A variation on the standard Mountain Breeze ionisers that was aimed specifically at helping combat VODS (VDU Operator Distress Syndrome), a rather dramatic title to explain the fatigue of sitting in front of cathode ray tube monitors all day.
The concept was that the CRT had a positive charge on its surface that was counteracted by the ionisers generation of negative ions.
There's a probability that many of the VODS symptoms were caused by long hours, flickery displays, chemicals liberated by hot components (early VDU's gave off strong "electronic" smells) and being slouched in front of the computers while wearing synthetic fabric clothing, on plastic seats on nylon carpet. Basically electrostatic hell, with this little unit doing its best to nudge the polarity in your favour.
The main feature that differentiates this ioniser from the classic one is the use of an LED as a power indicator. Up to that point ionisers with indicators had used neon lamps for their ease of driving, and an LED gave the unit a modern "electronic" look in keeping with the computer era.
A green LED of that time was based on gallium phosphide technology and they were very dim, even at 20mA, so to drive one from the mains wasn't as simple as using a resistor and diode. It had to be a capacitive dropper, and that was pretty unusual for that time.
Other than that, the rest of the circuitry is a standard 11-stage Cockroft-Walton multiplier with 22 10nF 630V capacitors, 22 1N4007 diodes and two 10 Megohm safety resistors on the output to the needles.
It's worth mentioning that this arrangement is probably only practical for 220-250V use, as lower voltages would require a much larger multiplier.
Ionisers impart a strong electrical charge into air by applying a high voltage (several thousand volts) to sharp points. This results in electrons attaching to air molecules, and dust which then gets repelled away from the sharp points (like-charges repel) creating a slight draught. The negative charge neutralises positive charges and also precipitates dust to ambient surfaces like walls and floors.
Although considered quack products by some cynics, largely due to the use of snake-oil sales techniques in the past, the units do have a distinct effect - although their indiscriminate dust precipitation does make a mess in their vicinity.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
The concept was that the CRT had a positive charge on its surface that was counteracted by the ionisers generation of negative ions.
There's a probability that many of the VODS symptoms were caused by long hours, flickery displays, chemicals liberated by hot components (early VDU's gave off strong "electronic" smells) and being slouched in front of the computers while wearing synthetic fabric clothing, on plastic seats on nylon carpet. Basically electrostatic hell, with this little unit doing its best to nudge the polarity in your favour.
The main feature that differentiates this ioniser from the classic one is the use of an LED as a power indicator. Up to that point ionisers with indicators had used neon lamps for their ease of driving, and an LED gave the unit a modern "electronic" look in keeping with the computer era.
A green LED of that time was based on gallium phosphide technology and they were very dim, even at 20mA, so to drive one from the mains wasn't as simple as using a resistor and diode. It had to be a capacitive dropper, and that was pretty unusual for that time.
Other than that, the rest of the circuitry is a standard 11-stage Cockroft-Walton multiplier with 22 10nF 630V capacitors, 22 1N4007 diodes and two 10 Megohm safety resistors on the output to the needles.
It's worth mentioning that this arrangement is probably only practical for 220-250V use, as lower voltages would require a much larger multiplier.
Ionisers impart a strong electrical charge into air by applying a high voltage (several thousand volts) to sharp points. This results in electrons attaching to air molecules, and dust which then gets repelled away from the sharp points (like-charges repel) creating a slight draught. The negative charge neutralises positive charges and also precipitates dust to ambient surfaces like walls and floors.
Although considered quack products by some cynics, largely due to the use of snake-oil sales techniques in the past, the units do have a distinct effect - although their indiscriminate dust precipitation does make a mess in their vicinity.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
i just found one in my house, with the blue neon lamps. not sure if its still working, the neon lamp no longer lights up.
I toootally remember seeing that box with no clear purpose at our computer lab at school. Circa 01? 02?
Sadly the guarantee card will probably end up in the Dome as Mountain Breeze went into administration, and bought by Pifco around about 1997, who shut the Skelmersdale factory, andthe brand has since disappeared
Unsure who made that product but they should really use spellcheck, it's spelled Ionizer!
I used to make this shite! !!!!
I wonder if you take an ionizer and combine it with your homemade air purifier concept and use the ionizer to charge the filter paper and suck more particulate out of the air?
I remember these caused dirt to travel around the room towards the device… Freaky!!
Have you teardown GPS Ionizer Module before? I read specification and it show emitted 2 types of ion (+,-)
Mountain Breeze was part of Pifco apparently
Skelmersdale… what a complete hell hole!
The card is more of a spam list than warranty – asking for other peoples details to start cold calling them.
Electrical version of a sprinkler
That "renegade master" interlude caught me of guard
This was in the old Argos catalogue in 1991. Probably older.