Power supplies for decorative plasma displays

[@StandingWulf]

Thanks for detailed and speedy reply. You might be able to get a three-color effect if you keep the O2 and N2 levels about the same and try Ne: 350-360 torr with Xe: 8-10 torr. Add the Xe last very slowly while globe is energized to watch the effect develop. This should add a rose-pink or red color at the outer edge of the plasma tendrils and at the core. If you want to try a "warm fuzzy flower" effect in pink, red and bright orange try adding 20-25 torr dry Air to Neon at 200-220 torr.

[@Carl_Willis]

The second round flask contains a Xe / N2 / Ne mixture, and I have since learned that a trace of O2 is also necessary for the green color. In this tube, the O2 probably is supplied from the tube walls; it was unbaked. The measured components are Xe: 20 torr Ne: 135 torr N2: about 500 millitorr (not recorded) O2: trace (see above); if a baked tube, use about 200-400 mtorr This four-component mix works reliably, but N2 and O2 contributions must be metered on a piece-by-piece basis.

[@gyyuyuinjail6716]

Damn smart

[@Carl_Willis]

Thanks! I can make small tubes (1" heavy wall, limited to about 18" long) in addition to the big 30" ones and the flasks. They're more economical since the glass is cheaper.

[@kurentmalik]

Carl Willis Hi, how much does one cost? I would buy one.

[@Romenadan]

Very nice, Carl! Next time I have money to spend on more plasma tubes I'll have to see if you'll make me some to purchase. I've been using my CW SSTCs to power the tubes I have but I like your idea of what is essentially an AC flyback (true ones are hard to find these days!). Kudos for posting the source! Btw, the glassworker I told you about, Ron Soyland, is "Glasslinger" here on YT. I'll have to dig out his email and send it to you if you can't reach him here. Cheers! - Sigurthr from 4HV.

[@Carl_Willis]

I have sold some tubes and will be preparing more soon. If you see something you like in these videos, please just send a private message to describe your interest and I'll try to accommodate. Thanks.

[@Carl_Willis]

Yes, I have a rather large cylinder of helium. I haven't found a good mixture with it though, and I worry about diffusion into the glass limiting the lifetime of He tubes.

[@Carl_Willis]

Sorry, I don't have any videos. I posted the photos on the TCML and on my old Angelfire website back in the 2000-2002 timeframe. Tesla coil technology has gone a long way in the last decade and I doubt anyone would be too impressed anyway!

[@Carl_Willis]

The HVT-01 as originally configured has an unbalanced pair of primaries, one of which is wound with very small wire and prone to overheating. You should ask Imagesco for the "new" HVT-01 that has a balanced primary (tell him I instructed you thusly). Or, yes, you will have to use the isolation transformer.

[@Carl_Willis]

Yes, there's a helium shortage. Practically, all this means is that you cannot get huge tanks filled. I got an 80 cu. ft. tank filled recently and that was the largest they would do (still quite in excess of my usage).

[@Carl_Willis]

I've built some large and powerful tube coils in my earlier years.

[@Carl_Willis]

I experiment a lot, but usually don't seal off and film tubes with mixes that aren't visually appealing, since it's money down the drain for me. Helium makes rather dim and diffuse purplish and pinkish effects (depending on current density). The good thing for people who want to play around with it is that the gas itself is dirt cheap. You just need a suitable container, and an HV supply.

[@jollyvivi]

WOW ! Those are brilliant plasma tubes ! do you fill the gases and do the glass job yourself ? if so, it woul dbe wonderfiul if you could share details of filled gas p[ressures and ratios, as well as the gas filling and glass blowing setups !

[@thegrillagorilla1]

I have a serious question, how small can one make a plasma tube? Can you make a portable one that's safe to carry?

[@XR_IX]

Hi Carl, very informative. Can you please elaborate on why the graphite core was chosen? And the function of the anti-static mat. So my assumption is that you are trying to no have the high energy arc through the glass, so it distributes the energy? Thank You.

[@frankholloway3474]

Great video! Based on the good performance of the components you are showing, I have purchased the HVT-01 flyback transformer and am currently building the driver as described in Iannini's publication. I am curious as to why you wound the "chincy" transformer as 1:1 instead of just removing the transformer altogether and wiring directly to the HVT-01's two primary coils. Does the 1:1 provide some protection to the driver from the flyback? Thanks!

[@orionindustries7201]

Hey, did you ever get an answer for this question?

[@OmegaMolecule]

Awesome! Great video, thumbs up for krypton.

[@Biokemist-o3k]

Super awesome!! Do you still manufacture these things?

[@ZeroPointZap]

The helium doesn't last long in the tubes? I think it is pink... would love to see some...

[@StandingWulf]

Can you please tell me the details (The fill pressure for each component in Torr) for the xenon-neon-nitrogen mixture you used to fill the second round plasma flask in this video? The sharp-focus blue arcs with green mixed in is a combination I have been trying to make for some time. Use the private KZbin Message feature if you prefer. I can share details of some of my mixtures in exchange if you like. Thanks for sharing details of your work online.

