[Amps] filament tube life, turn on's and time on target

[jeremy-ca]

There is no damage to that series of tubes by turning it on and off a few 
times a day as long as the warmup cycle is observed.
They use low current, slow warming, oxide coated heaters that are not 
subjected to the huge inrush current of the tungsten versions. I dont 
believe Ive ever seen an open filament in that style TX tube in 50 or so 
years.

Good luck DXing.

Carl
KM1H


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Artmouton" <k5fnq at cox.net>
To: <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:36 AM
Subject: [Amps] filament tube life, turn on's and time on target


>I have an MLA 2500 with, what I hope is a lot of tube life.
>
> I mostly work CW DX (now mostly restricted to 80 & 40 with band 
> conditions)
>
> Unlike 20, etc with a beam I am finding it more and more necessary to use
> the amp to get through (inverted Vee at 60').
>
> Am I right to be reluctant to turn on the amp just to make one dxcc band
> contact, only?
>
> Knowing the finite life of a tube and the price of the ones in my amp, I 
> am
> quite reluctant to just turn it on, make the contact, and not use it again
> that day.
>
> Any feeling in the group what difference in tube life that makes?
>
> The timing circuit is working so I have the usual delay from filaments on 
> to
> transmit, but, just the idea of the filaments being turned on and off
> worries me.
> Thanks & 73,
> Art K5FNQ
>
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