How to wire my flyback?

[kenw232]

Hi, I'm new.  And a novice.  How do I wire in my flyback into my circuit?
This is my transformer: https://www.hv-experimental.com/image/cache/catalog/flyback_dc_wb-500x500.jpg

So I wrap 8 or 9 winds around the top of the core there.  then connect that primary wind to + and - from my circuits.  12V is pulsing through that.
now where does my high voltage come from?   The black wire is the negative and the main red wire in front there is the +?  the other red (the one with the black) goes no where?  There are no pins on the bottom of the transformer.  so my high voltage sparkgap is between the main red and black wires.. correct?

[alan sailer]

Before you get much further you should check to see if the flyback is AC. If you connect a ohmmeter
between the red lead and the black lead you should measure about 200-500 ohms. If you can't measure
this then the flyback is most probably a DC unit and not any good for plasma (unless your plasma
has two electrodes).

(Added) the catalog you got the flyback from says that it is a DC unit. Can't drive plasma.

This one can

https://www.hv-experimental.com/product/accessories/flyback-transformer-ac

Cheers.

[kenw232]

So this transformer cannot power a fluorescent tube?  Is that right?  Only an AC flyback can power a fluorescent tube?

[alan sailer]

It's really hard for me to figure out what you are trying to do. First you talked about
powering plasma tubes and now you are talking about powering a fluorescent tube.

I have never tried to apply HV DC to a florescent tube. I am not sure what will happen. My guess is
that you will get a glow discharge. Incidentally, FL tubes are powered with AC.

There are perfectly good electronic ballasts that power up fluorescent tubes. Cheap and easy to find.

Once again, without knowing what you are trying to accomplish it's hard to give meaningful advice.
The gas pressure in a FL tube is about 3 torr. At that pressure you will get a glow discharge.
That is what fluorescent tubes are supposed to do. A typical plasma tube has pressures of 100-500 torr.

Cheers.

[kenw232]

Well, don't both fluorescent tubes and plasma tubes have plasma in them (eg. electrified helium)?   Same thing.  Was not aware of the pressure thing though, how does that change the performance between them then?

[alan sailer]

It would be a good thing if you looked up some information. Like what is a glow discharge,
what does a decorative plasma tube look like.

Helium is very rarely used.

At this point I am going to give up. You don't seem interested in telling anyone what
you are trying to do. Playing the game twenty questions has never appealed to me...

Cheers.

[kenw232]

I am trying to electrify a plasma tube to generate radio waves.  Just trying to do it cheaply.  Fluorescent tubes won't work.  So a tube with neon from the local sign shop might do it I suspect.

[klugesmith]

>> Fluorescent tubes won't work.

Can you tell us why?   

>> So a tube with neon from the local sign shop might do it I suspect.

I'd start with that.   Normally it would come with cold-cathode electrodes glass welded onto each end.  Maybe the signmaker can give you a scrap tube that was rejected by customer for some cosmetic reason.  The gas fills are generally neon or argon + mercury; I have one with just argon.   A search for "undercar neon ccfl" (to exclude most LED products) shows some colored luminous tube sets on Amazon for $11.

You can light up your custom neon element with a $15 neon power supply, like I pointed to in your other thread, as well as you could ever light it up with that flyback you showed us.