Got my 40 watt Co2 laser today, need HELP!!

I wouldn't try and ghetto rig a power supply for it - the small psu linked on ebay would probably do nicely

I just think it would be quite sad to have this nice laser tube but kill it because you wanted to go the cheap route on the power supply

yea mario you are right. I am back from iran however and I left the laser there. Ill get the PSU all ready for my next trip! One of the power connectors (inside the tube) has blackened a bit, so I stopped using AC.

It does glow pinkish inisde, and it sorta flickers about.


thanks for the help everyone!


amk

Well it's AC, so thats why its flickering! Let me give you a run down on why I think you werent getting as much power out of the tube. First, as you should already know, AC is current going in BOTH directions, alternating in either 50 or 60hx cycles. The principle on powering a co2 tube is that the flowing current propels electrons/photons. If you give it AC, it will be shooting some, but also pulling them back! If you use DC, it will only have the current going one direction, so all the electrons/photons would be going the same direction the whole time. You may be able to rectify the NST, but I would just grab a PSU off ebay or something, not work risking a $300 tube.