I have some scrap weird items. Before I throw them I need some very good advice first. I have them for quite some long time lying around. As you can see in the image provided.

#1 The neon tube. I have the impression it is not functioning, and here i want your professional advice :
-a- how to check if the neon is functional ? (and not burned out)
-b- how to power it? (if is still good).

#2 if you recognize that thing, can you tell me if it's a neon or not? How to test it if it's a neon ? How to test if it's a source of light? It is having a transparent glass top through it i can see little points. Very strange. My best guess it is the light source from a scanner maybe? I really wish i can make it work (if its still functional).

#3 My best guess this is a Heater from some powder ink printer. How can i test it to confirm? (again, if it's functional). How to power and make it functional?

#4 I don't really care about the rest of the circuit. I am very curious about that ferite looking element that writes next to it "Caution High Voltage". If you happen to recognize the circuit, please share. I can tell you this one is from a Macintosh computer.

Thank you for your help !

click this link to see the full image and to zoom in more:
https://q12a.deviantart.com/art/Neon-scrap-740823525

 

4 looks very much like the high voltage inverter used for the backlight of an LCD display.

 

---Reedited--
It is from a MAC that i disassembled a very long time ago.
I just look right now on both (1&4) and they have a common pink wire, same color, same thickness. The neon is with this board. Now, how I power this board?

 

I have been electrocuted by one of those and I don't recommend it!
You might find a schematic on line somewhere that would show the connections (but it's apple so maybe not).

 

I have been electrocuted by one of those and I don't recommend it!
You might find a schematic on line somewhere that would show the connections (but it's apple so maybe not).

-reedited-
Thank you for the caution warning. I will try not to touch it while is powered. Thank you.
Now...my intention is to 1- verify if the neon is good and not burned, and 2- to make a desk lamp with it.
Can you help me make it happen?
--- If is burned, i will throw it away and i will close this thread here and give you 5 stars. Problem solved very easy. And i have a hunch it is burned but also I hope that maybe... is working. I must try to test it somehow and i have not the tiny clue how to do it.
- I know the neon tube is usually a high power device - It's all i know best about it - i looked on YT and find out that a tiny neon bulb is starting at 90V but then is having a 'negative resistance' (i never knew about it) that drops the functional usage to 60V. And if a condenser is added in paralel with the neon, it became the simplest flashing electric device made by humans. (I just learned about it and i am fascinated). I heard something in the past, but now, with my shiny new brain, everything is brighter.
- I need something basic to test it, not complicated. It should be a simpler way !

 

It's too long ago to remember how the low voltage end was wired but I don't think it is just a case of connecting power as the 'puter could control the backlight but, like I said I have good reason to remember the white connector and the pink wires.

 

It's too long ago to remember how the low voltage end was wired but I don't think it is just a case of connecting power as the 'puter could control the backlight but, like I said I have good reason to remember the white connector and the pink wires.

I also have the power supply from that apple computer. i wanted to make a separate desktop power supply for everyday needs, and is a bit too much work on it - i still didnt finish making the box for it. And is a long forgotten project laying on my electronics desk. So... it may be a way.
-reedited-
I took a photo just now to show it
https://i.imgur.com/h5yAiDv.jpg

 

---Reedited--
It is from a MAC that i disassembled a very long time ago.
I just look right now on both (1&4) and they have a common pink wire, same color, same thickness. The neon is with this board. Now, how I power this board?

The "neon" is more likely a CCFL - they need somewhere around 1200V to strike and ionise at around 600V.

If HR are still about, you might be able to cross reference the CCFL inverter to a replacement from them, no idea what they do in the way of data sheets though.

 

The "neon" is more likely a CCFL - they need somewhere around 1200V to strike and ionise at around 600V.

If HR are still about, you might be able to cross reference the CCFL inverter to a replacement from them, no idea what they do in the way of data sheets though.

