[TenTec] Centurion

[Phil Chambley, Sr.]

Re 3-500Z problems....Johnson 275 and similar sockets:

I2R losses due to poor contact between filament pins and socket grippers
result in melting solder out of the pins.
This, no doubt, caused many tubes to be discarded before it became known how
to correct the problem.

The same heat that melts the solder causes the gripper spring to lose its
temper, so the gripper doesn't squeeze the pin as tight.  If this isn't
corrected, the problem will simply recur.

After repairing the tube pin, I swap the gripper springs from one of the
grids to the offending filament gripper on the socket.   Squeeze them both
tight before installing, and make sure the grippers are all cleaned.  I use
a .22 caliber bore brush.

73
Phil K4DPK

VFO Stabilizers and other gadgets www.k4dpk.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lyle Dunlap" <lyle3dd at grics.net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 11:00 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion


> Gary,
>
> Good suggestion about socket pin friction or tightness.  When the 3-400Z
> tube first came out, quite some time before the 500Z .  The recommended
> socket at the time was made from plastic.  The fil. connections became
very
> weak and I had to use an "amp Clamp"
>
> Lyle W9FCX
>
>
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