Hi,

On Tue, May 29, 2007 at 05:33:30PM -0400, Carl Denk wrote:
> I have a farm type electric fence power supply that we use to keep 
> critters (deer, raccoons, etc.) out of our vegetable garden. It is 120 
> VAC 10 watt max input, and output is 440 - 660 VAC measured with a DMM.  
> The power supply is only a transformer, with no other components. The 
> external circuit is a ground rod, and the hot terminal connected to 
> aluminum or steel wire that is insulated from earth and can go distances 
> measured in miles, though I only need less than 400 feet. I have had a 
> 120 volt neon lamp indicator on the output side that lasted a season, 
> and recently burned out. Thinking that some resistance would help, a 10K 
> 1/4 watt resistor was added in series with a new neon, it lasted one 
> day, the resistor is still OK, lamp is out. How do I make a lamp last??

I made one for a friend using a compact florescent bulb (I disassembled the
lamp) and a high voltage capacitor. I don't know about the lifetime of the
thing, I guess he still has it. Here is a crude ascii diagram:

High voltage <------Cap------CF Bulb------> earth ground

I didn't use a resistor since he wanted to be able to see the flash from a
distance. I think the value of the cap was 0.001 uF and 1kV. All of this was
sealed in a 1-pint canning jar.

Experiment with using a cap instead of a resistor. Good luck.

Matthew

-- 
"Skepticism is the highest duty and blind faith the one unpardonable sin."
    -- Thomas Henry Huxley, M.D., Essays on Controversial Questions (1889)
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