Around 1988 when I was working on the very first plasma globe (Parker's "Quiet Lightning" device in the Hall of Electricity at MOS in Boston,) Bill Parker mentioned that carbon monoxide was the key to getting those green discharges. I don't know if I believe him though, since he's a bit sketchy, and may have been delivering disinformation. Haven't tried CO myself. Still, oxygen ions do have a green spectral line. That first unit ran at pure CW with many watts, and rf heating would make your joints ache if you kept your hand on the globe for many minutes. After running constantly for years, the mixture was changing and it was getting a bit dim. I discovered that the vacuum-tube driver was putting out CW, so modified it to modulate with narrow pulses at 60Hz. Very bright. But I haven't been back there since 1990.
I really like what you did there just converted to what used to be a shell of what it used to be from Bill, Parker’s sleepless nights, plasma, art… And making something new out of it
This video was actually quite useful! Putting the argon in the globe made a really nice effect I have 4 globes so far and I was thinking about changing the gas mixture to 75% argon and 25% xenon That would be very awesome to try when I have the materials to do it :)
Ar-Xe is pretty lame in my experience, it's just some light blue with a bit of forking, and you do NOT want to mess with any globes you already have. You'll destroy them and you'll never be able to use them again. I really recommend buying some new glassware first :)
there is a signed and numbered Bill Parker Sleepless Nights original edition up for sale on eBay RIGHT NOW at 22:00 CDST 8/23/22. original edition with slider controls 1984 #110/275 looks like it's in real good shape. HERE IS YOUR CHANCE -- Standingwulf
Nice. If you want to get rid of air you could use alkaline earth metals because they react both with oxygen and nitrogen. From the alkali metals only lithium reacts with nitrogen.
Absolutely fantastic plasma globe science and laser videos. Subscribing in hopes there will be more of this soon instead of the video game stuff I see from years past. Not sure if you're aware but Carl Willis also has some videos on making plasma art on his channel. He's the only one I've ever seen who figured out how to make the elusive Bill Parker emerald green. Edit: OH WOW the yellow I2 fluorescence is really the cherry on top! Would love to see the spectrum of that and the glow discharge to see all the vibronic coupling transitions.
Complete layman’s question… What problems would arise if the volume of the sphere was filled with distilled water( as pure as is possible) , then use the final flavor of gas to displace the water from the sphere leaving only the intended gas.
Very innovative... The water vapor and residue adorpted onto the glass will likely mess with the effect. You'd also have to use a vacuum pump to lower the gas pressure. But for clearing out nitrogen and oxygen, it could work. I'd be interested in if this works. Though make sure to test with argon-- any of the other gases will cost a killing!
I just purchased one of Bill Parkers plasma globes at a flea market in Waterbury, Vermont. It is just the globe and measures about 11" in diameter. It is in the same condition as what you started with for this video. I did see that Bill resides in Waitsfield, just down the road from where I found this globe. Any suggestions as to how I can restore this and also add a base to make it work as there is no electrical wires. I would love to restore this one and make it work again.
So envious. I've been looking for a high quality empty globe for ages. I hope no one minds me asking: If you don't have the supplies/gases/pump to fix it, would you be willing to sell it? If so, what price?
Hi Starmute VII Great video! I'm about to experiment with plasma globes as well and have a question you might know the answer to. :-) I have an opportunity to have a globe made from plastic. Do you know if it is possible to use plastic in stead of glass? Both the outside and inside part. Does it insulate correcly? or get too hot maybe? Hope to hear from you. - Peter
Uh, Starmute I have a globe in this exact condition, same issue and thankfully with the footage you posted and I wanted argon in my globe And yes, I know its cheap but at least it's better than nothing All i need is a blowtorch and the vaccum pump and other stuff shown here Thanks Now I can somewhat repair my disappointment.
