Twin Hearts Glow Lamp

While running some lighting experiments I stumbled upon the glow lamp effect.

I am intending on applying some pretty to the base and presenting it as a gift.




You will be working with a deep vacuum in glass, high voltage and compressed argon gas, be sure to play safe. Use all appropriate safety precautions.

Step 1 How it began.

This experiment started out as a way to build a Nixie Tube. (I will show this in another instructable).

This led to extensive reading and research on the subject.

I built a small vacuum chamber out of an old jam jar and some ABS plastic. (I will show this in this instructable)

I was playing with a cold cathode lights as a way to power the tube and the result was shown here.

The violet light is from the argon gas used. Neon (fire red light) is not available locally

Comments

[jakobus9]

how can you use a vacuum and argon at the same time ?? that's really weird?
+ where do you get a bottle of argon in the first place?

[canucksgirl]

That would make a cool Valentines Gift. - Great job :)

[Random_Canadian]

Thanks... that is what I was planning.

I will be posting another type of glow lamp in the near future...

[canucksgirl]

Can't wait to see it. :D

[electfire]

Interesting! I look forward on how to build the Nixie tube....
I am curious, the argon, it looks to me like the type of cylinder you get for welding.... I was wondering if smaller cylinders exist... (I don't exactly have space to store a large cylinder, nor really anyway to transport it easily.....

Thank you,
and Happy Making!
~Electfire

[jawtig]

Yes there are smaller cylinders you can get of Argon. Contact a local welding supply company.
There are also small canisters for reserving wine. Here is a link to show you what they look like. Just not sure if they will be enough for this project.
http://www.beveragefactory.com/wine/preservation/winesaverpro/argon_gas_canister.shtml

[electfire]

Thanks for the info!
(Do people REALLY pay to use argon to preserve wine? Why not just drink it?)

[omnibot]

(Because argon is a gas and is difficult to drink? ;D )

[electfire]

^Ha ha, I was referring to drinking all the wine at once.... though I am not old enough (in the US) to drink so I don't know if drinking a whole bottle of wine would be a good thing to do.......

[omnibot]

Nice application, looking forward to the nixie-tube.
I've had some luck in finding Cold Cathode Drivers in slightly older (90's) flatbed scanners.

[kretzlord]

would a CFL driver circuit work for this application?

[omnibot]

Probably but it would be overkill in this application. A cold cathode driver is more appropriate, usually they give 200ma at 1500-2000v.