"This rectifier set can do a million watts, and this rectifier set can do a million volts" Now we're talking baby

@karmakazi219

3 жыл бұрын

I'm still waiting for news re: the neighbor's dog. ⚡🐕⚡ 😉

@BruceNitroxpro

3 жыл бұрын

My wife wouldn't even watch this video... or any part of it. EVEN though I told her I used to USE mercury vapor rectifiers. Ye gods. LOL de KQ2E

@james.black981

3 жыл бұрын

I can smell the carpet already...

@ljetronic

3 жыл бұрын

Incredible thing. Mesmerizing. What sort of equipment might that have been used in? Any concern for X-ray production?

@stroudswebs

3 жыл бұрын

Remember the last time we seen one at college in 1979 in electrical power was the last year they were demonstrated

"50 years of dust" Thats gonna be whoever plugs their phone into the wrong socket at your house mate

@sinchrotron

3 жыл бұрын

Bahahahaha

@thepurdychannel8866

3 жыл бұрын

@@sinchrotron ah yes one side 2v 1000a the other 400v 3 phase😂

@ShifuCareaga

3 жыл бұрын

genius comment

@sinchrotron

3 жыл бұрын

@@thepurdychannel8866 and no ground, please

@FMR_317

3 жыл бұрын

nah that’s gonna be the cat if it decides to “investigate” a little too much

It's terrifying to think that touching anything live in that room could kill you

You bring back memories from my shipyard/engine building days in the 70's. we had six or seven of those bad boys supplying 220v DC to the overhead cranes. One morning when the outside temperature was below -10degrees celcius there was no power to the cranes. My solution, play a gas fired space heater across the length of the array of tubes until the mercury vapour was warmed enough to strike an arc. The Director asked me why there were no cranes operating. Electricity is frozen I told him. Called me a stupid boy, but I knew better, after half an hour of gentle warming they, one by one, fired up into full operation. Happy days, thanks for bringing it all back.

@Woffy.

2 ай бұрын

Frozen electricity, thats a good one. Well done for you understanding of Physics I hope the Mgr thanked you. Boris Karloff films often had MAR's and big neon discharge lamps, very spooky.

@christianclark1354

Ай бұрын

That's hilarious, good work

@janettomlin950

26 күн бұрын

Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed it 😊

Who else is overjoyed at the fact this legend has started to upload again, as I know I am

@MichelLinschoten

3 жыл бұрын

Ya! Super happy haha dude is a legend

@richardelliott9980

3 жыл бұрын

He is awesome science teacher but a good one

@GerinHarada

3 жыл бұрын

Im super hyped 17 mins ago i rush to youtube idc if my noodle get burn (jk)

@TheRCBasher69420

3 жыл бұрын

@@richardelliott9980 if he was my science teacher I would not miss a day😂

@cfothough

3 жыл бұрын

ME! I watched his videos constantly when I was younger and I'm so glad to see he's back

Didn't expect an unboxing video on this channel. How very modern of you!

@FlaxTheSeedOne

3 жыл бұрын

It is funny on which channels i can find you in the comments section, as a subscriber of yours. The ven diagram of overlapping channels is borderline creepy :D

@imark7777777

3 жыл бұрын

Yes every channel I watch is getting ruined with an unboxing series < sarcasm

@seniortoastie

3 жыл бұрын

Is hot tub stream next?

@wade2361

3 жыл бұрын

Only unboxing video I've ever cared about. That is some engineered packaging!

@wasitacatisaw83

3 жыл бұрын

A wild Jeff Geerling appears!

13:33 "You gotta be mad, to have one of these in your living room" Mad respect my good chap.

@airriflemaniac

3 жыл бұрын

Man has about 6 lol

Happy Days, I'm old enough (82) to have worked on mercury arc rectifiers. Steel works where we had 500 volt DC and 250 volt systems. Can't remember the rating of the rectifiers, Big yokes in metal cabinets. This brings back som happy memories, thank you ☘️🇮🇪☘️

Old intro? Ahh yes. The nostalgia.

@bobmarley8334

3 жыл бұрын

This is the best intro. He should use until the end of times

@BenDeSwert666

3 жыл бұрын

Oh how I missed that intro. The beat makes me smile ☺

@Karza_357

3 жыл бұрын

Hearing that in a new video, even better.

