Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

HeNe Power Supply Not Working!!! Help!

IsaacT

0
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
5,947
Points
83
I purchased THIS power supply to go with this Tube:

021ccb33-6b75-48c6-a69b-9378802f3952.jpg



The schematic included stated it needed 4.5-6V in @ 1.0-1.3A. So after perusing Fry's for awhile and not finding anything really I thought: 4 AA Primary Batteries is 6V! And I am sure it could handle the 1A Draw, so I bought a Project Box and a 4xAA Holder(Series). I have hooked it all up and I am getting nothing.

What do yall think I did wrong? This is an edit off a previous post so skip down to post 8 or 9 if you need to see something related to this.

Thanks,
Isaac
 
Last edited:





daguin

0
Joined
Mar 29, 2008
Messages
15,989
Points
113
Re: PSU for Bare HeNe Tube? How to connect?

A PSU like this will work for that little beauty
Helium Neon Laser Power Supply 5VDC HeNe Tube High Voltage He NE | eBay

With that one, you just slip the ring that is soldered onto the red wire over the anode
It already has the ballast resistor on it

Then you attach the black wire to the cathode
You can do that by soldering a ring like the red wire, or a clip, or a snap ring, or you could even just wrap a bare portion of the wire around the end

The voltage is high enough that you don't need a soldered connection
When I test bare tubes here, I just lay the end of the wire on the resistor over the end ;)

Peace,
dave
 
Joined
Jun 25, 2011
Messages
1,481
Points
63
Re: PSU for Bare HeNe Tube? How to connect?

shoot, isaac - i forgot about the resistor. i have one if you need it. all out of spare alden's tho. i was hoping that sending the tube would get you reading up and learning more:beer:. in your pic of the tube the negative end is on the right - the end with the yellow sticker.
 
Last edited:

IsaacT

0
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
5,947
Points
83
Re: PSU for Bare HeNe Tube? How to connect?

Yeah I have been reading on there a bunch. Seriously I want to download every page as a PDF and keep it on a thumbdrive. And Daguin, I went ahead and purchased that PSU! Thanks for the suggestion!
 
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
17,622
Points
113
Re: PSU for Bare HeNe Tube? How to connect?

BTW... the Cathode end is usually the end attached
to the metal tube covering the capillary tube part
way.


Jerry
 

IsaacT

0
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
5,947
Points
83
Re: PSU for Bare HeNe Tube? How to connect?

Okay so if someone will take a look at the link Dave posted above...that is the PSU I bought. It arrived today, and as you can see in the picture the power input for the Power Supply is a bucnh of wires going in to a black connector thing. I read the schematic on the power supply and so I know which wires I need to connect to power source. Should I remove the wires from the black thing or is there a cable I should buy? Also, the PS specifies 4.5-6V DC in so would an adjustable wallwart DC converter work?


Also, would you folk recommend putting the powersupply and all external cables in a small project box to keep it tidy?

Thanks,
Isaac

EDIT: If I did the project box I could also add a switch in series to make it more convenient, aye?
 
Last edited:

daguin

0
Joined
Mar 29, 2008
Messages
15,989
Points
113
Re: PSU for Bare HeNe Tube? How to connect?

Okay so if someone will take a look at the link Dave posted above...that is the PSU I bought. It arrived today, and as you can see in the picture the power input for the Power Supply is a bucnh of wires going in to a black connector thing. I read the schematic on the power supply and so I know which wires I need to connect to power source. Should I remove the wires from the black thing or is there a cable I should buy? Also, the PS specifies 4.5-6V DC in so would an adjustable wallwart DC converter work?


Also, would you folk recommend putting the powersupply and all external cables in a small project box to keep it tidy?

Thanks,
Isaac

EDIT: If I did the project box I could also add a switch in series to make it more convenient, aye?

Just cut that connector off.
The wallwart will work *if* it gives enough current for the PSU
Sorry. I don't remember what it needs
I used a 2A bench PSU for these little PSU's but I am sure that was overkill ;)

Placing it all in a project box would be fine
Those PSU's don't really produce much heat

Peace,
dave
 
Joined
Dec 11, 2011
Messages
4,364
Points
83
Re: PSU for Bare HeNe Tube? How to connect?

Just kook at the second and fourth photos in the listing;

Red is 5V, Yellow is TTL enable - tie it to 5V to turn on output. Either. Black is negative or HV return.

Either switch yellow to red and red to 5V (for two switches - pwr & enable) or tie them and switch them both to the 5V line.
 
Joined
Dec 11, 2011
Messages
4,364
Points
83
Disconnect the tube and try the PSU by itself. See if you can get any sparks between HV out and ground. HeNe PSU's are constant current sources and the tube is a negative resistance load so just leave the ballast resistor attached and it should not harm the psu to spark once or twice, just don't do it much.
 

IsaacT

0
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
5,947
Points
83
I disconnected the tube and tried putting the two wires that go to the tube on each other and nothing. Is it a problem with using AA's???
 
Joined
Dec 11, 2011
Messages
4,364
Points
83
You're still trying with AAs? No wonder. They have too high of impedance and the voltage drops under such a heavy load. They can supply 6V and they can supply maybe 1500mA but not at the same time!

You need another power source. HeNe Bricks typically draw about 1.2A @ 12V, assuming similar efficiency and output you would need 2.4A @ 6V; well over what AAs can deliver. You might be able to try using four D cells, it might run it for a few minutes or so.
 

IsaacT

0
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
5,947
Points
83
Okay so how do I run this sexy thang then? The schematic said it wants an input of 4.5V-6V @ 1.0A-1.3A. All I can think of is that I am going to have to buy an actual PSU and set it each time I want to run my gas laser.....
 

daguin

0
Joined
Mar 29, 2008
Messages
15,989
Points
113
Last edited:




Top