[@ghost711]

Hi Carl, excellent work and thanks for explaining everything in so much detail. A friend and I are building some plasma displays and your videos are the best source of information we've found so far on the whole internet. Our shorthand for technical questions has become "WWCWD?" for What Would Carl Willis Do? Anyway, any advice on where to connect the high voltage return lead? I saw something about tying it to the safety ground prong of a household outlet. Thoughts?

[@serveurperso]

A cheap ZVS (zero voltage switch) board from an induction heater kit and a HVT-01 or other non rectified flyback do the job:)

[@Purple431]

That's cool!

[@landonthomas399]

Hey Carl, thanks for the awesome video. I was wondering if you could help give a little more information on what you did with that 1 to 1 ratio transformer. I built the circuit and have 3 wires that hook up to the primary of the transformer (2 from the mosfet drains and one positive wire for the center coil tap) so I'm a little confused how you converted that system into 2 wires that you hook up to the chirk transformer. Any help would be much appreciated!

[@ZeroPointZap]

gorgeous. got any helium?

[@YS.]

Great!

[@avacadonacho]

Would you sell these and ship them?

[@jessiejones4279]

you should make a chandelier out of these

[@lyraburke2104]

I understand the need for a high voltage, high frequency, low current power source- and that is provided by that HVT-01 transformer. But what does the second thing (he "poor man's plasma globe" circuit) do? What's stopping me from hooking the transformer up to an AC power supply and running the plasma globe? Also, where should I look if I need a substitute for said part, but have relatively little experience with electronics? I'm unsure if I would be able to put the circuit together. Edit: Also, I've seen Neon sign transformers for sale on eBay that output 10~ kv at low amps, why couldn't I hook that up to a plasma globe in order to power it?

[@maevemccormick5307]

The flyback transformer requires a fairly high voltage (around 1000v) as input and it probably operates most efficiently at a frequency other than 60Hz. A neon sign transformer would probably work but it's extreme overkill (and quite dangerous) considering they are built for larger, higher pressure, hot cathode displays. It would also be very inefficient for an electrodeless tube because the capacitive coupling through the glass from a 60Hz supply would be much weaker than something like 10 kHz

[@Mr_Mz518]

@@maevemccormick5307 Flybacks take anything from around 12v to 240v input...no way do they have a 1000v input. A neon sign transformer would not work, the frequency output is too low. It is not overkill as the voltage is more than likely less than a flyback output would produce (Flybacks operate anything from 10kv to 25kv). Neon signs are COLD cathode and not HOT cathode. (HOT cathode would be standard fluorescent lighting and do not use High voltage transformers, but standard line voltage and a ballast which is used in part to strike the tube, whilst regulating the current). The whole reason the plasma lamp works is because of the High frequency high voltage and this is why the displays look as they do.

[@zwitterelf]

looks fun

[@plutoniumiscool]

Do you plan to sell some tubes you make?

[@planetengineeringofficial8545]

wy thont you make a vacuum tube tesla coil its very fun

[@ZeroPointZap]

maybe with a little neon...

[@planetengineeringofficial8545]

can you show them

[@lightbulbgonewild3205]

Green xenon at different pressures

[@Elite1181]

where do you get the gas filled bulbs?

[@Carl_Willis]

+Oscar williams I make them.

[@Elite1181]

+Carl Willis how? I think you melt some glass and put that in a tube and let the gas fill the glass like a baloon, is that how you made it?

[@Carl_Willis]

+Oscar williams First, prepare the glass shape to be filled. Second, pump the air out using a vacuum system. Third, backfill with the noble gas mixture.

[@sonicfreak04]

could you make a plasma display like the one used for "the rick and morty" portal gun?

[@Carl_Willis]

I'm not familiar with the reference. Sorry.

[@ZeroPointZap]

last I heard there was a helium shortage...

[@AxcelleratorT]

Hey Carl, great video and very descriptive. I had to laugh out loud when you said you were using the SG3525 driver chip. That's the exact same chip I've been using the past few years to drive my high frequency power supplies. Thanks a lot for posting these detailed videos. Your electrodeless plasma tubes are exactly the place I want to get to. Thumbs up! Here's a neon bulb crackle tube I made a few years back: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJSmd3yhmM6qorM

[@makhsous]

hi carl, i wonder you are still active. i have a question! please provide an email address to send you my question. best,

[@Carl_Willis]

Hi Makhsous, email address here is [e-mail].

[@redstonecommander5190]

Warning, these type of things are extremely dangerous and for people who may be pregnant or have a pacemaker or just poor health in general, should not participate in these experiments

[@Carl_Willis]

This admonition is close to total nonsense.

[@cold3lectric]

#electrotherapy

[@Thephotonguy]

Hee hee this guy sounds like Sheldon

[@planetengineeringofficial8545]

ok i am sory for the waisted time