[Amps] Arc distance and plasma

[Tom W8JI]

> On 7/28/06 at 4:34 PM Steven Cook wrote:
>>The 3-500Z's in my TL-922 both exhibit a purple "plasma" 
>>above the top of
>>the plate inside the glass envelope.
>>Is this due to gas inside the tube.  Will it eventually 
>>getter out?  Does
>>the presence of this gas have a deleterious effect on the 
>>tube life
>>expectancy?


> Keep in mind that there's a difference in the gas ionized 
> you see as a purple glow and that of an arc.

What Steve described is virtually always phospherense in the 
glass, not gas.
It isn't the least bit harmful.

73 Tom