background image

Page 7

(or “ionized”) and the electrons begin to break off from the atoms 
and move around freely. Unlike a typical gas, plasma is electrically 
conductive and responds strongly to the effects of electromagnetic 
fields. Applying an electromagnetic field to plasma can cause it to 
form into structures such as filaments, beams, and double layers. 
These structures are what give shape to the moving tendrils of light 
that you see in the plasma globe.

When a plasma globe is turned on, the gas inside the globe is 
charged with a high-voltage current from the power supply. The high 
voltage of the current causes the gas to ionize and turn into plasma. 
This turns the entire plasma globe into a conductor, allowing the 
electricity from the electrode to travel through the plasma and 
escape through the air.

At the same time, the power sup-
ply emits a high-frequency current, 
alternating at thousands of times 
per second, and this high-frequen-
cy current creates an oscillating 
electromagnetic field. This electro-
magnetic field interacts with the 
plasma and causes the electrons 
and ions to move around, exciting 
the surrounding atoms. When the atoms  
become excited, they quickly release their energy, and this energy is 
emitted in the form of light. As the electricity from the center of the 
globe attempts to escape, it creates ion trails, and these trails act 
as a path for the other electrons. When a large quantity of electrons 
move along the same path, a plasma tendril is formed, and the 
atoms emit enough light that the tendril becomes visible. The color 
of the light you see depends on what gases are present inside the 
globe.

The Northern Lights are an example of ionized plasma 

from the sun interacting with the earth’s magnetic field.

Summary of Contents for Plasma Globe

Page 1: ...PLASMAGLOBE OWNER SGUIDE P l a s m a D e s i g n P l a s m a D e s i g n ...

Page 2: ......

Page 3: ...ed Plasma Globes we ve now brought them within reach of the everyday consumer We re glad that you ve chosen to purchase one of our globes and we hope that it provides you with years of enjoyment Before you begin using your plasma globe don t forget to read the warnings at the back of the manual Some may be obvious but others you might not have thought of For your own safety and to ensure the life ...

Page 4: ...cts or surfaces as these may be a shock hazard when the plasma globe is powered on The plasma globe has a low amperage current so the shock is not dangerous It s more like a shock of static electricity safe but unpleasant Once you have your plasma globe in place operating it is as simple as plugging it in and turning it on To extend the life of the electronics and the gases in the plasma globe onl...

Page 5: ...n fact some of the most interesting effects can only be achieved through contact or close proximity with the globe Go ahead and experiment Try using your whole palm or just your fingertips or even just a single fingertip See what happens when you lightly hover your hand above the surface of the glass Put your hands on different parts of the globe and see how the plasma reacts when your hands are i...

Page 6: ...al phenomena inside of a glass chamber It wasn t until 1971 that Bill Parker a physics student at MIT conceived the plasma globe as we know it today Building upon the principles that Tesla had pioneered Parker came up with techniques to create the many different colors and effects that can be seen in modern plasma globes What Is Plasma And What Does It Have to Do With Plasma Globes Plasma globes g...

Page 7: ...asma and escape through the air At the same time the power sup ply emits a high frequency current alternating at thousands of times per second and this high frequen cy current creates an oscillating electromagnetic field This electro magnetic field interacts with the plasma and causes the electrons and ions to move around exciting the surrounding atoms When the atoms become excited they quickly re...

Page 8: ...sure is low enough a unique effect becomes possible at reduced power levels somewhat like a glowing aurora borealis around the electrode core Each gas that is used has particular colors and properties that are peculiar to it For example neon gives off a reddish orange color when charged krypton gives off a white color xenon gives off a blueish color and argon gives off a sort of purple color By co...

Page 9: ...ircuit board are mounted and wired to the electrode Lastly the base is sealed up and the globe is tested packed and made ready to go Once the globe reaches us it is again inspected and subjected to rigorous testing to ensure the quality of the plasma effect and the durability of the electronics After that it gets sent out to you Conclusion We hope you ve learned a little bit about plasma globes fr...

Page 10: ...ll Power 3 Being careful not to touch any metal on the Fluorescent Bulb hold the Bulb by the glass bring it close to the Plasma Globe and see what happens The Fluorescent Light should turn on 4 If you are using a straight Fluorescent Tube experiment with the position of your hands on the tube You should notice that the tube will only light up between the plasma globe and your hand This is because ...

Page 11: ...ting They have a bright orange flickering movement that looks similar to a burning candle You can find them in most home hardware stores as well as in other large stores that sell decorative lighting Neon flicker bulbs are filled with low pressure neon gas and instead of a filament they have two small flat electrodes inside them that energize the neon gas Neon flicker bulbs are very sensitive to t...

Page 12: ...ock of static electricity it will probably be unpleasant so we suggest you avoid it Remove any rings or other metallic jewelry from your hands before handling a live plasma globe Do not touch your plasma globe with metallic objects Touching your plasma globe with a metal object may cause an electrical arc to form at the glass surface which could cause small skin burns and may be a fire hazard Beca...

Page 13: ...be and a USB cable at the same time may cause damage to a device connected to the USB cable Always unplug your plasma globe before cleaning the glass Do not use abrasive cleaners to clean your plasma globe as this could permanently damage the glass Small scratches to the glass can be sealed with clear nail polish thinned with lacquer thinner Do not turn your plasma globe on and off continuously or...

Page 14: ... commercial purposes If your globe has problems after the 1 year period is up you must contact us for details on out of warranty service Out of warranty service will be determined on a case to case basis Repairs or replacements that are made outside of the warranty period may be subject to shipping and services fees This warranty does not apply to damage caused through tampering negligence or abus...

Page 15: ...gnificant amounts of xenon gas We have found that this gas mixture is sometimes harder to ignite than our less energetic globes It may be necessary to turn the globe s power setting to maximum and touch the gas to initiate the plasma display Once started the power can be dialed back to the desired setting ...

Page 16: ...asmadesign com and leave a review Leaving a favorable review of your globe will help prospective buyers to know what they are purchasing and will give them the confidence they need to make the leap and purchase one of their very own Museum Sized Plasma Globes If you have any issues with your globe please don t hesitate to call or email us We are continually working on new effects for our Plasma Gl...

Reviews: