Hello from Sunny Florida! (Howard Evans)

[Paul_Schatzkin]

Umm, guys, I think I might be to blame for the difficulty here.

I mean, I started the long-post-with-blockquotes chain, and didn't realize I was going up on two wheels until I got to the end.

Then I think Howard tried to answer my answers in a similar manner and the whole thing went completely off the rails.

It does take some familiarity the platform to manually edit a post with the quote tags, and it did not occur to me that Howard might to respond in kind (and then have difficulty with the proper use/placement of the tags).

Having been the instigator here I am tempted to edit Howard's reply-to-my-reply myself, but honestly I'm under a bit of a gun where time wise so.. if I can get to it will, if not I'm gonna leave it.

Just ignore it if it's tearing your eyeballs out.

Thanks,

--PS

[Howard Evans]

It's rare for someone to make such a detailed introduction, but it was a very enjoyable read. Welcome to the forum and I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you, Ryan.

If cost is a concern you will probably want to go with KF-type vacuum chamber parts ...

I like, and have used, KF-type vacuum hardware for modestly high-vacuum systems. Problem is the "o"-rings used to seal between flat vacuum flanges: these elastomer "o"-rings outgas. It can take days to get down below a microtorr and the vacuum never improves beyond that. For serious vacuum work with metal hardware I choose only Conflat flanges, sealed with a non-reusable copper washer pressed between opposing knife edges on each flange. Rubber washers are also available; they are useful during initial assembly and pump-down.

The neon sign transformer will work as a demo fusor ...

As you have noted, NSTs are deliberately current-limited, which helps prevent a runaway arc at high vacuum pressures, but makes them unsuitable for providing serious, regulated, power. If I were to build a fusor, I would probably start with a microwave oven transformer (MOT). There is also a company, that exhibits at the Dayton, OH, Hamvention® every year, who will wind custom transformers. Just provide them with specs and a lot of money.

The power supply is usually the most difficult hurdle to overcome when expenses are limited, again be sure to read the FAQs as much as you can.

Agreed. I will read the FAQs. Fortunately, I also have some sixty-odd years of experience designing and building all sorts of power supplies. I think a power supply would be the least of the problems I would encounter.

The EME communications with visible light is a very interesting idea. I'm sure it's no easy task, the intensity of any light returning would likely require extremely sensitive equipment to detect. I will be keeping up with both of your efforts, again, best of luck!

EME communications at optical wavelengths is difficult for many reasons, some more obvious than others. I won't try to hijack this forum with details, but if you are interested please visit http://Optical-EME.groups.io for more information.

[Dennis P Brown]

First, thanks Howard for posting and I realized that you did not know the issue about quotes. How we here feel that a writer should know we read previous posts in the thread and are aware of what they are getting at. Further, use of block quotes can cause people to get dependent on them and become an hindrance for reading threads by others so we discourage there use.

So in the future, just summarize in your own words the information in a previous post by incorporating it into a response as you discus your thoughts on that subject. Best not to use any block quotes.

So Howard, I apologize if my reply about that post appears insensitive since you did want to communicate some of your interests and illuminate those issues in the thread - I did not mean to do that in that manner. I do want to read what you have to say concerning your interest and what you would like to do here and/or try learning. So keep posting.