[Amps] Alpha 87A Tubes

[Gary Smith]

3CX800A7's are standard (from the factory) in my/their Ameritron AL-800H.
Never had a minute's problem with them. Runs "legal" all bands easily, but I 
do pay attention to the grid current.
There is a tube the 3CX P 800A7, only diff is they are rated for pulse 
service.
My .02 on this thread,
73's,
Gary...wa6fgi


------ Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry P. Greenberg" <wa9mag at ameritech.net>
To: <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2007 10:31 AM
Subject: [Amps] Alpha 87A Tubes


>I copied the following from the Alpha website.
>
>    The Alpha 87A, 89 and 86 were designed to use the YC-238 tube which is 
> an Eimac 3CX800A7 that has been screened for low grid current. Replacing 
> one or both of the tubes in your amplifier with a regular 3CX800 or with a 
> 3CPX800 could lead to unintended problems and consequences which again we 
> are not able to cover under warranty.
>
> I don't find YC-238 tubes on the Eimac website.  While I understand that 
> we may not want to use non Eimac tubes in our amplifiers, I don't 
> understand why replacements cannot be non-matched Eimac 3CX800A7 tubes 
> that can be purchased from known wholesale dealers or reputable hamfest 
> dealers.  I would like to keep spare finals on the shelf but $1,500 a pair 
> is really steep.
>
> Has anybody used regular 3CX800A7's in their amplifier?  Is the YC-238 
> nomenclature an Eimac name or an Alpha name?  Does anybody have a 
> specification sheet that they can send me?
>
> Larry, WA9MAG
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps