> On Fri, Dec 12, 2003 at 09:19:27AM -0800, Torelli, Bruce enlightened us thusly > > > > I remember reading an instruction placard for leak testing an old > > microwave years ago. All you needed to do was pass a small 5"-6" > > florescent tube near the door parting surfaces. The tube would > > supposedly glow if there was leakage. I never tried it. > > It does. The technique is commonly used in RF generators > (13.56/27.12/41.xx Mhz). But at that frequency, you need a considerable > amount of power to light the tube at all. You don't believe it until you > see it, but I have seen it. If that much microwave power was excaping, > your eyeballs would be cooked before you could see if it was lighting > :-/. > > The RF generators are one big tank oscillator made from a power triode > thermionic valve, and used for rapid curing of glue and plastic welding. > They suddenly went a bit scarce after CE approval ... > Hi Declan,
I doubt. Having a fluorescenct tube for p.e. 8W for full light, a fraction of a Watt of power would suffice for local illumination at a lower, but observable, light intensity. I remember stories of people living in the neighbourhood of broadcast antenna's. The fluorescent tubes in their houses were lighting spontaneously. They were not cooked! Regards, Harry -- Author: H.C. Croon INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