@MrEp5

3 жыл бұрын

​@@blick9538 Aciiiieeeeed

@gutsngorrrr

3 жыл бұрын

I was disappointed when the old intro wasn't used, as it brings back so many good memories of madness. So it's great to hear it again

"Use the skippy button" Nah bro. Im in this for the whole video.

@markaz2kk

3 жыл бұрын

Snow flakes can’t pop it! Photoinduction can!

This type of Rectifier was used in Melbourne Australia to produce 1500V DC for the Electric trains , there were 7 of these H&H glass bulb rectifiers across the network in 1970's the last was de-commissioned in 1981 . There were large fans below each bank of 4 bulbs and as the load increased on the rectifier unit the fans speed increased till it reached maximum speed . It was an extremely noisy environment that was extremely hot in the summer but nicely warm in the winter. if ever there was a dangerous device these has it all , if they ever broke mercury finished up on the floor and every where it was quite a job to transport them with special crates, it took 3 people to hold and slowly invert the bulb while the pool of mercury was also inverted. It was quite spectacular to see but by today's standards very hazardous I was glad to see the last of them . Railway substation had Rectifier units made up of a Transformer with an output of 12 single phase's connected to a bank of 4 bulbs and a large 12"fuse each phase along with associated protection relays in the Rectifier control cubical (64, 64A, 86, 86X, 30 ) . I also remember two large extraction fans for cooling built into the substation wall . The excitation and the striker was used to create the mercury vapor in the bulb it's all history now. Be careful with mercury keep it in a well vented area. Thanks for the video !

@janettomlin950

26 күн бұрын

Wow I especially appreciate your comment on this subject!!!! Thank you for sharing sir.

That extra special touch -> "Please handle with EVERY care!" That makes me smile.

"this video is a bit long" That's what we want, fella.

@Pwills

3 жыл бұрын

Still not long enough if you ask me

This really takes me back. In 1995 I was doing a job at the old Simpson's building in downtown Toronto and one of the maintenance guys was leading me to the area where I was to drop my delivery. We passed this area that was significantly hotter than the others and there was this dreadful humming/buzzing sound. I asked what was up and he smiled, passed me a long lab coat and dark goggles and took me to a bank of cabinets. They looked like industrial lockers only much larger. He opened one up and there was a massive mercury rectifier running and he explained it was powering a good portion of the building. This thing was huge and he told me that it contained around 50lbs of mercury. I knew these things were really old tech and I was shocked to see one still in active use. then I looked to the side and saw the bank of similar cabinets and realised this one was not alone.

@tekvax01

3 жыл бұрын

There are several of them still in service in the downtown Toronto area, some in the TTC streetcar power stations, and in several old elevator control and power systems. I am friends with an elevator tech, who was showing pictures he had taken, on a service call.

@ChronicExe

3 жыл бұрын

They are in most 1940's and Cold War Bunkers all around the UK, which are also still there. Some still work. Check TheSecretVault, many of his urbex videos featuring massive nuclear bunkers will reveal everything else that they were attached to.

@agentx7138

3 жыл бұрын

We are not alone! Epic last line.

The glasswork on these is truly magnificent. All vacuum tubes are gorgeous in my eyes. But, mercury arc rectifiers are just down right sexy. Thank you for sharing this amazing experience with us.

@jondekerguelen

3 ай бұрын

It’s reassuring to see that I’m not the only one who gets all excited about such things.

Ah! Takes me back to the start of my career in broadcast transmitters. The more modern transmitters then (250kW carrier power) used Excitron mercury arc rectifiers. They had 2 banks of 6 Excitrons, with the transformer windings arranged to give 12 phase rectification. Output was 11kV DC - the radio part of the transmitter took about 26 amps, and the high level Class B modulator another 15 amps depending on audio level (approx - from my memory). The rectifiers were in a cabinet with glass windows so you could see that lovely blue glow as the arcs were struck - then the light output would vary with the audio modulation. Quite spectacular when the Greenwish Time Signals 6 pips came on (they modulated the transmitters to 100%) - the extra current draw caused lights to dip in the nearby town in step with the time signal! Oh, and the older transmitters (built during the 1940s) used mercury arc rectifiers in massive steel tanks with continuous pumping to produce the required vacuum. They used grid control to vary the output as required. Incredible to think about now!

