[TenTec] Centurion

[CATFISHTWO@aol.com]

I am not a Tube expert by any means but  This  is supposed  to be true, I run 
all my metal tubes for an hour or so each months, and I  suppose this also 
keeps everything else good too.  ( cap etc.) .  I am  not sure of the source of 
this info, ( a mind is a terrible thing to loose!!)  but I believe it is 
correct, and some components of the tube  off gas a few  molecules of O2 and such. 
and the vacuum can never be perfect.  I wonder if  any one else is familiar 
with this..
 
tom N6AJR
 
 
 
In a message dated 12/10/2005 7:06:24 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
ghoffman at spacetech.com writes:

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