Remember to exercise those argons!

• Jan 26, 2015

• #129

Down with Umbrella

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I'll check the hours today I havent even looked since I bought the tube a year ago. At full blast it will draw 10.59A iirc. I don't run it full power very often but I do once and a while for short periods of time.
I have a remote for it I usually adjust the laser in by viewing the amperage display. I've heard people say it should be in light mode. Hm.
I'll report back

 

Last edited: Jan 27, 2015

• Jan 26, 2015

• #130

ultimatekaiser

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Yes. Current mode is mostly just for intracavity or diagnostics. The tube should also never draw more than 10A. Most of the PSUs are only rated up to 10.5A IIRC. Anything over 10A is considered over-current for small air cooled tubes. Generally they're intended to run their spec power and if healthy, that's usually near 5-6A. Though it also depends on cooling...If your cooling is too low or high it can influence damage regardless.

 

Last edited: Jan 26, 2015

• Jan 27, 2015

• #131

H2Oxide

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Thanks for the link Down With Umbrella. My argon's beam is so messy you probably couldn't tell the difference between it and a collimated LED.
And obviously thanks to ultimatekaiser for making the tut.

 

Last edited: Jan 27, 2015

• Feb 13, 2015

• #132

LtKernelPanic

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Fired up the blue space heaters one more time before putting them back in storage for another month or two.

 

• Mar 17, 2015

• #133

The Lightning Stalker

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I performed the monthly exercism on the
argon a couple days ago. Just a reminder.

 

• Mar 20, 2015

• #134

hakzaw1

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NEXT time you guys exercise your argon try this and let me know what happened--
With the room darkened fire up a green pointer while running the argon- then with it off-
either i'm a trippin' or i see yellow instead of green but only in the presence of my argons.
Im betting the camera see green- not the yellow I see.

 

• Mar 26, 2015

• #135

Hemlock_Mike

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LS ---
I fired up my Argos tonight after another year off.
I let the cathode heat for about 15 minutes and it
come on, 8 beams, on the 5th shot !!!
Get 'em HOT before you slip 'em the juice !!!
HMike

 

• Mar 26, 2015

• #136

The Lightning Stalker

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Hmm, I guess we are doing inline ads now.

Anyway, thanks for the tip. It should keep
the night lights well pleased.

Mine is the type that has the automatic
preheat timer, but I'm wondering if I can
reach under the covers and fiddle with the
knobs a bit to draw out the process.

We're still talking about lasers, right?

 

• Mar 26, 2015

• #137

Hemlock_Mike

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LS --
I see you caught the old joke !!! Having worked with radio
tubes for years, Many need a thorough heating of the cathode
especially MV tubes. I can run my Argos without HV power up
then there is a 15 second delay after the key switch to ignition shots.

HMike

 

• Mar 26, 2015

• #138

The Lightning Stalker

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Yes, and vacuum are the only kind of tubes
this old knob will ever see, so I guess the
joke is on me.

The ILT has a 3 minute preheat and starts
on the first pulse every time since it's
still such a new tube. Next time it's out
maybe I'll have another look at the circuit
boards to see if it can be changed.

 

• Jun 3, 2015

• #139

The Lightning Stalker

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:bumpit:

Took the argon out of moth balls today
The 502nm line seems better than usual.

 

• Jun 3, 2015

• #140

ultimatekaiser

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Great! I just did mine recently too. Probably a pressure related thing. One of my favorite lines is 501.7 I love the color

 

• Jun 3, 2015

• #141

The Lightning Stalker

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It seems to be a good indicator of tube
health. I have been running it at 6A for
about 10 minutes around the middle of the
run and idling the rest of the time. I
think you recommended doing that somewhere.

Get it, moth balls?

 

• Jun 3, 2015

• #142

ultimatekaiser

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Lol yeah my 502 comes in pretty good. Mine usually runs nice and clean at 6A. Starts first try every time. I love the Ar+ wavelengths.

 

• Jun 4, 2015

• #143

LtKernelPanic

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I haven't given mine a burn since February. I just don't have a place I can keep them set up for more than a couple days. Need to remedy that very soon.

 

• Jun 14, 2015

• #144

LtKernelPanic

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Okay drug both argons out of storage tonight after sitting there for four months. As usual my rectangular head fired on the first pulse but surprisingly my normally stubborn cylindrical head fired on the third pulse after warming for maybe three or four minutes. Maybe it's slowly being nursed back to health after all.