@carmeloterrana3385

Жыл бұрын

Ho i brividi di eccitazione leggendo questo commento, vorrei essere li

@davelowets

11 ай бұрын

And now a MUCH smaller (in comparison) diode quietly does the exact same thing...

when the solar flares hit, this guy will put England back on the grid.

@eventhorizon7374

3 жыл бұрын

@Leonidas Poledouris instead of a solar flare it would be a global flare

@JE-ti3cz

3 жыл бұрын

Send a single 19kv wire to 10 Downing St too zap BOJO

@handpaper6871

3 жыл бұрын

Only if he happens to be in Dinorwig at the time. And I suspect there's a picture of him at the gate with the caption : "Not permitted entry under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WHATSOEVER."

@johnnyjimj

3 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't be surprised at all. When high tech fails and the experts that keep it running stand by helpless guys like him will put us back on line.

@strangus

3 жыл бұрын

This man is the grid

You can tell he's grown up boys. He's protecting the carpet with plastic

@ButterBallTheOpossum

3 жыл бұрын

It's the new wife probably lol.

@brookerobertson2951

3 жыл бұрын

Was thinking the same thing.. the wife is asking him "please don't burn the fkn carpet and try keep it clean" 🙄

@just_noXi

3 жыл бұрын

Burning a carpet is ok for later use. Spilling mercury ... isn't.

@readman010

3 жыл бұрын

Only from the mercury, burn mark in the carpet = meh, mercury all over the floor = oh fucking shit

@mattlambermon6583

3 жыл бұрын

Mercury on the floor = Biohazard cleanup crew, stripped up carpet and underlay, chemical cleaning in the worst case scenario and an expensive hotel bill while the house is sectioned off. If not mercury poisoning literally kills neurons via breaking down of the structural tubules supporting the axions.

Thanks for this. I have memories from when i was an apprentice electrician at the BR Carriage Works in York, 60's to 70's. At one point i was assigned to the maintainance department for the works, which was also attached to the main transformer station for the works You can imagine a huge amount of power needed. The works had two traversers which would traverse the carriages from out of one shop into another. At the time these were still powered by 400Volts DC. In the transformer station was a large metal containerprobably about 6 foot x 6 foot x 8 foot high. Painted dark blue with a sign saying 'THE TARDIS'. Emanating from above was blue/ ultaviot flashing light and a strange science fiction film sound. When the door was opened it was a sight to behold. 6 of the above mercury rectifiers. No doubt we should have been wearing dark glasses and sun cream . At the time i had no idea of how they worked, so cheers for this.

@lezbriddon

Жыл бұрын

my stepdad did a bit there before becoming a guard, i think the times may have overlapped slightly with yours, so you may even have met him, brian cox was his name.

@snapperhead273

Жыл бұрын

im an electrician and i love that kind of stuff. must have been an amazing thing to see up and running.

@Techno-Universal

4 ай бұрын

It’s also really funny how they possibly reused an old police box as an enclosure for a mercury arc rectifier! :)

This is why history is so interesting. This was the norm at one point and that's fascinating to me.

"I'd like to arrange a life insurance policy" "Certainly, sir. What are you main hobbies and occupaions?"

@1marcelfilms

3 жыл бұрын

Collecting STAMPS

@frostedlambs

3 жыл бұрын

"playing with 50 year old high voltage and amperage equipment" "oh you fix old boilers and cookers?" "a bit more voltage than that..."

@ksp-crafter5907

3 жыл бұрын

@@1marcelfilms *AMPS 😎

@Arachnoid_of_the_underverse

3 жыл бұрын

Electricery Shirley.......

@doctoruttley

3 жыл бұрын

“No problem Sir, that will be $1M per year premiums for a $500K plan.” 😂

its so nice... looks like someone would use it to bring a monster to life

@sphinx2077

3 жыл бұрын

Like Frankenstein

@john_barnett

3 жыл бұрын

IT'S ALIIIIVE!

@xxckwxx

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly. I live for this comment.