Can i have one of that?🥺😥 Here in the Philippines, plasma globes are uncommon specially that one and it is hard to have😭 You must have to order international to get one but mostly available are china made which are commonly has red and purple plasma. I really like that blue parker plasma globe. I am fanatic of plasma globe since i was a child
They use xenon for Promethean. Maybe they must watch your video. My opinion is you make this snake effect many people likes perfect. Do you sell any or custom make one? I wish I can have your version of this effect 🙂
Ah, I should've mentioned that! There is an electrode in the middle, which gets powered by a high-voltage AC power supply (a PVM-12 from amazing1.com). AC electricity can actually pass through non-conductive substances like glass through something called capacitive coupling. The high frequency makes it completely harmless.
Hey this going to sound kind of silly but would it be possible for you build one of these for me? I have been trying to buy a deep blue plasma globe for years now with no luck.
Hi Starmute, I loved this vid and was thrilled to find out somebody else out there knows of Bill Parker! I " bought" from Sharper Image in the80's but had to relenquish when I decided I really couldn't afford ☹️one as a broke student- and longed for one ever after- UNTIL I managed to actually track Bill down- I was eventually able to commission a piece which I was finally to own, a VERY interesting guy that I wished had enjoyed his invention more. I haven't had mine out of the closet in ? Decades?🫣😖😵💫 It would be an actual miracle if it has survived, but it was working fine when lovingly packed so long ago. I'll see if I can find pics- if so I'll post em too. Mine is similar to "the rights of spring" but more blue streamers and nice greens and purples. As you know, you have to see it!
Hey there - so glad you liked the video! I would LOVE to see your unit if you can ever find it!!! I am fascinated by the history of these wonderful art pieces so if you ever find it, please contact me asap!
Around 1988 when I was working on the very first plasma globe (Parker's "Quiet Lightning" device in the Hall of Electricity at MOS in Boston,) Bill Parker mentioned that carbon monoxide was the key to getting those green discharges. I don't know if I believe him though, since he's a bit sketchy, and may have been delivering disinformation. Haven't tried CO myself. Still, oxygen ions do have a green spectral line.
That first unit ran at pure CW with many watts, and rf heating would make your joints ache if you kept your hand on the globe for many minutes. After running constantly for years, the mixture was changing and it was getting a bit dim. I discovered that the vacuum-tube driver was putting out CW, so modified it to modulate with narrow pulses at 60Hz. Very bright. But I haven't been back there since 1990.
I really like what you did there just converted to what used to be a shell of what it used to be from Bill, Parker’s sleepless nights, plasma, art… And making something new out of it
This video was actually quite useful!
Putting the argon in the globe made a really nice effect
I have 4 globes so far and I was thinking about changing the gas mixture to 75% argon and 25% xenon
That would be very awesome to try when I have the materials to do it :)
Ar-Xe is pretty lame in my experience, it's just some light blue with a bit of forking, and you do NOT want to mess with any globes you already have. You'll destroy them and you'll never be able to use them again. I really recommend buying some new glassware first :)
ok
Once I have glassware, I'll try my best to make a beautiful blue/purple plasma globe.
there is a signed and numbered Bill Parker Sleepless Nights original edition up for sale on eBay RIGHT NOW at 22:00 CDST 8/23/22. original edition with slider controls 1984 #110/275 looks like it's in real good shape. HERE IS YOUR CHANCE -- Standingwulf
Nice. If you want to get rid of air you could use alkaline earth metals because they react both with oxygen and nitrogen. From the alkali metals only lithium reacts with nitrogen.
Absolutely fantastic plasma globe science and laser videos. Subscribing in hopes there will be more of this soon instead of the video game stuff I see from years past.
Not sure if you're aware but Carl Willis also has some videos on making plasma art on his channel. He's the only one I've ever seen who figured out how to make the elusive Bill Parker emerald green.
Edit: OH WOW the yellow I2 fluorescence is really the cherry on top! Would love to see the spectrum of that and the glow discharge to see all the vibronic coupling transitions.
Who said you couldn't catch lightning in a jar.
Complete layman’s question… What problems would arise if the volume of the sphere was filled with distilled water( as pure as is possible) , then use the final flavor of gas to displace the water from the sphere leaving only the intended gas.
Very innovative...
The water vapor and residue adorpted onto the glass will likely mess with the effect. You'd also have to use a vacuum pump to lower the gas pressure. But for clearing out nitrogen and oxygen, it could work.
