Plasma speaker

[haveyouseenhim]

Has anyone here ever made a plasma speaker? If so do you have any advice/wisdom you would like to share? Can I use any ole flyback transformer like out of a crt?  I'm about to take on this project to play guitar through. I figured this would be a pretty awesome way to demo pedals mad scientist style

[amptramp]

Check out the DuKane Ionovac site:

http://www.ionovac.com/

This was a commercially available plasma tweeter from the 1950's.  It had a 6DQ6 horizontal output tube as the power source with a flyback transformer circuit, so your version will be more modern.

[jimbeaux]

can't get the link to work 

[Jaicen_solo]

My god that looks like a dangerous piece of equipment!

I suspect it will exhibit an extremely limited frequency response, probably nothing below 2kHz or thereabouts?
Either way, I would want NOTHING to do with it! 

[defaced]

This is something I've wanted to play with. Since I work for arcs for a living, it would be a sort of natural extension for me.

[haveyouseenhim]

This is something I've wanted to play with. Since I work for arcs for a living, it would be a sort of natural extension for me.

Are you a welder?

[PRR]

> nothing below 2kHz or thereabouts?

Depends how much power you want to put into the arc.

Buy an electro-melting facility, the kind that you dump ten truck-loads of scrap-iron into and melt it all in 30 minutes.

[defaced]

This is something I've wanted to play with. Since I work for arcs for a living, it would be a sort of natural extension for me.

Are you a welder?

Sometimes, depends on the day. I'm a welding engineer that does R&D, with emphasis on developemt. So there is a strong hands on aspect to my job.

[Jdansti]

Large scale plasma speakers:

Very cool; however, other than the issue of whether it would sound good with a guitar, there are several safety issues to consider.

1.  High voltage.  Unlike our guitar tube amps where the high voltage is shielded from people during normal use, the plasma speaker always has exposed electrodes that present electrocution and burn hazards.

2.  Ozone generation.  Ozone in the upper atmosphere helps protect us from UV rays, but ground level ozone is hazardous.  Normal atmospheric oxygen is O₂.  Ozone has an extra oxygen (O₃).  The extra oxygen is not tightly held to the other two and can leave the molecule to combine with (oxidize) the tissues in your lungs.  Not a good thing!  You'd want to have good ventilation if you used it indoors.

3. The electrode material is slowly atomized. These fumes could be toxic. Take the same precautions as #2.

[haveyouseenhim]

thanks john.   I knew all of that except that ozone was that bad for you. I will keep good ventilation while testing. But now I plan on putting it in an enclosure with a thin clear diaphragm to keep gasses contained while not limiting sound. And that video is awesome.

[J0K3RX]

Has anyone here ever made a plasma speaker? If so do you have any advice/wisdom you would like to share? Can I use any ole flyback transformer like out of a crt?  I'm about to take on this project to play guitar through. I figured this would be a pretty awesome way to demo pedals mad scientist style

Use an ignition coil form and automobile...  20k volt plus.. Or an old transformer from a neon sign if you can find one.

[Jdansti]

Thanks for sharing the video of your first attempt with me. I know you told me not to let anyone else see it, but I think you did a really great job. Here it is:

[haveyouseenhim]

I TOLD YOU NOT TO SHOW IT!!!     Now everyone here sees how socially awkward I am!!!

[amptramp]

Use an ignition coil form and automobile...  20k volt plus.. Or an old transformer from a neon sign if you can find one.

Oil furnace transformers are good for 15,000 volts as well.