@krow2248

3 жыл бұрын

the rectifer is the monster

@jessemontano762

3 жыл бұрын

This is exactly what is used. Fucking amazing to look at. I

Having worked in a 50 year old power station and been through various store rooms, I know exactly what that thing would smell like when you unboxed it

You're a brave man having a cat in there.

@Grocel512

3 жыл бұрын

"Please don't ask, it used to be white"

The transformer noise is labeled as "music" in the generated subtitles. It is indeed.

@spejsat4505

3 жыл бұрын

yeah lovely buzz! could sample it and use as a nice bass or lead.

@totherarf

3 жыл бұрын

A flat (if anyone is interested) ;o)

@buddyclem7328

3 жыл бұрын

It's beautiful!

@BlahBleeBlahBlah

3 жыл бұрын

50 Hz sounds so great, soothing and menacing at the same time 😈

@paulhammond7489

3 жыл бұрын

Music to my ears :)

No one skips your videos, sir. We do appreciate your humility though.

@Okurka.

3 жыл бұрын

I do.

@ColinRichardson

3 жыл бұрын

I skipped. Seen the good stuff.. and then went back and watched the whole thing...

You could open your house as a museum for electricians. Well, i'm no electrician (yet) but I love hearing the history of it all.

21:40 The small bubbles that appear on the interior glass surface of a mercury arc rectifier after some time are typically due to a phenomenon known as mercury vaporization or mercury spitting. This can occur due to the high temperatures and pressures present inside the device during operation. When the mercury arc rectifier is in use, the mercury in the arc is heated significantly, causing some amount of mercury to vaporize and become gaseous. These mercury vapors can then condense on cooler surfaces such as the glass interior of the device, forming small bubbles. This phenomenon can be more pronounced if there are leaks in the device or if it is operated under abnormal conditions, resulting in increased mercury consumption and the formation of more bubbles. It is important to note that mercury vapors are toxic and should be avoided from being inhaled. If significant condensation of mercury vapors or an increased formation of bubbles is observed, it may indicate issues with the device's integrity or operating conditions. In such cases, it is recommended to cease the use of the mercury arc rectifier

The old intro is pure gold. Was a joy to see it again.

The engineering involved with old things like is amazing. But can we just take a moment to think about the master glass blower that had to make that assembly, and the people who installed the metal parts to it. They mass produced these.

@JG-nx3jg

3 жыл бұрын

They would have made exceptional bongs

@ionut5350

3 жыл бұрын

@@JG-nx3jg you bet your sweet bippy they did

@tncorgi92

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, back in the day glass blowing was a career, and always in demand.

@TWBIAP

3 жыл бұрын

@@tncorgi92 it still very much is.

@colinstu

3 жыл бұрын

I couldn't stop thinking about that the entire time.

These were used in the early experimental British Rail 25kV AC electric locos. The production locos that became class 86 used Si rectifiers. Have never seen one run so this is quite fascinating.

Please come back to YT . Of course only do so if it brings you joy. You're the reason I got into Electrical. While I'm nowhere near as versed as you are, it fulfills my "need/wants" of cranking the voltage till it pops at the factories I've been tasked to work at.

This style of content is how youtube should have stayed as!

@lukea.907

3 жыл бұрын

you don't know how right you are

@garyshearer0

3 жыл бұрын

getting the feeling my youtube feed is very different from others and im glad

@madsnoop7

3 жыл бұрын

Straight up !

@johnnycash4034

3 жыл бұрын

Yeh maaaaate

@RedHeadForester

3 жыл бұрын

I do feel a little bit like I'm a teenager again while watching Andy's videos. It's nice.

That was one of the most "belongs in a mad-scientist's lab" looking devices I've ever seen. Thanks for the educational bits - really interesting to see this old tech in action and to learn how it works.

@afrog2666

3 жыл бұрын

THIS, is the most mad scientist one :D kzread.info/dash/bejne/d452ysuDoZe6fJc.html

@waremergencypower6024

3 жыл бұрын

PhotonicInduction _is_ a mad scientist. Nothing is out of place in his room.

@arthurn9237

3 жыл бұрын

YEESSSS I CAN SEE DR. FRANKENSTEIN RUBBING HIS HANDS ALL ROUND N GRINNING LIKE MAD

"You gotta be mad, to have one of these in your living room" Oh, I dunno, 'tis a thing of beauty. The 11Kv transformer though..........😯

your editing is a breath of fresh air, so please dont stop making videos this way.

“Use the little skipping button” Uh sir excuse me but I never skip through content I enjoy

You know its old when the "Handle with Care" sticker has Please and Thank You on it

WoW That was literally a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you so much for letting us see such cool old-school things. I'll never forget how awesome that was. Thanks again.

@beeble2003

Жыл бұрын

You can literally watch the video as many times as you want. 😊

All roads lead to Rome in the same way all AM radio interference leads to this room...! That aside, they're fascinating things to watch. Thanks for posting.

"use the little bar to skip around to the points you're looking for" bro im here for the whole video

@wardfiction5693

3 жыл бұрын

True... No skipping here!!!

"Ya gotta be mad to have one of these in your living room" But... but photon you have like *three*

@TheAechBomb

3 жыл бұрын

three? this man has at least 12

@user-yw8sr3uj1w

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheAechBomb goddamn Ive missed him so much

@Glaas2

3 жыл бұрын

Then it means he is not mad... I mean.. He doesn't have one...

A collaboration between Photoninduction and the Slow Mo Guys would be amazing! I'm thinking of all the amazing footage from both their combined knowledge in their respective fields.

When I joined London Transport in 1979, as a substation tech, many of the original substations still had these working.. Very eerie, but comforting on a nightshift. Sadly most had been converted over to SCR by 1981.

If this isn't the best come back on youtube, I don't know what is.

@girlsdrinkfeck

3 жыл бұрын

i also like how he kept his personal life and his youtube electronic videos in separate videos ,very professional of him

@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316

3 жыл бұрын

@@girlsdrinkfeck he should have millions of subscribers, I'm amazed he doesn't... He likely would if he didn't leave for 3 years

@girlsdrinkfeck

3 жыл бұрын

@@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316 electronics is a vague subject for KZread. Most big channels are aimed at woke liberals

@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316

3 жыл бұрын

@@girlsdrinkfeck styropyro and electroboom both have millions of subscribers

@girlsdrinkfeck

3 жыл бұрын

@@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316 and they are a comedic niche not a professional like he is

Fuck yeah! The "classic" intro is back!

@LupinYonderboy

3 жыл бұрын

This my jam

@woody442

3 жыл бұрын

Looperman dude

@BruceCarbonLakeriver

3 жыл бұрын

yeah !!!

@colinstu

3 жыл бұрын

@@woody442 is that what it's from?

@Warutteri

3 жыл бұрын

@@colinstu It's the old Looperman website for generating your own music

An unboxing vid about ... a mercury rectifier. Now that really is something different from the masses of unboxing vids!

Wish I had one in my living room. Thank you for sharing this magnificent treasure.

idk what it is but i love the more classic style of editing, feels more retro

@james.black981

3 жыл бұрын

Hell yes.

@egementutkunforreal

3 жыл бұрын

ğüşöç

@kasel1979krettnach

3 жыл бұрын

?

@junksmasher777

3 жыл бұрын

I AGREE!

@kasel1979krettnach

3 жыл бұрын

i dont understand what you're saying. youtube is youtube.

giving off some serious mad scientist vibes

@msx0406

3 жыл бұрын

Well what is a mad scientist supposed to do otherwise?

@grabasandwich

3 жыл бұрын

Or like a deleted scene from Back To The Future 😅

@ketas

3 жыл бұрын

50hz

@rosco4659

3 жыл бұрын

This is why we love him!

They really are a work of art that should be shown in museums but you can't get the workmanship these days to make em :D Cheers.

Wow, I was expecting it to be the size of a light bulb. Look at that thing!!! Imagine what electrical equipment used to look like 100 years ago, totally futuristic!!!

Items needed: 1: Old Castle. 2: Assistant with hump. 3: Freshly buried corpses. 😂

@MiguelRodrigues0

3 жыл бұрын

And a mad scientist lab.. Oh he already has. Let me scratch that....

@juststeve5542

3 жыл бұрын

5. Thunderstorm

@joaoc_PT

3 жыл бұрын

@@juststeve5542 are included

@TexasRailfan2008

3 жыл бұрын

6. Kites

@Wayoutthere

3 жыл бұрын

> "HIT THE SWITCH IGOR!" < "Hnnnn Yes masta!

I was gutted when I got outbid on this…… but then I see Andy is back and he has brought it. Now very happy!!!!!

@SephBane

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you got to see it run at least. Truly a gem.

@Naeidea

3 жыл бұрын

I'd happily be outbid by this dude.

@maplejakee

3 жыл бұрын

how much was it

@mitchmckeiver1429

3 жыл бұрын

He ain't havin it 😅

@davelowets

3 жыл бұрын

@@maplejakee If you have to ask.....

The signature intro/outro music, i will never get tired of hearing that.

Early tech is both fascinating and scary! Can't even imagine the wild ways they managed to do things with what they had back then vs now.

@organicfarm5524

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, equipment size in electrical engineering has gradually decreased whether it's in power devices or computers or else, all thanks to pioneering advancement in solid state semiconductors.

@gregdaweson4657

3 жыл бұрын

@@organicfarm5524 But they are soooooo boring!

@organicfarm5524

3 жыл бұрын

@@gregdaweson4657 same thoughts but they are super efficient....

@rogergargantua

2 жыл бұрын

Then you should watch this video: kzread.info/dash/bejne/i4qK3NxuXZTak9I.html Its long, I know....but he carefully explains how they used and applied Mercury. Quite incredible. To see live footage, skip to part 3:31:11 to see what I mean. I hope it gets you interested.

@BOREDANDWELLBORED

Жыл бұрын

@Organic Farm nah. They're easy to break. These mercury technology last a lifetime

I remember asking for a demo of this about 5 years ago. Now my dream has come true. :-)

We have a saying for children that translates to "Everything for the eyes, nothing for the hands" regarding museums and exhibitions. I think this room is the manifestation of that sentiment.

@sstorholm

3 жыл бұрын

That’s the general idea at substations as well, one hand in the pocket if you know what you’re doing, both if you don’t and are just looking.

“Are you bored with it yet ?” .... Never ! You might just be mad but in the best way possible. I did not realize the solenoid was only needed to start the rectifier and all you needed was to get the ( dippy thingy ) bouncing with a hand held magnet. Very enjoyable!

I am seriously impressed. A few questions. 1) Would you please publish the listed specs for this device? 2) What is the best feature of a mercury arc rectifier? (cleaner output, lower temperature, high capacity, easily handles current surges) 3) It would be nice if you published your results, AC input, AC current, DC output, DC current, Output waveform, etc. Hope to see another video like this.

@davelowets

11 ай бұрын

High capacity, and overload is about it, when compared to current day silicon diodes.

"Better than TV, innit?" -No doubt about it! 😉

@750kv8

3 жыл бұрын

@@marcse7en - The little spark on the pool never moves the same way... 😁

"use your little skippy button to get to the best bit" no, i don't think i will.

@herosstratos

3 жыл бұрын

I used the pause button several times.

Was expecting to hear "WHERE'S MY HAMMER? I AIN'T HAVIN IT!" A photonic vid without destruction is a rare thing indeed!

Amazing to see how they did things back in the "old" days...That thing is a pure work of art not to mention a functional piece of tech!

I appreciate that you showed us this piece of history. That you handled it so gently and respected it, called it art. That you keep it safe in the original box. Collector excellent...

@terrym3543

3 жыл бұрын

I agree. it's like a museum piece.

Seeing that little spark dance around on the mercury is so nice, I could watch this all day too.

@zestful988

3 жыл бұрын

And get blind in the process 😎

@Warutteri

3 жыл бұрын

Maybe we should try to ask him to do a one hour static shot video? I bet we could find enough people to support that to get him to do it 🤔

That is the coolest thing I've ever seen, not even joking. I had no idea these even existed until now. Thank you for this! You are a legend.

I remember that there was a Big Wheel, owned by McArdle's, on Cleethorpes beach, for many years. As a child in the 1960's I could never afford to ride on it, but was quite happy to stand and watch the Mercury arc rectifiers glowing merrily, and the glow changing as the wheel was started and stopped. That rectifier had been running since at least 1948, and it was still in use in the late 1970's. 30 years of running was not unusual for those rectifiers, if they were used properly.

When this dude returns, he doesn't mess around!

@charger959

3 жыл бұрын

He's had years to come up with ideas, I'm sure he's got plenty planned!

I didn't even noticed how much I've missed this channel until he got back.

@andie_pants

3 жыл бұрын

Same. Every now and then I'd wonder whatever happened to the bright lightbulb guy, but I never realized it was four frickin years.

@ketas

3 жыл бұрын

it's like sex, you never notice how much you missed it after trying (again)

@danjackson2014

3 жыл бұрын

I've been checking for updates for years

My man puts in the work blowing up, burning, frying & alerting the authorities to his activities for years. Thus he’s earned all us wanking gibbons rapt attention for his curation of a personal museum of arcane & obsolete technologies making up historical methods of transmission & rectification, power supplies, gas excitation light emissivity & other smart smart boy shit. I love you PI don’t ever leave us again.

"i could watch this all day. - it's better than TV, innit?!" well, nearly everything is better than TV nowadays anyway, but it sure really is awesome. wouldn't mind having this as party lights :) chill and fascinating, spectacular at the same time.

It's such a shame none of this stuff is used any more. It's absolutely beautiful and mind blowing such dangerous elegance.

@ruuman

3 жыл бұрын

Muesuem of transport in Auckland, NZ has 2 running their trams, had a chat with a guy there, said they were completely reliable they have 2 spare ones and never fitted a replacement!

@twizz420

3 жыл бұрын

@@ruuman yeah, they're kinda like incandescent bulbs imo... Some burn out after 100 hours, some last 50 years.

I have so much respect for this mans knowledge. Electricity terrifies me.

@-HustleUnion-

3 жыл бұрын

yeah i totally want to chime in and be like "that shit ain't safe" but dude hasn't fucked up once so imma keep my mouth shut lol

@Buzzhumma

3 жыл бұрын

The key is to know what you don’t know yet😂

Used to use them in thr Royal Navy to convert 440v 3 phase to DC usually in diesel submarines which had AC generators (smaller and lighter than DC generators). We had one at the training school, HMS Collingwood, it was kept in a cupboard for dramatic effect with its weird glow. Ours was known as the "rabbit" for its shape, the electrodes were in the ears.

I am amazed that such an old-fashioned looking device was in production as late as 1969! I would have guessed that it was at least 20 years older. Was this actually new in 1969, I wonder? I used to live near the old Hackbridge and Hewittic works at Hersham, now the site of Air Products Ltd, (or it was then).

The local power station ... Oh no, he's back

@stevekelly5166

3 жыл бұрын

The local power station is no longer. Now completely flat. It did feature in some older videos, but just a dusty site now.

Just imagine the glassblowing involved in making that. Absolutely amazing.

I remember seeing these at the science museum in London as a child in the 60s and being mesmerised by the strange blue glow and pool of Mercury

@125brat

20 күн бұрын

I was going to post exactly the same comment😁 I was fascinated by the way the electrodes would dance around on the surface of the liquid mercury 🤔

I half expected a crank up in power and some xray film on the rear wall - developed later :) Imagine the glass artist who had to blow these wondering what flying saucer it would be in.

This LEGENDARY Englishman is Rectifying ALL THREE of his 50 year-old Phases.

The Isle of Man Electric railway used these until only a few years ago. I remember seeing them when I was last there! You could see when the motor on the train was pulling some amps as it would light up really bright! Bit of trivia, if you have ever seen a fluorescent lamp which is dark at one end, it has a damaged electrode on one side and it is rectifying just like this and the DC is causing all the mercury to migrate to one end of the lamp hence why it's gone dark!

@DocNo27

3 жыл бұрын

Heh - I just posted video of that one: kzread.info/dash/bejne/q56BvJeqpNyphcY.html They are something to see in person!

@deltab9768

3 жыл бұрын

I’ve also seen one that flashed very rapidly, regularly and intensely. I think it was on an old 60hz magnetic ballast. I imagine rectification was making it light every other half cycle, creating 60 short duration flashes per second.

