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Re: about my processing

Posted By: neontek
Date: Sunday, 17 April 2011, at 6:03 p.m.

In Response To: about my processing (terlsworld)

> Did you burn-in the tubes thoroughly on a
> conventional transformer first? What kind of
> equipment and instrumentation do you have,
> and what processing procedure do you follow?
> Are you using the same brand and same model
> electrodes on each end of the tube? There
> are many things that affect the function of
> electronic transformers that should be
> addressed before you jump all over CPI.
> Personally, from what I have been hearing it
> is probably the transformers. But it's best
> to be sure first.

> I burn the tubes to 580F, I am using voltarc
> glass 13mm with EGL 30-45ma electrodes. I
> put a mercury droplet about 1&1/2 times the
> size of a BB in the tube. It has been my
> practice to process the tube and then roll
> the mercury in and seal the electrode. I
> don't wait to see if its going to light up I
> just assume it will and 99% of the time it
> does. The mercury often gets trapped on the
> ceramic disk inside the elctrode. Sometimes
> it rolls a bit past the electrode and
> usually stops at the first turn. I then
> light the tube using the CPI6000 transfomer
> and over the course of an hour or 2 the
> mercury slowly makes its way to the other
> side. When it gets there and the whole tube
> is burning nice and bright I figure its
> done. I haven't been physically rolling the
> mercury thru the tube. would that make a
> difference? For 13mm glass I use the formula
> 24 minus the glass size so I fill the tubes
> to about 11 to 11 1/2. for 12mm glass I fill
> to about 12 to 13 I heard or read somewhere
> to add a tad extra gas for short tubes which
> is what I mostly make. So does that add any
> insite? Do you think burning in with a
> magnetic transformer would make a
> difference?

*****************************

I ALWAYS roll the Mercury to the opposite electrode (hitting both electrodes with mercury and leaving a trace amount at each electrode) and then the bulk of merc. back to the center of unit. Then age/burn in for 24hrs. ON A CONVENTIONAL TRANSFORMER (usually a 12,000v.30ma.).

In my opinion, your method would actually promote any possible transformer merc. migration, IF the direction of migration is towards the end of the tube where you have the bulk of your merc. insertion. (although, your method may help, if by chance, the current was pushing/migrating from the more concentrated end).

For "exposed" units I age the tube face up (in case of any incidental merc. marks on phosphor tubes). For units being used in channel letters/backlighting (where you don't see the tube directly)I don't worry about aging them face down.

Tony D.

Messages In This Thread

• Massive Mercury Migration -- terlsworld -- Saturday, 16 April 2011, at 5:19 a.m.
  • Re: Massive Mercury Migration -- winslow -- Saturday, 16 April 2011, at 1:19 p.m.
    • Re: Massive Mercury Migration -- neontek -- Sunday, 17 April 2011, at 5:41 p.m.
      • Re: Massive Mercury Migration -- Winslow -- Monday, 18 April 2011, at 2:37 a.m.
        • Re: Massive Mercury Migration -- John Anderson -- Monday, 18 April 2011, at 3:58 p.m.
          • Re: Massive Mercury Migration -- Winslow -- Tuesday, 19 April 2011, at 1:26 a.m.
  • Re: Massive Mercury Migration -- SVP Neon Equipment -- Saturday, 16 April 2011, at 6:16 p.m.
    • about my processing -- terlsworld -- Sunday, 17 April 2011, at 5:06 p.m.
      • Re: about my processing -- neontek -- Sunday, 17 April 2011, at 6:03 p.m.
        • Re: about my processing -- Winslow -- Monday, 18 April 2011, at 2:45 a.m.
      • Re: about my processing -- SVP Neon Equipment -- Tuesday, 19 April 2011, at 2:04 p.m.
    • Re: Massive Mercury Migration -- neontek -- Sunday, 17 April 2011, at 6:50 p.m.

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