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FrozenGate by Avery

JDSU 25ML Argon Help

Mosc007 said:
Thanks Diachi.

I check Ebay regular but for some reason those from Ebay.ca dont show up. Might consider one of those so I at least have something, I woukd prefer a mulitilne though. Those prices are better than the heads I have been finding. Shipping to aus is expensive though. I posted a message on photolexicon.
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Really I'm just suggesting that as a way to test your existing laser, if everything works out you end up with two working heads, ML and SL. If not, at least you still have some lovely 488! :D

Didn't realize you were in Aus! I hear you on the shipping costs though, getting things up here isn't cheap either - although probably cheaper than Australia!

May have better luck over on PL, Mixedgas spends more time over there and he's the expert on gas and lasers in general...
 





diachi said:
Really I'm just suggesting that as a way to test your existing laser, if everything works out you end up with two working heads, ML and SL. If not, at least you still have some lovely 488! :D

Didn't realize you were in Aus! I hear you on the shipping costs though, getting things up here isn't cheap either - although probably cheaper than Australia!

May have better luck over on PL, Mixedgas spends more time over there and he's the expert on gas and lasers in general...
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I ordered one of those 10ML's you linked to. It looks clean. Head was about $75 AUD and shipping about $130 AUD.

Even though this one doesn't seem like high pressure I might try the freezer trick anyway.
 
I think you got the 2214-10SLA, which is a 488nm single line tube. Man you weren't kidding that shipping to Australia is expensive. If that is your only way to get another tube, then I feel for you. Hopefully, when this is all over, you will have a multi-line and a single-line.
 
Yep. Shipping from the states to Aus is a killer. Their might be a chance that my ML might lase again, but I am not very hopeful.

Some of the complete systems are $500 shipping.

At least a SL will be better than nothing.
 
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You'll need to get some forced air cooling for that new tube. I hope it work out for you. :D
 
paul1598419 said:
You'll need to get some forced air cooling for that new tube. I hope it work out for you. :D
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Yep. I might be able to find a blower at work to do the job. I was thinking even a vacuum cleaner would work for a test. They suck the air thru the tube. As long as the vacuum cleaner doesn't suck the tube out :)
 
I've been following this thread but I'm not sure what you've done to confirm the output of your ignitor. It may be firing correctly but if there's been some breakdown of the insulation inside the ignitor transformer the high voltage pulse intended to start the tube may be arcing inside of that transformer instead of firing the tube.
 
WizardG said:
I've been following this thread but I'm not sure what you've done to confirm the output of your ignitor. It may be firing correctly but if there's been some breakdown of the insulation inside the ignitor transformer the high voltage pulse intended to start the tube may be arcing inside of that transformer instead of firing the tube.
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Watching the ignitor board in a completly dark room while it's firing their is no arcing anywere. This is an old Revision A board. The insulation on the windings looks very well done. Connecting the Ignitor to a CFL tube makes the tube flash about twice a second. Looking at the Anode voltage on my CRO I can see the Tube try to ignite. But not enough current is flowing to build a plasma.

Without buying a High Voltage probe I can only be 99% certain the ignitor board is ok.

The Tube did Ignite first tick on 3 occasions. On the third occasion the tube went out after 30 seconds and has never ignited again.

I am in the process of building a Pulse test circuit to see if i can get any plamsa at all. Maybe I will need more than 170 VDC to get it. It seems like a high pressure tube. But it did ignite first tick 3 times. The only other option I can see is the Checmicals on the Filament have blown off and it won't emit enough electrons anymore.

The circuit I am using is from the Professor's Argon Site.
 

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If it was high-pressure you would've had trouble starting it the first time. If the filament is still lighting good, then id guess its still got to be the power supply. If it's striking in you getting a little bit of purple and then it goes immediately out it's probably not drawing any current to keep the arc going, or its unable to stabilize it if i had to take a wild guess.
 
I have watched the Anode voltage from the power supply on my CRO while it's trying to ignite. The Power supply looks fine. If the power supply wasn't able to supply enogh current the voltage would drop off. But it's not. The Power supply voltage is well above the 110 volts needed to maintain a plasma at all times while it's trying to ignite. It seems like the tube isn't trying to draw power. Even though it appears to be ionizing. I will know more when I get the pulse tester running. I agree it's not high pressure as it did ignite easily 3 times.
 
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Since heat buries some of the gas in the tube walls, a low pressure tube would explain the symptoms, yes? Running the tube those three times drives the pressure lower until it cannot sustain an arc properly. Maybe not. I'm a bit rusty on my ion laser theory.
 
Cyparagon said:
Since heat buries some of the gas in the tube walls, a low pressure tube would explain the symptoms, yes? Running the tube those three times drives the pressure lower until it cannot sustain an arc properly. Maybe not. I'm a bit rusty on my ion laser theory.
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Thats a very plausible explaination. Though usually testing it on another known power supply would be helpful at this point if it were available. I've seen wonky stuff happen with these, Sadly thats not an option. Id offer if it were in the states.
 
Cyparagon said:
Since heat buries some of the gas in the tube walls, a low pressure tube would explain the symptoms, yes? Running the tube those three times drives the pressure lower until it cannot sustain an arc properly. Maybe not. I'm a bit rusty on my ion laser theory.
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Looks like you have nailed the problem. All the symptoms and tests point to a low pressure tube. It even explains power supply problems as a low pressure tube the plasma becomes unstable which can damage the supply.

I got around to disconnecting one of the Cathode leads so I can confirm the trigger pulse is working. Nice bright blue/white flash every time it tries to ignite.

Pretty much confirmed this tube is EOL. Ignitor working very well. Filament working very well. Power supply is giving the correct Anode voltage. The Tube simply can't form a plasma anymore.

Thanks for all the help. I don't know what's going on with the one I ordered from EBay. Not shipped and it's been a week. Seller not responding to messages.
 
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Sorry to hear you are having so many problems trying to get your gas collection together. I hope things improve for you soon. ;)
 
I finnaly got a reply from the seller about the 10SL I ordered. Apparently they have moved their warehouse and can not find it. A full refund has been received. When they find it they will inform me about it.

Also, It took a while but my Bench DMM did suffer failure after testing the Anode voltage at the Anode with the ignitor running. Damage wasn't instant. Took a few uses before it died. It was a very old Tandy Bench Meter. Was a good one though. I have ordered a new one. From now on I will only measure the Anode voltage at the power supply end before the ignitor circuit.
 
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