FAQ - Fusor Construction Journey in images from the beginning #2

[Richard Hull]

Late 1997 - Richard's fusor I

No more than 4 weeks passed since the Teslathon and I had assembled my own demo fusor, made up much after Tom's first demo inside a larger nalgene desiccator. it is now termed "Fusor I". Much about it was a kludge. I used an old worn out Welch 1400 1 CFM pump and out-gassing hose and chamber that was sealed with a vacuum greased O ring. Nevertheless, It was my first instruction in IEC plasma and in the basics of what to expect in the way of future issues that came up in this poorly assembled device.

I learned.... Vacuum was tough with terrible materials..... Stuff that out-gases has no place in a vacuum system..... Plasmas can draw a lot of current and the demo device acts much like a voltage regulator or an electronic glow lamp. Fusor I, while instructive, was a self limiting and self defeating proposition and this "first pass" would not make it to Xmas 1997. I could not wait to get busy on Fusor II. I had learned a lot in the doing and "hands-on" imperative.

After viewing the images below, you can move on to my next journey into fusion, fusor II at

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=13052&p=84814#p84814

The few images of this effort are included below. Many are snatched from video tape.

Richard Hull