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Re: [Amps] input matching question on the YC156?

To: "Leigh S. Jones" <kr6x@kr6x.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] input matching question on the YC156?
From: R.Measures <r@somis.org>
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 04:05:36 -0700
List-post: <mailto:amps@contesting.com>

On Sep 16, 2004, at 9:54 PM, Leigh S. Jones wrote:


Neil

I can't imagine that this has gone on all day and no one has told you.
I may get a little heavy handed here.  Sorry in advance.  Applying
drive power without pre-heating the filaments is not allowed for this
tube.  I'm not an Eimac employee, but I have read the 3CPX5000A7
data sheet.

Two simple rules:

rule 1: never apply plate voltage to the tube nor apply drive power
until after the prescribed filament warm-up period has elapsed

Hello, Leigh -- Drawing cathode-I before a proper warmup can strip the barium-oxide and strontium oxide coating off of a heater-type cathode. Applying anode-V to a heater-type cathode that has cut-off grid-bias applied causes no damage because no cathode-I can be drawn in the cut-off state. OTOH, the vast majority of filament-type (thoriated tungsten) cathodes can safely provide current during their approximately 1-second warmup period because the tungsten di-carbide emissive layer is epitaxially bonded to the thoriated tungsten beneath.

rule 2: never apply drive power until plate voltage has been applied

details:

1) apply forced air cooling
2) apply filament voltage
3) delay according to tube manufacturers instructions

A retired Eimac engineering department employee told me that an additional 30-seconds of warmup above the stated spec is not a bad idea since the marketing department was constantly trying to push specified warmup times lower than the engineering department wanted.
- To observe how much warmup time a heater-type cathode requires, connect a DMM between the cathode and the grid, apply heater power (only) and measure the potential as the cathode warms up. When the V stops increasing, the cathode is warmed-up.
.
4) apply plate voltage
5) connect antenna switch
6) allow cathode current (bias to operating level)
7) apply drive power to transmit
8) stop applying drive power
9) bias to cut-off cathode current
10) disconnect antenna switch
11) repeat steps 5-10 in order as many times as needed
12) remove plate voltage
13) remove filament voltage
14) delay according to tube manufacturers instructions
15) remove forced air cooling

Sorry if this sounds like me preaching to you, but someone has
to tell you.

KR6X

Richard L. Measures, AG6K, 805.386.3734. www.somis.org

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