Got my BD-10A today... (hand held tesla/oudin coil)

[GooeyGus]

This thing is awesome!!!

This is what I'm talking about:



It's a oudin coil that is variable from 10kV to 50kV that runs at 500KHz (I think...)

Anyway, this is the best $100 bucks I've ever spent. I started THREE argon tubes today that I deemed "dead" because I could never get them to fire (only 'flash'). Two of them lased, one of them I got to maintain an arc but it never lased (any ideas?).

Anyway, If you are one who likes to tinker around with gas lasers (especially surplus lasers) this is a MUST HAVE.

Then while you're not starting old argon tubes, it's just a cool freakin gadget.

One downfall... I fired this thing up at 50kV about 3 or 4 feet away from my little alarm clock radio and now it doesn't work Oh, and as always, lots of ozone.

I couldn't get the reliant tube to fire, but I think that may be more of a power supply issue....

[Laserman532]

This thing is awesome!!!

This is what I'm talking about:



It's a oudin coil that is variable from 10kV to 50kV that runs at 500KHz (I think...)

Anyway, this is the best $100 bucks I've ever spent. I started THREE argon tubes today that I deemed "dead" because I could never get them to fire (only 'flash'). Two of them lased, one of them I got to maintain an arc but it never lased (any ideas?).

Anyway, If you are one who likes to tinker around with gas lasers (especially surplus lasers) this is a MUST HAVE.

Then while you're not starting old argon tubes, it's just a cool freakin gadget.

One downfall... I fired this thing up at 50kV about 3 or 4 feet away from my little alarm clock radio and now it doesn't work Oh, and as always, lots of ozone.

I couldn't get the reliant tube to fire, but I think that may be more of a power supply issue....

stay far away from where the brewster window is fritted on to the glass stems. It will poke a hole in the frit and you will have an air laser that wont do anything.

[GooeyGus]

stay far away from where the brewster window is fritted on to the glass stems. It will poke a hole in the frit and you will have an air laser that wont do anything.

Yeah I kept that in mind (I remebered it from sam's FAQ -- I swear I use info from that 'bible' every day) while 'testing'. I mostly just touched the heat sinks (air cooled tubes). On the 164 and 165 I tried the brewster stem but far away from the window.... not suprisingly neither of them lit up (but the gas resavoirs did )

[mixedgas]

stay away from the glass to metal seals on the brewsters , too

keep it soft, like just barely on.

Steve

[300EVIL]

I got mine at a hamfest for $20 when I was 15.



Definitely a very useful tool to have when working with gas lasers and other gas filled vacuum devices. I'd like to eventually get a newer version like you have that has the primary coil built in. It's amazing they have the same design. Mine has to be at least 50 years old.

I've used mine many times for starting and checking air cooled lasers. What would be the best way to check if a water cooled ion laser is gas intact? I was thinking of zapping the cathode filament connector while looking down the bore.... No PS on the laser ofcourse!
Thanks!
Adam

[Xytrell]

one of them I got to maintain an arc but it never lased (any ideas?).

I'd guess either the mirrors are out of alignment or it's lighting down a return bore.

So where'd you pick this thing up? I think I'll get one, too.

[Diachi]

Nice GG.

Could someone tell me, or give me a link where it explains how you start an argon using an oudin coil ?
thanks,

-Adam

[Laserman532]

I'd guess either the mirrors are out of alignment or it's lighting down a return bore.

So where'd you pick this thing up? I think I'll get one, too.

wrong, you cant even get a hene to lase with one of these. (well maby a very tiny hene) All the hv does is excite the gas and get it to glow. It just gives you an indication if gas is there not the quality or quantity of gas. in order to lase a medium you need current flow you would never see an argon lase with one of these even if you pointed your eyeball down the bore. Which i would not reccommend. Just dim the lights in the room, turn it to very low, and hold it close tothe gas return or brewester stem, if it glows you have gas (take tums) if it dosnt you probably have air.

[Xytrell]

... what? I think you must've quoted the wrong post.

[Laserman532]

... what? I think you must've quoted the wrong post.

no, re read your post you said..." I guess either the mirrors are out of alignment or its lighting down the return bore"

And I said....no you cant laser an argon with one of these yadayadayada