Re: [TCML] Large Plsma Tube

[Scott Bogard <teslas-intern@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dave,
     All the globes pictures on my site are a few Torr unless otherwise 
specified, I may be able to get a closer number if you let me know which 
pictures you are particularly interested in.  Argon works extremely well 
at atmospheric pressure, and gives a very intense light blue color 
(almost white, I have a video of it somewhere on my page in a juice jug, 
note there is no lid on the video, the argon just stays in there because 
it is heavy).  There is no risk of implosion for the glass tube itself 
(do to its shape), but depending on the material used for the ends there 
may be.  I found Torr seal on the web too, but this epoxy is not that, I 
cannot afford Torr seal!  This stuff costs about $5 a tube, not $80, and 
is made by loctite.  You could get away without it if you are going for 
atmospheric pressure, or even a slight vacuum, but why risk it?  you 
would be able to run it with almost any TC, but if you touched it, most 
likely sparks will leap through the glass, this happened on my first 
Plasma globe prototype.  The sparks were not extremely painful, but I'm 
sure they were not good, they would grab my finger an inch from the 
glass!  Good luck!

Scott Bogard.

David N. Van Doren wrote:
> Thanks Scott - Those globes on the link, what pressure are they being 
> run at.
> Getting gas is not a problem. Designing and building the fixture isn't 
> a problem.
> My only concerns are, can I do this with out vacuum and what kind of 
> power will be needed. I suppose that if I need a power source other 
> than what I have I'll have to decide if
> I want to buy/build such a thing. And vacuum scares me with such a 
> large GLASS tube. I don't particularly want to put an implosion gage 
> around it. I know from past experience that surface tracking on glass 
> goes for ever on minimal voltage in air. With my old 6kw TC at very 
> low power just barely ticking over the sparkgap it would track the in 
> side of this tube with quite a bit of air arc out the other side.
>
> Dave
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David N. Van Doren" 
> 
> To: 
> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 11:04 AM
> Subject: [TCML] Large Plsma Tube
>
>
> Hello All
>
> I have a large glass tube 6" o.d. with .25" walls and 5 feet long. ( 
> from and old blueprint machine) And it's just begging to be made in to 
> a large Plasma tube. Somewhere I saw a list of gasses and their 
> conductivities and can't seem to find it. Does any body know where it 
> might be? If any of you have any experience or info that might help 
> with this project I'd greatly appreciate the boost in the learning curve.
> I have several HV sources that I hope will be usable for this project 
> such as an 85KV x-ray transformer or an 50 KVDC power supply and of 
> course my Tesla coil ( an OBIT powered magnifier)
> This has the potential (sic) to be a very beautiful display.
>
> Thanks
> Dave
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