[CLOSED] WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

[ultimatekaiser]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

Indeed. I'm sure its fine though. I have Ions from the 90s that still work fine. these little sealed ones are usually not too bad. It's hard to say, as alot factors into it, down to the tube construction, age, power supply capabilities, gas pressure, and more. Uniphase lasers are known for reviving pretty readily. if you lift the front most cap off the hour meter is under there on light feedback preamp PCB. its usually a little mercury gap 10K hour meter in the older ones, but newer ones it might be digital or something slightly different.

 

[Sta]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

What about overpressure? Isn't that likely by now, after sitting for years?

 

[diachi]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

What about overpressure? Isn't that likely by now, after sitting for years?

These tubes usually handle it pretty well - maybe it'll take a couple of "strikes" to get the tube to light, but I imagine it'll be fine. Might be worth running it for a good few hours once you get it going. :beer:

Has it been sitting for years though?

 

[Sta]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

These tubes usually handle it pretty well - maybe it'll take a couple of "strikes" to get the tube to light, but I imagine it'll be fine. Might be worth running it for a good few hours once you get it going. :beer:

Has it been sitting for years though?

The person who sold it to me told me she had no idea how to power it, so I assume it has been sitting for a while. The last time it passed an inspection was 2008.

 

[diachi]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

The person who sold it to me told me she had no idea how to power it, so I assume it has been sitting for a while. The last time it passed an inspection was 2008.

Just going to have to wait and see then! But as I said, these tubes usually do alright even after sitting for a good while.

 

[ultimatekaiser]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

What about overpressure? Isn't that likely by now, after sitting for years?

These tubes usually handle it pretty well - maybe it'll take a couple of "strikes" to get the tube to light, but I imagine it'll be fine. Might be worth running it for a good few hours once you get it going. :beer:

Has it been sitting for years though?

Just going to have to wait and see then! But as I said, these tubes usually do alright even after sitting for a good while.

AS far as I've ever noticed....unlike larger tubes, where they have gas replacement reservoirs or ballasts, these little tubes have a finite amount of gas in them. anything that leaks out, was originally there at some point in its life. They can get overpressure from buried gas coming back out to play, but they cannot exceed their original pressure like larger tubes can. Larger Ion lasers lose their gas much faster, and thus have ballasts and refill reservoirs with spare gas, which cycle and bleed extra gas back into the main tube as they run. if the laser is running continually this keeps the pressure correct. but if they sit, the sieves that seperate these high pressure 'recharge' reservoirs leak slowly and cause the tubing's total pressure to climb to a point that the tube cannot strike again, as it exceeds the supply's electrical capability from having an excess of arc/laser medium. (similar problems actually plague HeCds too )

Smaller tubes don't really have 'over-pressure' problems until late in their life when the cathode and major components are spent and worn down, and cannot electrically keep up with the demand on startup (too much gas, vs worn out cathode). Newer small ions that have minimal use, can sit for huge amounts of time with minimal issues. Krypton lasers are far more susceptible to startup issues than argon lasers. Argon lasers last forever by comparison-mine's from the early 90s and sits a lot....it doesn't mind much. my omnichrome Ar/Kr I do have to baby a bit though or it gets fussy.

 

[Sta]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

I got the power supply today and will be getting the fan later today.
How should I turn off the power supply?
Also, which pins should be shorted in order to operate the laser?

 

[diachi]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

I got the power supply today and will be getting the fan later today.
How should I turn off the power supply?
Also, which pins should be shorted in order to operate the laser?

If there's no power switch then you'll just need to unplug it. Could use an extension cord with switch on it I guess - just make sure it's not too long (I.E. don't try to run a 60ft extension cord, the voltage drop may make the PSU flakey) and it's rated for 15A.

Make sure any voltage selection switches on the front/back of the PSU are set correctly.

Basic pinouts/schematics for a controller are here: Sam's Laser FAQ - Complete Ar/Kr Ion Laser Power Supply Schematics

All refer to the 25 pin control connector on the front.

Connect pin 1 to pin 3 to close the interlock.
Connect pin 4 to pin 11 to set IDLE mode (~4A tube current - enough for a test). Don't expect a hell of a lot of light at idle current - it's the minimum current it'll run at.
Connect pin 13 to pin 2 to control tube discharge (connected = ON) - this is what you'll use to turn the discharge in the tube on and off.

Disconnect pin 13 from pin 2 to turn the head off before turning off the PSU. Leave the fan running for ~5 minutes to cool the head off after you've turned it off. Assuming you don't have a PSU with a key switch on the front that is - if you do have the key switch leave pin 13 and 2 connected and use the key switch to turn the head on/off. They both do the same thing.

There is a startup delay from enabling the tube to it actually turning on - 30-45 seconds or so IIRC. Make sure you have the shutter open... Made that mistake more than once (WHY ISN'T IT LASING!? Oh.... Shutter...).

