An odd, but interesting observation

[cm...@zeusprune.ca]

To: neoni...@googlegroups.com, Rob B <bailey...@gmail.com>

On 2023-10-09 11:22, Rob B wrote:

When I was a kid [~50 yrs ago], I had several power strips with NE-2 indicators, where the indicator starting flicker and then eventually failed.  I noticed that when sunlight hit the NE-2s, they lit more solidly: flickering converted to solid, and off converted to flickering.  I always assumed it was the energy from the sun's photons that was adding just enough joules to the equation to push failing bulbs back over their ionization threshold.  Same effect, probably?

which is the reason behind some neon stuff having a small amount of radioactivity added.  helps kick off the Ionization.

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[jb-electronics]

Interesting indeed! Could be, especially given the fact that some Burroughts tubes have Radon 85 in them to help them ionize in the dark. Seems to be the same idea? Jens

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[jb-electronics]

PS: Make that "Krypton 85"

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[Nicholas Stock]

Well, alas, most of that is now Rubidium (Kr85 half life is about 10.5 yrs), so you'll need to give those tubes a little extra push now... :)

Cheers,

Nick

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[Paul Andrews]

There is a note about the safe handling and storage of tubes containing Krypton 85 at the end of this page https://www.nixies.us/bwg_gallery/122p224/

[Nicholas Stock]

Paul, that's a great note...although if I broke 750 of them at one go, I'd be more pissed at that than a little bit of Krypton85 in the air.... LOL.

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[andybiker]

Hi Nick,

With the half life of Krypton 85 and the amount left since 1983 (date on data sheet) you'd have to break at least 12,000 nixies at the same time.

If I had that many and broke them, it would be a very bad day indeed.

[Nicholas Stock]

Nice one. Whoops there goes my retirement plan! Ha ha..

Cheers,

Nick

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 13, 2023, at 02:49, andybiker <andy...@gmail.com> wrote:



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