Want to build a He-Ne Lamp, help.

[jayrob]

i bought a few of their tube mount's to try, also have the anode/cathode mount which looks like what you have, what current are you running your tube at jay?

This is the driver that came with the tube when I got it:

(add taken from Sam's classified)
Laser Drive model 103-23 HeNe laser power
supply. Input 21 to 31 VDC at less than
350 mA with enable. (500 mA DC power supply
recommended, not included but readily
available.) Output (short Alden cable):
1,100 to 1,500 V at 3.5 mA (fixed). It will
power most 0.5 to 1.0 mW (rated) HeNe laser
tubes. (This is the same HeNe laser power
supply as is included in HENELSK1, above.)
Size: 1" x 1-1/2" x 4".

My set up also came with a power supply which I'm not using. Instead, I bought a 24 volt supply from Radio Shack. I think it's rated either 500mA's or 1 Amp. But the driver will run the tube on as little as 350mA's per the information listed in the Sam's add...

 

[lasersbee]

Kool! 4 inch is a bit to small for a display.

I ordered a tube from Meredith instruments:

SPECIFICATIONS:

Manufacture / Part Number: Melles Griot, model 05-LHR-038
Output Power: 2.0 mW minimum, 2.4 mW typical
Wavelength: 632.8 nm RED
Polarization: Random
Mode: TEMoo
Beam Diameter: 0.49 mm
Beam Divergence: 1.65 mRads.
Light Exit: Cathode end of tube.
Operating Voltage: 1450 VDC (with 68 K ballast).
Start Voltage: 8 KV.
Operating Current: 3.7 mA Ideal.
Recommended Ballast Resistor: 68 K Ohms, 2 Watt.
(Add in series to the anode lead within 3" of the tube.)
Recommended Power Supply: E-21, F-22.
Dimensions: 9.57" (243 mm) long x 1.12" (28.5 mm) diameter.

now i must choose a 12V PSU, which one should i get for this tube?
(i also ordered a 3W 68K ballast resistor with it)


I also bought a set of an anode/cathode tube mounts from Sam's Classified Page

Also bought some nice switches, panel mount LED's and a project box

You will need to get a PSU that can at the least supply the
output voltages required in the specs....


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics

 

[AUS]

Here is mine with my hand for comparison.
The Laserbee hovers between 1mW and 2mW so I'm calling it 1.5mW.
It actually flickers a bit and a pink discharge flashes up in the main tube outside the capillary so I think its going "gassy" but hey, it was a $40 tube and it looks lovely: