[bjsullivan]

Karl working on the temporary interface from his YAG to the AVI fiber optic cable. The AVI electronics, originally in the star pit, are mounted in the rack.

Part of the water cooling equipment, for the Chroma 5. It is an Electro-Impulse heat exchanger using a closed-loop coolant return system. They had this in the control room area and the water supply and return lines ran through conduit to the pit area where the laser head was mounted, next to the Starscape.

Attached File(s)

 KS_City_07.JPG ( 83.36k ) Number of downloads: 0

 

[bjsullivan]

Part of the water cooling equipment, for the Chroma 5. It is an Electro-Impulse heat exchanger using a closed-loop coolant return system. They had this in the control room area and the collant supply and return lines ran through conduit to the pit area where the laser head was mounted, next to the Starscape.

AVI scanning tower ready to come off the truck. The tower telescopes about 8 to 10 feet allowing the scanning sphere to be raised and lowered. I had to get a drywall cart to get it off the truck, as this one did not have a hydraulic liftgate.. only a narrow pull-out ramp.

Attached File(s)

 KS_City_08.JPG ( 90.13k ) Number of downloads: 0

 

[Ron Walker]

In order to test the scanning head, a simple air-cooled solid state YAG laser was used. Since the AVI head is fed by fiber optic cable, this was fairly easy to do. Of course, we only get one color - green - but it is enough to exercise the system and still produce stunning although monochromatic displays.

The system came with a white light laser that pulls three-phase and a whole lot of amps (memory escapes me at the moment, just how much). I have the krypton head and water-cooling equipment that also but that must wait for some help with the generator.

I desperately need someone to help wire it and get it plumbed into a propane supply. It is an Onan 35KW with a 6 cylinder ford truck engine. Financial resources last year went into obtaining the equipment, alas, getting it further functional will require more cash.

It shouldn't be that hard to get running. Is it 35KW per phase or the total output for the entire generator? If it is total output then we are only talking about 12KW per 110 volt phase or about 10 amps or so per leg. Standard 12 gauge wire will be more then adequate. Hooking up the gas line shouldn't be much of a problem either. There is probably a regulator mounted on the generator proper so it would be just connect the tank to the unit.

[Ron Walker]

AVI scanning tower ready to come off the truck. The tower telescopes about 8 to 10 feet allowing the scanning sphere to be raised and lowered. I had to get a drywall cart to get it off the truck, as this one did not have a hydraulic liftgate.. only a narrow pull-out ramp.

This sphere then is where the three colors of the laser project from?

[bjsullivan]

It shouldn't be that hard to get running. Is it 35KW per phase or the total output for the entire generator? If it is total output then we are only talking about 12KW per 110 volt phase or about 10 amps or so per leg. Standard 12 gauge wire will be more then adequate. Hooking up the gas line shouldn't be much of a problem either. There is probably a regulator mounted on the generator proper so it would be just connect the tank to the unit.

I don't think it will be hard either, just that I lack the basic understanding to do it safely. I also think the propane tank should be DOT certified since the whole rig is mounted on a trailer. The other option would be to plumb it into the natual gas supply in the house but either way I would want to be sure there are no leaks otherwise big ka-boom. This pic shows the natural gas/propane regulators where a gasoline carburetor would normally be. I also need to hook up a muffler and pipe to evacuate the fumes.

Attached File(s)

 onan_gen.JPG ( 87.9k ) Number of downloads: 0

 

[bjsullivan]

This sphere then is where the three colors of the laser project from?

Yes, all colors project from the sphere.

Attached File(s)

 onan_3.JPG ( 30.8k ) Number of downloads: 0
 sphere.JPG ( 55.19k ) Number of downloads: 0

 

[Ron Walker]

I don't think it will be hard either, just that I lack the basic understanding to do it safely. I also think the propane tank should be DOT certified since the whole rig is mounted on a trailer. The other option would be to plumb it into the natual gas supply in the house but either way I would want to be sure there are no leaks otherwise big ka-boom. This pic shows the natural gas/propane regulators where a gasoline carburetor would normally be. I also need to hook up a muffler and pipe to evacuate the fumes.

I would have a good Earth ground first. All gas connections can be tested with a soap solution brushed around all of the connections.

[moonmagic]

Ok I see some battery/jumper cables running directly off connections to the household panel (200-300 amp) breaker box from the mains. [OK, maybe NOT!]

So have I gone out to left field here? Isn't all that is needed is about a 30-50 amp connection off the house main?

My past problems with these were less related to electrical and more related to having enough continuous water pressure to keep the cooling system running. Also having enough sewer to discharge about 5 gals/min. Most of the time we had to add a secondary water tank with an internal pressure "bladder" to keep the flow rate up. (also no one is allowed to flush the toliet when the laser is on!) mm

[Ron Walker]

Ok I see some battery/jumper cables running directly off connections to the household panel (200-300 amp) breaker box from the mains. [OK, maybe NOT!]

So have I gone out to left field here? Isn't all that is needed is about a 30-50 amp connection off the house main?

My past problems with these were less related to electrical and more related to having enough continuous water pressure to keep the cooling system running. Also having enough sewer to discharge about 5 gals/min. Most of the time we had to add a secondary water tank with an internal pressure "bladder" to keep the flow rate up. (also no one is allowed to flush the toliet when the laser is on!) mm

I agree with the power requirements and the hookup. I can't imagine what would use more then that in the laser system. It's kind of like the Spitz A3P projector requiring 150 amps according to the books but actually running on one tenth of that in actuality.

The big problem I see is the waste and cost of cooling water. I guess 300 gal/hr isn't extravagant but would get rather expensive if the system was run ten hours a day seven days a week as in a commercial venue. That would get very expensive very quickly. Isn't there a way to recirculate the water or would it get to hot too quickly?