@crazy-es8tr

3 жыл бұрын

@@deltab9768 If you are talking about the tube on start up it will be cause of a preheat ballast

@deltab9768

3 жыл бұрын

@@crazy-es8tr It was very regular, you could see a "smeared" strobe image on moving objects with a bit under 50% duty cycle. It was very fast (at least several tens of flashes per second.) It didn't stop after the tube warmed up, and it was slightly dimmer than a good tube. I still believe it was rectifying, but not 100% sure.

The Glass blowers that made these, and many more electrical and sientific equipment are true craftsmen of the highest order. It's lovely to see old equipment in use, after so many years after they were made. Nowadays everything seems to be throw away after a couple of years,,, if your lucky. Thanks for this vid, I totally enjoyed it.

Ahahah seeing that transformer sitting beside the couch like that and buzzing makes me so uncomfortable. I love it you mad man. That's a beautiful peice of kit. Thanks for the laughs and sharing the beautiful rectifier.

This dudes bong collection is off the chain!!

@JE-ti3cz

3 жыл бұрын

Great comeback 🤣

@guyh3403

3 жыл бұрын

LOL !!!!

@hayyremz

3 жыл бұрын

It's art dude.....now drop some wax on that nail.

Where would one ever see and learn about this cool shit…? You’re a fucking legend, mate! Glad you’re back!

@PlasmaX00000

3 жыл бұрын

It's obsolete technology - just not used at all any more. You'll probably only see them in museums.

@davefish2280

3 жыл бұрын

@@PlasmaX00000 Certainly not hooked up and working and with a camera pointing down the bulb

@pecnorthernvalley4892

3 жыл бұрын

@@PlasmaX00000 No shit… still interesting!

@MarkTillotson

3 жыл бұрын

Start with wiipedia? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-arc_valve

Huge fan of big Clive but photon really brings the level up a notch. Talk about quality content

Having a hobby in high voltage is like having a venomous snake as a pet. Perfectly safe if you know what you are doing, but both of them can bite and both of them want to kill you. Also, an amazing display of our forefather's ingenuity.

That is a bloody gorgeous collection of mercury arc rectifiers you have there. Museums hide such things away but here they're being shown in their glory. Just beautiful.

@thegreatcanadianlumberjack5307

Жыл бұрын

The Kempton Steam Museum has a couple 6 phase Mercury rectifiers on display that are used to power some of the building itself.

This is probably Electroboom's favourite video.

I got to see one of these running at Griffith Park Observatory, in Los Angeles, about 5 years ago. A thing of Beauty !

The 50/100 Hz hum is delicious to my ears !

I'm a clueless layman and still I felt weirdly privileged to witness that.

I swear, photonic's collection. EVERY. And I mean. EVERY little one thing in that room is a functional trophy. I haven't seen more than half of the stuff he's shown.

@adam207321

3 жыл бұрын

Including the light bulb kettle :D

@TheVirtualboy94

3 жыл бұрын

so true swen those on the shelf for ages so glad to see them. functioning

@dimitar4y

3 жыл бұрын

@@adam207321 which one was that, I've forgotten

@adam207321

3 жыл бұрын

@@dimitar4y kzread.info/dash/bejne/goBluLmrZqyXZtI.html This one

@dimitar4y

3 жыл бұрын

@@adam207321 aye cheers gov

Back again after a year of first viewing this video. Really interesting older tech but still relevant to even today.

Really interesting. Brought back some good memories. We had one of those as a battery charger and it was still in use in the 90s when I left London Transport.

nah mate, I ain't skipping. The whole video is the best bit.

Certainly is a piece of art, the craftsmanship that went into the glass blowing for that is amazing, they're such impressive pieces of technology from the past... :)

Thank you for post that! Almost 20 years ago I discovered an abandoned rectifier station for electric trains in an abandoned site. The station looked perfect with all stuff, including the big transformers and all instruments in the control room, except for the mercury arc rectifier tubes. I think the output voltage was 3,000 V... For some years now all was gone and the station doesn´t exist anymore, except in my memories and in a few pictures I made then.

These things are really spectacular when they are under full load, like say when they were powering a metro train or elevator. They would light up like a star.