Oh, wow... CCFL then. I just google it CCFL = cold cathode fluorescent lamp. I learn new things everyday. And the power for it to run is huge ! I wonder if i plug it to 220V AC; it will burn ? Or will be functional? Just asking.
Thank you ian.
But i want to make a test to see if its burned or not. And i want very cheap solutions - i am not able to buy new stuff just to test. It must be a way with stuff i have around, right?

 

Oh, wow... CCFL then. I just google it CCFL = cold cathode fluorescent lamp. I learn new things everyday. And the power for it to run is huge ! I wonder if i plug it to 220V AC; it will burn ? Or will be functional? Just asking.
Thank you ian.

The Darwin award is in the post - you'd get showered with glass if it did strike, but I don't think that's very likely.

 

The Darwin award is in the post - you'd get showered with glass if it did strike, but I don't think that's very likely.

Thank you ian.
So, it's safe to power it to 220V. Ok, I understood.
- Is there a way to power it up through 220V AC and a voltage amplifier made with normal components, to reach its 1200V strike and 600V ionization (as you mention) ?
i want to see it spark to be sure it's not burned. I am obsessed with it being damaged because is laying around for years and is still a new component for me.

 

Thank you ian.
So, it's safe to power it to 220V. Ok, I understood.
.

You clearly don't!!! - don't mess with the mains, doing so without any useful purpose is even more foolhardy.

It probably won't strike at that voltage - but you'll wish it hadn't if it did.

 

Ok, no 220V AC. It's impossible to re-use it, then? The best advice from you guys is to throw all away? Because is clear that nothing can be done. Pity. I wanted a desk lamp from that fluorescent tube, for so long time ago. Of.

 

Oh, wow... CCFL then. I just google it CCFL = cold cathode fluorescent lamp. I learn new things everyday. And the power for it to run is huge ! I wonder if i plug it to 220V AC; it will burn ? Or will be functional? Just asking.

That's the kind of thing that item 4 is intended to power.

 

That's the kind of thing that item 4 is intended to power.

yes indeed - but we dont have the voltage source for item 4. I was thinking to bypass it and make something myself using 220V AC if possible - but it turned out that 220V is not good. Now i have no option left. At least no one that i can think of. I am open to make something very basic from scratch if possible.

 

Ian is correct - #1 is a CCFL tube. #4 is a DC-to-AC inverter used to power CCFL tubes. The "ferrite" is actually piezo bar which generates the high voltage. At my previous job, we used those type of inverters, a brand called "Zippy". They used to make a variety of inverters like that, but several years ago ceased production, since LED backlighting has become more common. Here is a link to a PDF which tells about the Zippy inverters with the principle of the piezo bar function decribed on page 4. The Zippy brand were what we used because they were dimmable.
https://www.halted.com/objects/catalog/product/extras/24388_22590_ZippyLCDInverter.pdf

 

i get the impression that this thing can not be powered with normal circuits that can be made at home. Only with circuits that are ready made only? HA! I think i get it now. I was having the impression i can make one at home with the components i have.

 

I am sure that the inverter can be powered with simple circuitry but I for one do not know the connections or voltage requirements.

 

I am sure that the inverter can be powered with simple circuitry but I for one do not know the connections or voltage requirements.

ok, but if i did Not have the inverter, only the CCFL (#1). I must buy an inverter for it like jbeng suggested, the one called [zippy]. I was imagining that i can build an inverter with normal components i have. So this is the solution that you guys are giving me. I want to make the things clear for me to understand what is the best solution. I see now. So i suppose it's very hard to a DIY(doityourself) guy to make an inverter to power that CCFL, no?

 

Ok, no 220V AC. It's impossible to re-use it, then? The best advice from you guys is to throw all away? Because is clear that nothing can be done. Pity. I wanted a desk lamp from that fluorescent tube, for so long time ago. Of.

Mains can deliver whatever current the fuse is rated for, and very few fuses are rated for non lethal current.

the proper inverter at 1200V off load will be no more than unpleasant if you stick your fingers in there.

http://www.analog.com/media/en/reference-design-documentation/design-notes/dn164f.pdf