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From: mlyons@nmsu.edu (Michael Lyons)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: He-Ne tube power supplies
Message-ID: <MLYONS.91Jun25222423@gauss.nmsu.edu>
Date: 26 Jun 91 04:24:23 GMT
Sender: news@NMSU.Edu
Distribution: sci.electronics
Organization: NMSU Computer Science
Lines: 20



I was wondering if anyone out there happened to know of a good power
supply for a supposedly rated 1800 Volt He-Ne laser tube.  I picked it
up from a friend with no specs but am pretty sure that the voltage
rating is around 1.8kV.  I don't know the power output rating but would
guess a small milliwatt output.  
I have a home-built power supply that my friend had used previously
using a 555 timer circuit oscillator into a approx. 12 Volt primary
Xformer.  The output was then sent through a gutted Ford ignition coil
to give approx. 1.8 kVolts.  The problem is that the power supply was
sloppily built and I'm not sure if I want to go to all the trouble of
totally rebuilding it.  I think the design is alright but am wondering
if it would be cheaper to just get a new "made for He-Ne" laser power supply.  
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated....

					Thanks,

					Mike Lyons << NMSU >>
					mlyons@nmsu.edu