Ok, it's been a while since I made one but your only realistic option is Helium. It is lighter than air and does not need a total vacuum first to be filled - plus it is available as balloon gas quite cheap. Getting a high frequency, high voltage supply is not much of a problem, so you only need to figure out how to seal your vase. Be aware that Helium will go through moste materials, so might need to do some research first.
For a real flouroscent lamp you not only need high quality vacuum but also the right mix of noble gasses and the right final inside pressure. Even you would be able to do that you will fail to provide a suitable coating on the inside of the vase, the result would be a UV lamp.
You might want to check if there are any neon sign makers in your area. These guys can help you much better with your problem and explain why certain things won't work.
I guess someone should answer your question directly so you can see why our approach is different.
You will need to seal the vase.
Evacuate all the air (or close to)
Add some mercury vapor (or a small amount of liquid mercury)
Add a heated electrode - tungsten coil at the top and bottom of the vase.
Coat the inside with a phosphor coating
Seal the whole thing.
Applying a high voltage will result in a discharge between the electrodes which produces UV light. This in turn makes the phosphor coating glow with a white light.
As you see not easy or really a cost practical thing to do.
I would place a fitting fluorescent lamp with half of an antenna coupling wire loop at the base inside the vase.
Then provide a duplicate coupling wire loop under the vase, running about 400 cycle (hertz) SQ wave inverter suitably obscured be fascia and as close to the other coil in the vase.
This keeps your high end glassware un-altered and lit up with no apparent wires.
Comments
5 years ago
Ok, it's been a while since I made one but your only realistic option is Helium.
It is lighter than air and does not need a total vacuum first to be filled - plus it is available as balloon gas quite cheap.
Getting a high frequency, high voltage supply is not much of a problem, so you only need to figure out how to seal your vase.
Be aware that Helium will go through moste materials, so might need to do some research first.
For a real flouroscent lamp you not only need high quality vacuum but also the right mix of noble gasses and the right final inside pressure.
Even you would be able to do that you will fail to provide a suitable coating on the inside of the vase, the result would be a UV lamp.
You might want to check if there are any neon sign makers in your area.
These guys can help you much better with your problem and explain why certain things won't work.
5 years ago
I guess someone should answer your question directly so you can see why our approach is different.
You will need to seal the vase.
Evacuate all the air (or close to)
Add some mercury vapor (or a small amount of liquid mercury)
Add a heated electrode - tungsten coil at the top and bottom of the vase.
Coat the inside with a phosphor coating
Seal the whole thing.
Applying a high voltage will result in a discharge between the electrodes which produces UV light. This in turn makes the phosphor coating glow with a white light.
As you see not easy or really a cost practical thing to do.
Answer 5 years ago
I have to point out that a high end vase made of glass may collapse into itself under the necessary vacuum needed to make it a mercury plasma fixture.
5 years ago
I would place a fitting fluorescent lamp with half of an antenna coupling wire loop at the base inside the vase.
Then provide a duplicate coupling wire loop under the vase, running about 400 cycle (hertz) SQ wave inverter suitably obscured be fascia and as close to the other coil in the vase.
This keeps your high end glassware un-altered and lit up with no apparent wires.
CLICK the PIC..
5 years ago
Just put a CFL bulb inside the vase...
Answer 5 years ago
+1 the alternatives don't bear thinking about.
personally i would put a strip LED in there.
Answer 5 years ago
Same here, but the author specified fluorescent...