[ARKM]

I'm guessing that's an inverter I see connected to that mini plasma ball so it probably runs off of AC. Could drain any battery solution we could come up with really fast. Should be fun to experiment with though. If all else fails, it could work great with a protosaber that is cabled to a 12v battery, strapped to your waist or back.

[Matt Thorn]

Here's a somewhat informative user review from Amazon:

Works as well as you'd hope, plasma is bright and stable, comes with a small coin-cell battery pack and a cigarette lighter adaptor and an inline push-button switch (for the battery pack). Although be warned if you hack it up (I removed the outer plastic shell, battery pack, and switch to use the ball as a steampunk prop) you'll destabilize the groundplane and have some interesting issues running it. But most people probably leave it alone, in which case it runs fine (stock 12V battery will last about 45mins continuous usage).

I went ahead and ordered one, though it'll be a while since I get it, since they don't ship to Japan, so I'll have it forwarded by a friend. I have an idea of what I'd like to do with it. I'll let you know if it proves to be practical.

BTW, all plasma globes use alternating current. The effect cannot be created with direct current.

[ARKM]

Originally Posted by Matt Thorn

[/INDENT]I went ahead and ordered one, though it'll be a while since I get it, since they don't ship to Japan, so I'll have it forwarded by a friend. I have an idea of what I'd like to do with it. I'll let you know if it proves to be practical.

I ordered one yesterday.

[cannibal869]

Originally Posted by Matt Thorn

Here's a somewhat informative user review from Amazon:

Works as well as you'd hope, plasma is bright and stable, comes with a small coin-cell battery pack and a cigarette lighter adaptor and an inline push-button switch (for the battery pack). Although be warned if you hack it up (I removed the outer plastic shell, battery pack, and switch to use the ball as a steampunk prop) you'll destabilize the groundplane and have some interesting issues running it. But most people probably leave it alone, in which case it runs fine (stock 12V battery will last about 45mins continuous usage).

I went ahead and ordered one, though it'll be a while since I get it, since they don't ship to Japan, so I'll have it forwarded by a friend. I have an idea of what I'd like to do with it. I'll let you know if it proves to be practical.

BTW, all plasma globes use alternating current. The effect cannot be created with direct current.

If I'm not mistaken, the EL wire power inverters also use alternating current? I'm no electronics wiz, but maybe one of the others here will chime in? Can we mod an EL wire power inverter to power the plasma ball?? Hmm.. I wonder. I just finished a padawan saber that used a modded 4AAA battery holder to power an MR board (4.5V) and a 1.5V EL wire power inverter.

Hmm.. I may have to pick one of these up as well..

-C

[ARKM]

Originally Posted by cannibal869

If I'm not mistaken, the EL wire power inverters also use alternating current? I'm no electronics wiz, but maybe one of the others here will chime in? Can we mod an EL wire power inverter to power the plasma ball?? Hmm.. I wonder. I just finished a padawan saber that used a modded 4AAA battery holder to power an MR board (4.5V) and a 1.5V EL wire power inverter.

Hmm.. I may have to pick one of these up as well..

-C

It's possible. It just depends on the current and voltage going from the inverter to the plasma ball and if we can find an inverter with the same output but with less DC voltage/current input. The plasma ball also might be able to work with less than what it's getting from the stock inverter.

[TroyO]

If that plasma ball is 1.5 inches is would nestle in just about hafway for an interesting pommel.

It would DEFINITLEY (IMHO) make an awesome addition to a custom charger!

[widowmaker]

there is a guy in Orange County California selling 2 for $10 on craigs list. He has a lot of them and I am waiting for a reply to see if he private auction on ebay.

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/s...breviation=sss

the plasma balls are 1.6" in diameter and are 12v @ 350mA. the little power pack/driver is I believe a transformer(DC to AC). you can get 3.5" plasma balls that use 4AA batteries. i am waiting for mine to arrive so I can change the power supply. It also responds to music/sound like the plasma discs. I talked to a plasma ball expert/maker and he said you can transfere into a smaller container. Also you can make the crystal chamber into a plasma tube. the crystal would be the electrode(the round ball in the center) and a plexy glass, glass, plastic tube could be used for the outside(sphere) and if you want authentic you can have them filled with gas to get different colors. I dont own a variable power supply so I cant tell you about how it reacts to various voltage and amps. I also found that the ball can be used as a power supply in itself. it can power LEDs. would need a voltage regulator most likely.

Sláinte

[widowmaker]

moving onto the LED Sequencers(scrolling) and VU meter(noise responder). i know they are too big to fit inside a saber hilt, but what i was getting at was the concept/idea of incorporating them into a hilt. It could scroll up on power up, scroll down on power down. all flash on clash. battlestar gallactica back and forth on idle. outside in on swing etc...

The VU meter, which scrolls when it senses sounds and vibration, could be used in conjuction with clash, blaster deflect, and so much more.

also you can position the leds into any format of your choosing, doesnt have to be a straight line. the leds could be round pattern, square, circle, diagonal, zig-zag, diamond, oval, triangle etc... and they could be 3mm, 5mm or whatever your pleasure, RGB for different color combinations. mounted on seperate boards on extensions or programmed into a BT/CF, the potential is endless. should be able to double as a battery life meter.

Sláinte

[cannibal869]

Just FYI - that octagonal "UFO Chaser" LED sequencer is 47mm across the face - pretty darn big actually... too bad, but it won't fit inside a saber the way it is currently constructed.

[ARKM]

From Wikipedia regarding plasma globes/balls...


"Potential hazards

Caution should be made when placing electronic devices near or upon the plasma lamp: not only may the glass become hot, but the high voltage may place a substantial static charge on the device, even through a protective plastic casing. The radio frequency field produced by plasma lamps can interfere with the operation of touchpads used on laptop computers, digital audio players, cell phones, and other similar devices. Some types can radiate sufficient RFI to interfere with cordless telephones and Wi-Fi devices several feet away. Additionally, when a metal object (such as a coin) is placed on the surface of a plasma lamp's glass, a danger of shock and burning exists; it is very easy for electricity to be emitted from the lamp if the metal comes in contact or proximity with certain other materials, including human tissue. If a medium-sized lamp is wrapped in grounded metal foil, capacitive coupling can transfer tens of milliamperes to ground through the foil, enough to light a small lamp or give a small arc burn. This is possible because the glass acts as a capacitor dielectric: the inside of the lamp acts as one plate, and any conductive object on the outside acts as the other capacitor plate.

In addition, it is possible (although difficult) to cause a minor burn to the finger by hovering the fingertip just above the surface of the glass. This causes a small arc to form and generate heat by simultaneously "optimising" both the voltage across the gap and the current through it.[citation needed] If the orb becomes wet or is covered in a metallic substance, such as a coin or tinfoil, arc burning becomes much less difficult.

Ozone, which is harmful to humans, may also accumulate far outside of the surface of the glass orb after a few minutes of constant operation. It accumulates at a higher rate if a hand or metal object is placed on the glass.

Since the plasma ball also releases electromagnetic radiation, a person with a pacemaker or other internal electrical medical device should not touch the ball. In extremely rare instances, electromagnetic radiation interferes with implanted electronic devices."



It sounds like the clear plastic ball of the plasma globe should be insulated from the metal in the hilt and should not be handled by people with internal/implanted electronic devices. It also could interfere with a soundboard.

I got mine today. I'll post pics and dimensions later.