Should at least get you somewhere. I suggest reading that section of the FAQ regardless of my above instructions. All the information you'll likely ever need on these argons can be found on the FAQ...

This was fairly hastily typed - let me know if you need me to explain anything further!

 

[Sta]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

Thanks - the fan, however, is much wider than the laser head, and ends up getting blocked by the power cord. I don't have any piping to extend the laser head. How should I attach the fan?

 

[diachi]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

Thanks - the fan, however, is much wider than the laser head, and ends up getting blocked by the power cord. I don't have any piping to extend the laser head. How should I attach the fan?

Got some pictures of what you have so far?

Usually you'd use that flexible drier vent type stuff to hook them up - perhaps with an adapter.

 

[Sta]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

I got it working! However, this is a really temporary setup - I have the fan connected by a ~1 inch PVC pipe and some duct tape. For idle mode, I think, it should work fine. It seems to start out in a pulsed mode - I don't remember how I got it to go to CW. I'll go to Home Depot in a few days and purchase some acceptably wide piping.

 

[diachi]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

I got it working! However, this is a really temporary setup - I have the fan connected by a ~1 inch PVC pipe and some duct tape. For idle mode, I think, it should work fine. It seems to start out in a pulsed mode - I don't remember how I got it to go to CW. I'll go to Home Depot in a few days and purchase some acceptably wide piping.

Pulsed mode? Could you describe it better? These lasers don't have a pulsed mode - at least not with these PSUs ... Sounds like it's high pressure and the pulsing your describing is the tube trying to start - then it successfully starts after a few tries and lases CW as it's supposed to. How frequent are the pulses? Are they accompanied by a "click" or "tick" sort of noise?

1" is likely not enough - but 30 second runs with a cool down inbetween won't hurt. See if you can get drier or A/C vent hose - that's usually 4-6" diameter and flexible - rigid pipe will likely just be a pain.

These are still producing several hundred watts of heat, even at idle.

 

[ultimatekaiser]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

yes, Idle is usually about 4A. and it should come on and stay on, it should not flicker. if you need a DB 25 for proper wiring I think I have a few. DO NOT paperclip these. it can ruin the supply. you also only need jumper the interlock and the idle circuit OR the run circuit. not both at the same time i think. its one or the other. or else you'll confuse the snot out of the supply. I'd have to check. but really having a proper controllers is pretty much a must.

 

[diachi]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

yes, Idle is usually about 4A. and it should come on and stay on, it should not flicker. if you need a DB 25 for proper wiring I think I have a few. DO NOT paperclip these. it can ruin the supply. you also only need jumper the interlock and the idle circuit OR the run circuit. not both at the same time i think. its one or the other. or else you'll confuse the snot out of the supply. I'd have to check. but really having a proper controllers is pretty much a must.

Good point on the paperclips - use insulated wire with a quarter inch trimmed off the ends - I prefer to use solid core - if not, use stranded with the ends neatly tinned. #14 works well IIRC ... perhaps #16 - you want a snug fit but not too snug either. How long until your 2500 controller shows up? I'd take Kaiser up on the offer of a DB25 plug if it'll be a while - it's much more convenient and less chance of breaking anything.

Yes - Only run OR idle - not both at once - although it seems you've got it figured out already!

 

[Sta]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

Pulsed mode? Could you describe it better? These lasers don't have a pulsed mode - at least not with these PSUs ... Sounds like it's high pressure and the pulsing your describing is the tube trying to start - then it successfully starts after a few tries and lases CW as it's supposed to. How frequent are the pulses? Are they accompanied by a "click" or "tick" sort of noise?

1" is likely not enough - but 30 second runs with a cool down inbetween won't hurt. See if you can get drier or A/C vent hose - that's usually 4-6" diameter and flexible - rigid pipe will likely just be a pain.

These are still producing several hundred watts of heat, even at idle.

They're about 5-10 Hz, and yes, there's a ticking noise. Then once I connect 13 to 14 (???) it stops then a few seconds later lases.
Also now that I've measured it it seems to be closer to 1.5 inches.

yes, Idle is usually about 4A. and it should come on and stay on, it should not flicker. if you need a DB 25 for proper wiring I think I have a few. DO NOT paperclip these. it can ruin the supply. you also only need jumper the interlock and the idle circuit OR the run circuit. not both at the same time i think. its one or the other. or else you'll confuse the snot out of the supply. I'd have to check. but really having a proper controllers is pretty much a must.

Kaiser, I purchased a controller, it will be arriving in a week or two.

 

[diachi]

Re: WTB: Power supply for 2214-40MLA argon

They're about 5-10 Hz, and yes, there's a ticking noise. Then once I connect 13 to 14 (???) it stops then a few seconds later lases.
Also now that I've measured it it seems to be closer to 1.5 inches.

Are you sure it's pin 13 and 14? Pin 13 is +15VDC and pin 14 is return - that shouldn't actually have any control functionality. Any flashes of light along with the pulses/ticks? Sounds like the starter to me....