Re: suggestions for plasma globe that is slow to turn on?

Bill Abers <none@anywherenet.com> wrote:

I own several plasma globe type devices basically similar to this:
 
https://www.arborsci.com/cdn/shop/products/PlasmaGlobe8inch1500x1000.jpg?v
=1652122477
 
I also have a dome, a disc, and another device resembling a spiral glass
tube.
 
Several years ago, I took a look inside all of them and they basically
all have the same type of circuit: a single transistor driven small
flyback in the 3-8 KV range coupling to the glass tube or globe.
 
One thing that sort of bothers me about my devices is that, over time, a
couple of them have become slow to turn on, especially after sitting for
a period of time, but not in every case: one of my plasma domes is
difficult to turn on all the time.
 
What I mean by the aforementioned is that, once the device switch is
activated, the glass will remain dark for a few seconds before it starts
to show "plasma".  In the case of the plasma dome, there are two
controls on the front of it controlling intensity and frequency that I
have to fiddle with for maybe 30 sec sometimes before the globe will
activate.
 
My question is, what causes this behavior and how do I rectify it?
Thanks.

Possibly a conductive film has built up on the glass over the years and
is loading down the oscillator?  Highly insulating surfaces build up
charges which attract dust etc.


--
~ Liz Tuddenham ~
(Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
www.poppyrecords.co.uk