Hello, everyone.
This is my second fusor run, and I think it would be good to share the details. The biggest problem is the vacuum. From the plasma, I can estimate that the pressure is around one torr. That is not surprising since I only have an unidentified lent vacuum pump from school. Because of the high pressure, the current in the vacuum chamber exceeded my measurement capabilities (above 200ma). Since the pressure was so high, the inner grid was very inclined to short through the ground plate and fool the vacuum even more. Because of the shorting tendencies of my inner grid, I tried to isolate it, but that proved to be worthless since the plasma got through the isolation nonetheless.
So currently the highest thing on my to do list is to get or find a better vacuum pump. The second highest item on my list is to fix the wheels on my fusor since I completely underestimated the weight of it (see pics).
2nd demo fusor run
- Filippo_Passeri
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 7:10 pm
- Real name: Filippo Passeri
- Location: Czech Republic
2nd demo fusor run
"Will you remember the famous men who have to fall and then to rise again,
So take a deep breath, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again."
-Frank Sinatra Jr
So take a deep breath, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again."
-Frank Sinatra Jr
Re: 2nd demo fusor run
I think that's much worse than a torr, and you maybe have more issues with leaks than pumps.
- Dennis P Brown
- Posts: 3190
- Joined: Sun May 20, 2012 10:46 am
- Real name: Dennis Brown
Re: 2nd demo fusor run
I do not see a gasket for the bell jar to base seal? One really needs to use a gasket if one expects to prevent massive leakage - vacuum grease alone isn't going to work very well. This may be causing the high pressure in the bell jar. Also, this is a safety issue since glass on metal can create dangerous stress points.
Also, you should consider making a better high voltage feed through than a spark plug. Placing a copper rod with a light coating of a good grade of epoxy through a thick wall ceramic tube isn't difficult and allows more versatility in electrode attachment as well as a providing an easy place to drill/thread a screw for the high voltage external wiring.
Also, you should consider making a better high voltage feed through than a spark plug. Placing a copper rod with a light coating of a good grade of epoxy through a thick wall ceramic tube isn't difficult and allows more versatility in electrode attachment as well as a providing an easy place to drill/thread a screw for the high voltage external wiring.