > Not a big  problem just don't run it for long periods.
 > You can easily get down to a vacuum level for diffuse discharges.
 > I have seen two in series is recommended.  The second unit helps to keep the
 > oil degassed/dewatered in the first unit so you get a better vacuum.
 > There may be serious safety issues in doing that if the pressure can build
 > up in the second unit for some reason.
 >
 > Try carefully cutting open the evacuation tube of a florescent light so as
 > to leave sufficient tube to connect to a rubber hose.
 > What's left of the phosphor material can be removed with dilute hydrochloric
 > acid if you want a clear tube. Its tricky getting the acid in and out and
 > rinsing .
 > But you end up with a nice discharge tube with built in electrodes.
 >
 > Bob
 >
 >