# Electromagnetically Lighting a Fluorescent Bulb **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electromagnetically-lighting-a-fluorescent-bulb/312671 "2005-07-15T17:03:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![antich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7c8e57/32.png) [@antich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antich)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electromagnetically-lighting-a-fluorescent-bulb/312671/21 "2005-07-16T19:44:21Z")
> [@Mac Guffin](#): > > I have one of those plasma disks that you can buy at any Walmart, or Spencers. The round, flat disks that discharge filiments of plasma within. If I place that thing anywhere near a flourecent light tube, either in a fixture or out, it lights up. I am certian the plasma balls will do this as well. They are cheap, plentiful, and less dangerous than a HF radio or Tesla coil. You might pick one up and use that for your demo… I think I know what you’re talking about, but I could be wrong. Could you describe it in detail or do you perhaps have a picture of one available? That might do exactly what I want. ---
**Author:** ![whatsittoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@whatsittoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatsittoya)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electromagnetically-lighting-a-fluorescent-bulb/312671/22 "2005-07-17T03:49:16Z")
[Illuma Storm](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6193800374&category=4054) from radio shack or a [plasma disk](http://physicslearning.colorado.edu/display.asp?Code=5D40.62&Type=Demos). I had one and the globe would actually screw into a standard light socket. Interesting side note, any touch lamps it the same room could sometimes be turned off and on by touching the plasma ball. You could also [make your own](http://www.amasci.com/tesla/plasplan.html) if your going for that home grown look. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electromagnetically-lighting-a-fluorescent-bulb/312671.md?page=1)