The 300 Volt Steampunk Plasma Lantern
Intro: The 300 Volt Steampunk Plasma Lantern
Dear Steampunkers, dear friends and followers
As you may know I like it to play with high voltages and with Plasma devices... it's "Science & Adventure"!
With this Instructable I show you how to make your own Steampunk Plasma Lantern, running with 300 Volts! For the power I use a flash unit from a disposal camera from KODAK. This small units are running with only one small battery (1.5V) and are easely to convert.
So, if you are interested, keep reading. We will start with an overview about the stuff you need for your project.
But please only open the case of a disposal camera when you know what you are doing. The capacitor could still have a lot of power in and there is the possibility of an electric shock if you touch the wrong parts!!! If you are not sure how to use the flash unit of a disposal camera please read some tutorials first - and always be careful!!!
As you may know I like it to play with high voltages and with Plasma devices... it's "Science & Adventure"!
With this Instructable I show you how to make your own Steampunk Plasma Lantern, running with 300 Volts! For the power I use a flash unit from a disposal camera from KODAK. This small units are running with only one small battery (1.5V) and are easely to convert.
So, if you are interested, keep reading. We will start with an overview about the stuff you need for your project.
But please only open the case of a disposal camera when you know what you are doing. The capacitor could still have a lot of power in and there is the possibility of an electric shock if you touch the wrong parts!!! If you are not sure how to use the flash unit of a disposal camera please read some tutorials first - and always be careful!!!
STEP 1: The Material for Your Steampunk Lantern
First of all you will need an old lantern or something similar. I found one under the snow in our garden.
Further I used the following stuff:
Further I used the following stuff:
- a neon filled bulb, called flickering bulb
- a few brass rings and brass parts for decoration
- the flash unit from a disposal camera from KODAK
- a battery clip for a single battery
- cables, a switch
- a heavy brass ring for the bottom, some wood and screws
STEP 2: Preparing the Flickering Bulb
First of all I prepared the flickering bulb and the high voltage unit, to be sure that it works. I soldered two cables to the bulb, one to the top of the socket and the other one to the bottom. Then I wrapped the socket with tape. You have to do that very good, becaue you don't want to have 300Volts at the metal body of your lantern - that could hurt!!!
STEP 3: The High Voltage Unit of a Disposal KODAK Camera
I don't write too much about this step, because if you are able to handle such a unit you will now what you have to do. If not, please read and study first some tutorials about the use of this units from disposal cameras.
As you can see on the picture its very easy to convert such a unit. Take carefully off the capacitor, after you unloaded it. Then solder the cables for the bulb to this two connections, where before the capacitor was on.
Then use a drop of tin-solder to connect the two pins from the switch (see picture).
To finish connect the cables for the battery. Please check the polarity.
That's it. After you connect the battery, the flickering bulb should run...
As you can see on the picture its very easy to convert such a unit. Take carefully off the capacitor, after you unloaded it. Then solder the cables for the bulb to this two connections, where before the capacitor was on.
Then use a drop of tin-solder to connect the two pins from the switch (see picture).
To finish connect the cables for the battery. Please check the polarity.
That's it. After you connect the battery, the flickering bulb should run...
STEP 4: Prepare the Lantern
To place the electronic and the Battery into the lantern i had to cut out the bottom. Be brutal, then it will work!!!
Then I painted the lantern black, because I like this look together with brass.
Then I painted the lantern black, because I like this look together with brass.
STEP 5: Putting Together All the Parts
First a mounted the bulb with hot glue to the body of the lantern. The bulb fitted exactly into the hole.
The I drilled a small hole for the switch on the side. After that I connected the electronic to the bulb and to the switch.
To close the lamp at the bottom I found a heavy brass ring. This ring is screwed to a wooden stringer (see picture).
The I drilled a small hole for the switch on the side. After that I connected the electronic to the bulb and to the switch.
To close the lamp at the bottom I found a heavy brass ring. This ring is screwed to a wooden stringer (see picture).
STEP 6: The Finish
To keep the glass of the lantern at the right place I used two brass rings, which fitted by chance perfectly to the lantern...
As a decoration I placed two nice brass parts to the top of the lantern (see pictures).
That's it. I hope I could give you an inspiration to make your own thing!
Your Chocolatist
As a decoration I placed two nice brass parts to the top of the lantern (see pictures).
That's it. I hope I could give you an inspiration to make your own thing!
Your Chocolatist
16 Comments
terrefirma 8 years ago
I have such respect and envy for you ALL, that are doing these projects. I'm happy you stress safety, as there is little opportunity for people to learn to innovate unless they have natural ability (and interest) or a mentor who takes the time. Schools and other entities are resistant to allow experiments because of liability, poor control of students, and little support from administration. I wish more 'makerspaces', and other co-ops would do things like this.
thechocolatist 8 years ago
Dr The BoB 8 years ago
That's Brilliant Mate!
When I (eventually, LOL) get around to making one of these I'm going to try incorporating a couple of home-made rechargable power cells to add to the madness of the build.
Thanks for the inspiration! :)
DtB
bmiller91 8 years ago
It works :-)
thechocolatist 8 years ago
bmiller91 8 years ago
You tease with the old vacuum tubes ? I wonder if there are any tubes filled with gas which would fluorescence vs. vacuum? I'm off in search ...
thechocolatist 8 years ago
Hi. All my artwork is a mixture between functional and non functional elements :-) There are old vacuum tubes filled with Krypton or something similar and they will light up with the same high voltage device which I used for this Neon filled bulb... I'm searching too...
bmiller91 8 years ago
thechocolatist 8 years ago
I will keep my eyes open. May something like that is interesting too:
http://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_dq2.html
Sincerely Dan
InvictusLupus 9 years ago
thechocolatist 9 years ago
Hi
May this great tutorial from Mr. Junophor can help you concerning the electronic:
https://www.instructables.com/id/High-voltage-power-supply-for-Nixies-CFL-Neon-Gl/
Sincerely Dan
anthony51 10 years ago
I am so very impressed with the style and finish you have achieved with such simple componentry.
droid_mechanic 11 years ago
Aeon Junophor 11 years ago
Well done!!!
I like this combining brass parts and the black couloured other parts
Yours Aeon Junophor
bricabracwizard 11 years ago
thechocolatist 11 years ago