[TenTec] Centurion

[Gary Hoffman]

I have two observations about all this, or perhaps I should call them
questions.

First of all, I thought a tube was supposed to be pumped down to a very good
vacuum and then completely sealed.  Thus there should not be gas leaking in.
It should not accumulate over time.  If it does, its gone bad.  Is this not
so ?

Secondly, I thought the getter was used once, when it was "fired" at the
factory.  I did not believe that it was at all functional beyond that single
use.  Is this not so ?

I've never read before about turning on an amp for a long time after a
period of disuse, to "clean up gas" in the tubes.  Has anyone else (besides
the original poster here) ?  I have heard of course about reforming the
electrolytics after a period of disuse.  Could we inadvertently be confusing
these two different concepts ?

73 de Gary, AA2IZ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <CATFISHTWO at aol.com>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 5:05 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion


>
> there is a component in side the tube called a "getter" and if storing a
> tube for any length of time while in the radio it is good practice for you
to
> turn on the amp for a bit ( like an hour) once a month or so to allow the
getter
>  to colect the stray atoms of other gasses let in the tube while being
> manufactured. Especially true on highh power transmit tubes... or so the
story
> goes YMMV
>
> tom N6AJR
>
> """"""
>
> Often  when those glass tubes set for a while they collect gas,
>
> Usually people  will turn the amp on for a day or so after storage without
> High Voltage to  let the filiments draw the gas out of the tube,
>
> If you apply HV too  soon,  the gas could ionize and blow a hole in the
grid.
> Usually with a nice sounding pop....
>
> If you see the purplish color at  the top of the tube when you key the TX,
> you got some gas in the  tube.
>
> This is the most prevelent cause of Tube death for tube  amps.
>
> Check the tubes....
>
> Best  wishes,
> Rich
> K5SF    """"""
>
>
>
>
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