If you have a MOT, an old secondary (mine is in very bad shape-- dropped turns, lossy turns, insulation scratched) and a power pentode from a TV (final stage of horisontal deflection, i used an EL509), you can build a little toy for your pleasure. The sparks are not very long (7-8 inches) but exciting and you can modify the input (half rectifyed or full rectifyed to get different shaped streamers). I know that it is not the best design but it was easy to collect the pieces and finished the setup in short time.
( I have to confess that I need some toy until I will be able to build the miniSSTC of Steve Ward).
It is better to have a variac to control the voltage preventing the plate hard heating (1500-2000 vac input is the best). |
