How Do You Build a HeNe Laser Power Supply?

[alex caps]

I am a senior in high school and I am interested in learning about lasers. After a lot of reading I have decided to start with building a HeNe laser as it seems to be the simplest/cheapest to start. I purchased a laser tube ( http://www.lasers.shopeio.com/inventory/details.asp?id=653&cat=Lasers&sub= ) and now I need to build a power supply. I was wondering if anyone could help me with that? Thanks .

 

[dlgoff]

I am a senior in high school and I am interested in learning about lasers. After a lot of reading I have decided to start with building a HeNe laser as it seems to be the simplest/cheapest to start. I purchased a laser tube ( http://www.lasers.shopeio.com/inventory/details.asp?id=653&cat=Lasers&sub= ) and now I need to build a power supply. I was wondering if anyone could help me with that? Thanks .

You can use a neon sign transformer. I did it with a 9kV transformer when I was in high school. Check out this http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasercon.htm" .
Regards

 

[alex caps]

Instead of buying a power supply I think I would prefer to build one, however, I don't know where to begin. Can you help with that?

Otherwise, I feel as though I am just buying a tube, buying a supply, plugging one into the other and it's done. What did you DO with your laser?

 

[dlgoff]

I wouldn't want to build a power supply capable of producing the high voltage required to fire the HeNe. Buying a transformer (or maybe finding one in the trash as I did) would not mean you would not learn about laser construction. There is more to building one than just buying a tube and transformer. Did you read the link I posted?

As to the one I made; I played with it for a while before moving on to other projects.

Regards