RE: [TCML] Large Plasma Tube

["Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>]

Several years ago Radio Shack had a closeout special on a plasma cube, and I couldn't resist.  Rather than a spherical globe, the vessel was a cube, roughly 4" on a side.  It's been in continuous operation at my house 24/7 for several years now.

The point to this is, I would expect a cube to be structurally inadequate relative to a sphere, should one try to pump it down to a vacuum.  The glass isn't exceptionally thick.  The devil's advocate asks - is it really necessary to pump down to a complete vacuum?  This device has phosphors on the interior surface which constitute the desired effect. Perhaps the gas mixture used to excite them is less critical than in more conventional spheres?

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Dave Pierson
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 7:10 AM
> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [TCML] Large Plasma Tube
>
>
> >     Somebody expressesed concerns to me about non "plasma globe" globes
> >breaking under vacuum.  I have never had one break on me, but if your
> >vacuum pump just happens to be stronger than mine (or if your globe is
> >cracked, or has a defect, or you are just unlucky) implosion is a real
> >risk.  Just do any pumping in a safe area, so if the globe explodes you
> >will not die or get hurt.  Be extra safe out there.

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