[TenTec] Titan 425 shelved for 10 years

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

On Mon, 2008-02-18 at 22:10 -0500, DC wrote:
> How good is the final tube in a Titan 425 thats been un-used for ten years?
> 
> thank you
> 73
> KD8Z at ARRL.NET

The best of electrolytics don't store well for a decade. They might
recover or they might blow up. To recover them they need to have the
voltage brought up slowly with current limiting. When they blow, the
fill their area with shredded aluminum foil, accompanied by shredded
crepe paper filled with electrolyte, and spray some of the electrolyte
about. After cleaning up a couple, I prefer to BUY and install new
electrolytics with a current date code, no more than one year old.

As for the tubes, it would be to their benefit to run for a day or two
with only filament power. That will let the getter grab gas that has
leaked in and will cook gas out of the emitting surface. Both will give
the tubes far longer life. 

73, Jerry, K0CQ