What is the Plasma button of Doooom?

[Salt Maple]

You had my interest at plasma, button, and doooom!

[Tony]

An IN-1 used as a sort of mini plasma globe with a microcontroller to detect a change in current when the glass is touched.

It activates a non-latching relay that can be used to toggle something on/off such as a desktop PC or missile launch system.



I was working on a way of safely driving the IN-24 nixies I'm using in the headphone amplifier kit and this just sort of happened...

[Salt Maple]

I might have to put one in my Datsun as a starter button. Would being in a vehicle (vibrations, movement, etc) affect its longevity?

Would it be possible to make it do a 3 2 1 countdown while being touched before it activates the switch?

[Tony]

Vibration woudn't be a problem as it doesn't matter if there are any internal electrode shorts. A countdown would need a redesign sadly as it would need extra pic pins and drivers for the digits though a delay could be added easily in the software.

[Higginz]

Hey Tony, do you plan to retail the Plasma Button of Doom through ThinkGeek for purchase?

[Tony]

Not through Thinkgeek but they are for sale on our shop.