[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: NEON- Re: old timer stuff



> >>> HIGH TECH PEOPLE DELETE  <<<
> 
> Why?  We like "low-tech" stuff, too.  It's more fun, actually. 
> (Hopefully, this isn't a comment on what to do with 'high-tech
> people...)
> 
> 
> Kenny,
> 
> >>>The convection animator<<<
> 
> I'll bite.  What's a "convection animator"?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Telford Dorr
> 
> 

In the original Miller editions (editted out later) there is a 
high voltage animator that is somewhat akin to a Jacob's ladder.
One difference is that it is within a chamber that has an opening 
at the bottom and top for air convection.

The other difference is that instead of the usual tall "V" wire 
arrangement, a single bar (for one hv leg) goes up vertically a few inches.
A  small  horizontal bar postioned a bit away forms the first spark 
gap and this goes to neon unit 1.  Above this is another bar at a 
slightly wider gap and this connects to unit 2.  And so on.

ascii:

|        _
|      _
|    _
|  _


I'll post a gif along with some things you sent a while back for the 
'Wierd Science' area that you & I are planning to unleash on my site.

Anyway, as you can see the air convection current caused by the spark 
cycle keeps the animator flowing.  While the ones I've homebrewed are 
not reliable in terms of consistent flash rate,  they sure outlive 
the standard motor driven unit by years.  It's difficult for me to 
imagine this device being UL approved - but as I said, it's no less 
funky than what we have.  

Other hv switching I'm aware of are glass contained gaps that have a 
magnetically activated middle terminal and then of course there are 
thyristors and ignitrons.

Someone told me that there  is a 10kv solid state device??  
Current must be real low if there is.

Kenny

Kenny Greenberg --  Neon - Scenic and Environmental Art  
                    Internet Site Consultant and Author   
KRYPTON NEON 34-43 Vernon Blvd Long Island City, NY 11106
         Phone: 718-728-4450  Fax: 718-728-7206  
http://www.neonshop.com  -  The Internet's Neon Shop
http://www.licweb.com  - The Long Island City Web