-----Original Message-----
From: Richard <2@mail.vcnet.com>
To: Steve Thompson <g8gsq@qsl.net>; AMPS <amps@contesting.com>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
Date: 10 March 2002 13:02
Subject: Re: [Amps] TenTec Titan 425
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Richard <2@mail.vcnet.com>
>To: Steve Thompson <g8gsq@qsl.net>; AMPS <amps@contesting.com>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
>Date: 09 March 2002 15:02
>Subject: Re: [Amps] TenTec Titan 425
... ... ...
>>? With pos. 5kV on the anode, some of the meltballs apparently stick to
>>the anode insulator where they form a leakage path. With neg 5kV on the
>>anode, thanks to like charges repel, the meltballs apparently head
>>through the grid-cage and fall toward the base. By tapping on the top of
>>the tube, more meltballs can be dislodged and moved into the base. A
>>20:1 reduction in leakage current can be accomplished with this seemingly
>>shmuckish technique. However, if the tube is inadvertently inverted,
>>some meltballs move back to the anode insulator and anode-grid leakage
>>increases substantially.
>
>I get your picture. I'm still puzzled by how the balls get, and hold, the
>charge.
>
? My guess is that gold plating is used to reduce primary electron
emission from the grid because the gold atom's outer electron shell is
full. Thus, it does not easily give up or take on an electron. Gold
meltballs seem to behave like they have a negative charge because they
are invariably attracted to a positive anode.
-------------
I can't think why they would behave as if they were charged, if they
weren't. I remain puzzled.
Cheers,
Steve
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