The Twelve (12") Inch Plasma Globe Project

The Twelve (12") Plasma Globe Project

Introduction

I recently got the chance to see a couple of very nice looking 12" plasma globes at a recent teslathon. Because I was so impressed with

their appearance, I decided right then and there that I had to have at least two of these beauties. Well, I searched the internet for plasma

globes as was able to find a few sources for professionally built plasma globes. However, I was a bit shocked to find out that the individual

globes themselves was $400.00 each. And that doesn't even include a stand or power supply. So I had to go another route. I eventually

found a source for surplus 12" plasma globes from American Science Surplus. At only $29.95 each, how could I go wrong. So I bought

five (5) of these surplus plasma globes and am hoping for the best. I figure that if I can make a high voltage arc sing, then I can surely make

a plasma globe glow. This webpage, organized as a self-journal, will document all the efforts and things I learn in my journey towards building

a plasma globe.

The Globes

September 4th, 2003

I just received five (5) surplus plasma globes today which were shipped from American Science Surplus. To my surprise, they were packaged

extremely well and all arrived in fairly good shape. As I suspected, none of the globes contained gas and the fill hole was sort of broken off.

Hey, they were $29.95 each. What more can you expect. The globes also had cryptic magic marker writing all over the surface with arrows

here and arrows there and works like "radiation", whatever the heck that means.

A twelve (12") inch plasma globe as arrived from American Science Surplus

Close-up view of the bottom of the plasma globe showing broken fill hole.

The Vacuum Pump

Before one fills a plasma globe with gas, the plasma globe must be completely evacuated of air. To do this, a

good quality vacuum pump is a must. So about $230 later, I am now equipped with a new dual-stage High
Performance vacuum pump which I acquired from a dealer on ebay. Its probably not the best thing in the world,

but it will definitely serve my purpose. Plus, I can use it for a variety of other projects I plan on working in the

future, so its a good investment. The pump has the following specifications:

RobinAir High Performance Vacuum Pump

1/3 HP

4 CFM

Pumps down to 20 microns

RobinAir High Performance Vacuum Pump

The Gas

Okay. Going to need some inert gas to fill the globes with. I'm not sure exactly how much I will need, but I did get some

initial quotes on some lecture bottle sizes of 99.99% neon gas. A 50 liter lecture bottle runs at about $230 each. Plus

you will need to buy a regulator as well. Hmmm . . . getting expensive now. More to come later on this.

More to come as I continue in the complete Plasma Globe experience.

Last modified August 16, 2005 08:05:20 PM