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Re: big plasma ball
as you figure, are you accounting for 15 pounds per square inch, or
144X15=2160 pounds per square foot of pressure as you evacuate this thing?
if you figure the surface area of your 9 ft sphere, you will see that you
have one heck of a lot of pressure to hold off - I doubt that a PVC and
plexi frame can do the trick - look up the size of plexi to use on a fish
tank (30 ft of water is about an atmoshpere) - figure the tank is 30 ft
deep. If you go to the aquarium at Monterrey (CA) you will see that the
windows are about 4 or 5 inches thick to hold the pressure - you will need
more than an inch of plexi (I would guess) and some really strong struts and
good seals. At least it's an interesting engineering calculation. And,
beware of the safety issue - if it implodes, who gets hurt?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla List" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2000 4:06 PM
Subject: big plasma ball
> Original Poster: "Paul Mathus" <pmathus-at-learningco-dot-com>
>
> Folks,
>
> I've been thinking about designs for a BIG plasma ball, maybe 8'-9'
in
> diameter. I was thinking of making a geodesic sphere from pvc or
> steel pipe, and cauking on clear plastic sheeting, or perhaps
screwing
> on clear plexi plates and sealing with weather stripping. It would
be
> a bit leaky, but I imagine you could hold gas long enough for a show.
> You would then fill with argon or your gas of choice, pumping in more
> as needed to replace loss while you astounded the masses. This is a
> possible Burning Man installation I've been tossing around for my 6"
> coil.
>
> I was wondering what the best geometry for placing a coil in this
> contraption would be. If the primary was inside you would risk
> primary strikes from the increased spark length, no? If the primary
> was outside, the sphere would interfere with coupling, wouldn't it?
>
> Also, does anybody have any guesses/experience on the spark length
and
> other effects you get from running a coil in an gas mixture? Would
it
> look similar to the typical gift store plasma ball?
>
> thanks,
> paul
>
>
> ______________________________ Reply Separator
> _________________________________
> Subject: Re: Coil ideas for experiments
> Author: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> at INTERNET
> Date: 4/16/00 3:12 PM
>
>
> Original Poster: "sundog" <sundog-at-timeship-dot-net>
>
> *grin* After having broken, burned, poked, electrocuted, mashed,
> jabbed,etc... almost every extremity and a lot of non-extremeties,
> I've learned the hard way that even "trivial" things can really
> make your day horrible. I got 1 pair of eyes, and my eyesight is
> bad enough already :) As Murphy can prove, (and I can attest to,
> got scars!), it's the least likely and least suspected thing that
> will get you. :) Anywho, the laser idea isn't something *I'd*
> try, lack of money mostly, but it is an interesting idea :) Laters
>
> Sundog - hmmm.....
> -----Original Message-----
>
>
>