I'd be interested in if this works. Though make sure to test with argon-- any of the other gases will cost a killing!
Great videos as usual
i love lamp
If you heat the globe prior to pumping you won't have to flush it so many times
Pog
Thanks star’s friend
I called is plasma, art daylight lightning
Aurora company still trying to make this effect better.. But you did it already . Its perfect. Their Promethean fire its not so good as yours.
I just purchased one of Bill Parkers plasma globes at a flea market in Waterbury, Vermont. It is just the globe and measures about 11" in diameter. It is in the same condition as what you started with for this video.
I did see that Bill resides in Waitsfield, just down the road from where I found this globe.
Any suggestions as to how I can restore this and also add a base to make it work as there is no electrical wires. I would love to restore this one and make it work again.
Hi Nate. Do you know if anything is written on the stem? That way we can identify it.
So envious. I've been looking for a high quality empty globe for ages. I hope no one minds me asking: If you don't have the supplies/gases/pump to fix it, would you be willing to sell it? If so, what price?
Is it possible to make one plasma lamp with the shape of an energy sword from halo(video game)
Hi Starmute VII
Great video! I'm about to experiment with plasma globes as well and have a question you might know the answer to. :-)
I have an opportunity to have a globe made from plastic. Do you know if it is possible to use plastic in stead of glass? Both the outside and inside part. Does it insulate correcly? or get too hot maybe?
Hope to hear from you.
- Peter
Awesome! 😎👍
does this get hot on the inside? also could it conduct thru say plastic around the inside?
Xenon is the best choice
But I know it is very expensive.
Uh, Starmute
I have a globe in this exact condition, same issue and thankfully with the footage you posted and I wanted argon in my globe
And yes, I know its cheap but at least it's better than nothing
All i need is a blowtorch and the vaccum pump and other stuff shown here
Thanks
Now I can somewhat repair my disappointment.
Is it borosilicate or cheap glass? If it's a cheap globe there is not really much you can do.
Borosilicate
No soda lime crap
@@Purple431 If you still have this, would you be interested in selling it?
Can i have one of that?🥺😥
Here in the Philippines, plasma globes are uncommon specially that one and it is hard to have😭
You must have to order international to get one but mostly available are china made which are commonly has red and purple plasma.
I really like that blue parker plasma globe.
I am fanatic of plasma globe since i was a child
They use xenon for Promethean. Maybe they must watch your video. My opinion is you make this snake effect many people likes perfect. Do you sell any or custom make one? I wish I can have your version of this effect 🙂
How is the globe put together to electrify it?
Ah, I should've mentioned that! There is an electrode in the middle, which gets powered by a high-voltage AC power supply (a PVM-12 from amazing1.com). AC electricity can actually pass through non-conductive substances like glass through something called capacitive coupling. The high frequency makes it completely harmless.
Agreed :)
Hello Starmute
I missed you ❤️
Hi! Hope you enjoyed the video!
I did!
Thank you for sharing :)
Hey this going to sound kind of silly but would it be possible for you build one of these for me? I have been trying to buy a deep blue plasma globe for years now with no luck.
Potentially, yes. Email me at starmute7@gmail.com. It won't be cheap though.
@@StarmuteVII Thank you so much!
Hi Starmute, I loved this vid and was thrilled to find out somebody else out there knows of Bill Parker! I " bought" from Sharper Image in the80's but had to relenquish when I decided I really couldn't afford ☹️one as a broke student- and longed for one ever after- UNTIL I managed to actually track Bill down- I was eventually able to commission a piece which I was finally to own, a VERY interesting guy that I wished had enjoyed his invention more. I haven't had mine out of the closet in ? Decades?🫣😖😵💫 It would be an actual miracle if it has survived, but it was working fine when lovingly packed so long ago. I'll see if I can find pics- if so I'll post em too. Mine is similar to "the rights of spring" but more blue streamers and nice greens and purples. As you know, you have to see it!
Hey there - so glad you liked the video!
I would LOVE to see your unit if you can ever find it!!! I am fascinated by the history of these wonderful art pieces so if you ever find it, please contact me asap!