How to light up a Crookes tube?
 

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but it is kind of related to TVs, so...
I found this "Crookes tube" and i want to test it. It probably still holds vacuum. The big question is, what voltage should i use? AC or DC? Someone thought about 2kV, and if they is right, may the focussing lead in an old B&W computer monitor be a usable supply?

You could try contacting John Jenkins, who has quite a collection of Crookes and Geissler tubes.

http://www.sparkmuseum.com/GLASS.HTM

Phil Nelson

Do be careful! These were the types of tubes that Dr. Roentgen used in the discovery of X-Rays, I think they ran on about 10-15kV DC

I recall playing with one in HS physics...seem to remember about 3-4kV doing the job. Much higher voltages would probably emit x-rays.

X-Rays don't become much of a concern until the voltage gets above 15KV. And even at that voltage, only long term exposure would be a concern.

It lives!
 

Yesterday i hooked it up to the EHT lead in one of those small, junky TV/radio combos. I think the voltage is too high, but at least i know that the tube is working. I just "zapped" it for a couple of seconds to take a picture of it.

Kewl !! Just be careful, PLEASE !!!

woah.. .that is too cool... I've only seen pictures of those, and only unlit... I had no idea they looked so cool with voltage..

So what would a person end up doing with one of those? Just for a conversation piece around the den or office?

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