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Geek Culture / turn this skull into a lamp

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Phaelax
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Posted: 20th Mar 2015 01:40
I'm nearing the bottom of my crystal head vodka bottle and thought it would be neat to turn it into some sort of lamp. If you're not familiar with the vodka, here's what the "bottle" looks like:



My first idea was to get one of those plasma ball lights and find a small enough one that I can insert it into the bottle. The problem with that is these appear to be filled with a gas (like neon or argon or something) and use a dangerously high voltage. I may be able get the gas from my shop, but I really don't want to mess with all that even thought I bet it would look awesome in there.

So, my next thought was..... ask you guys. Any ideas? Help me turn this skull into some kinda weird alien positronic brain looking thing!


"I like offending people, because I think people who get offended should be offended." - Linus Torvalds
TheComet
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Joined: 18th Oct 2007
Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 20th Mar 2015 02:03
Quote: "The problem with that is these appear to be filled with a gas (like neon or argon or something) and use a dangerously high voltage. I may be able get the gas from my shop, but I really don't want to mess with all that even thought I bet it would look awesome in there."


That would work. Usually the noble gasses used are at a lower pressure on the inside of the globe, but I've read that helium mixed with a dopant gas works at atmospheric pressure.

It's not dangerous. They operate at around 1kV with nearly no current output at all. It's closer to static electricity than anything else, the worst that can happen is a mild shock.

You could try something with some colour changing LEDs, but I'm not sure how well that would look. The glass is basically clear, so it's not going to glow at all.

Need help with C/C++ game dev? PM me or add me on skype: the__comet.
Current active project: Light Ship
Indicium
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Posted: 20th Mar 2015 02:05
I think you should go for the plasma effect. Maybe there is somebody out there who specialise in making custom lamps?
Phaelax
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Posted: 20th Mar 2015 02:57
I read that it was like 30k volts and could potentially be fatal. Sounds more like a hit from a stun gun.


"I like offending people, because I think people who get offended should be offended." - Linus Torvalds
TheComet
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Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 20th Mar 2015 12:43 Edited at: 20th Mar 2015 12:46
That's crap, it's nowhere near fatal. They wouldn't be selling them if it could kill you when you touch it.

Take it from an electronic engineer - I've disassembled one myself and touched the wire that leads up into the centre of the globe to prove a point. You feel nothing if you firmly grip the wire, and a mild shock when releasing the wire (the thing that hurts you is when a spark jumps). In fact, you can hold the wire with one hand and gently touch other people with your knuckles with your other hand, and they will experience a mild shock (you will feel nothing). The same applies with a functioning globe: Place your hand on top of the globe, then touch someone gently with your other hand and it'll shock them.

The one I disassembled was rather large and I measured around 1kV. The smaller globes usually have less voltage.

Need help with C/C++ game dev? PM me or add me on skype: the__comet.
Current active project: Light Ship
Phaelax
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Joined: 16th Apr 2003
Location: Metropia
Posted: 29th Mar 2015 05:49
I knew there were some engineer guys on here, that's why I asked here. And that's kinda what I was thinking, considering the smaller one I was looking at for $6 was only powered by USB.

Quote: "gently touch other people with your knuckles"

Drinking at a biker bar lately?

I might go ahead with this now. Hopefully I can fit the pieces through the bottle opening.


"I like offending people, because I think people who get offended should be offended." - Linus Torvalds

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