Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
Back in the late 70s and the early 80s when I was doing a lot of SWL'ing, I had a R-4B receiver that was left on 24/7. It lasted nearly a decade in such use. Never had a problem during that time but had power supply problems that ended that long run. Still using it today but haven't left it running as I once did. 73, VE3ES ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
Bud - Not really, compared to the heat and _mechanical_ shock each time it's turned on For cathode type tubes, (most small receiving tubes and some transmitting tubes,) what 'wears out' in a tube is the electron emitting cathode coating. Weak tubes are often a result of the cathode coating being damaged (by on / off cycling?) rather than a 'worn out' filament. Another cause of tube 'failure' is shorts between elements, some developing from small chunks of cathode material breaking off, due to temp cycling? I still think it's better to leave tube gear ON if you intend to use it 'in reasonable period of time'. If you're not going to use it for a day or two, leave it off, but if you're 'likely' to use it again the same day, leave it ON. Assuming of course that it has adequate cooling, and is properly fused. Just my opinion, yours is welcome! 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com sebdesnCC wrote: Sorry if this is dumb, but doesn't a tube that is on and the filament on degrade the tube just by being hot and glowing??? Bud W0HG ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
No,Garey, I will defer to your infinitely better knowledge,in most everything radiowise,,,thanks for the info!! Bud -Original Message- From: drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net [mailto:drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net] On Behalf Of Garey Barrell Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 7:44 AM To: 'drakelist' Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on Bud - Not really, compared to the heat and _mechanical_ shock each time it's turned on For cathode type tubes, (most small receiving tubes and some transmitting tubes,) what 'wears out' in a tube is the electron emitting cathode coating. Weak tubes are often a result of the cathode coating being damaged (by on / off cycling?) rather than a 'worn out' filament. Another cause of tube 'failure' is shorts between elements, some developing from small chunks of cathode material breaking off, due to temp cycling? I still think it's better to leave tube gear ON if you intend to use it 'in reasonable period of time'. If you're not going to use it for a day or two, leave it off, but if you're 'likely' to use it again the same day, leave it ON. Assuming of course that it has adequate cooling, and is properly fused. ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
I use my R4A about 4 hours a day. Should it be left on continuously or is it better to turn the radio off every night? ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
On Fri, 9 Sep 2011 14:45:15 -0700 (PDT), Neil M Califano wrote: I use my R4A about 4 hours a day. Should it be left on continuously or is it better to turn the radio off every night? My personal opinion, never leave a vintage rig (especially one with lots of tubes and high voltages) run unattended. Chances are nothing major will happen, but if it does suffer a catastrophic failure, you will want to be around to kill power ASAP. The time is long gone when you can just call Drake and order a power transformer, specialized switch, etc. 73 -Jim -- Ham Radio NU0C Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.S.A. TR7/RV7/R7A/L7, TR6/RV6, T4XC/R4C/L4B, NCL2000, SB104A, R390A, GT550A/RV550A, HyGain 3750, IBM PS/2 - all vintage, all the time! Give a man a URL, and he will learn for an hour; teach him to Google, and he will learn for a lifetime. HyGain 3750 User's Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HyGain_3750/ http://incolor.inetnebr.com/jshorney http://www.nebraskaghosts.org ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
I'm not as paranoid (or as 'safe', I still have equipment with 2-Wire line cords!,) as Jim. I DO verify that each piece of equipment has the CORRECT fuse. My rule is that I turn on whatever I want to use in the morning. If I 'think' I'll use it again during the day, I leave it on until I'm ready to quit for the day. Back in the 70's, I ran three Drake 4-Lines 24/7 for autostart RTTY. They ran 24/7 for almost three years with only one failure, a 12BY7 Driver tube filament opened up. 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com Neil M Califano wrote: I use my R4A about 4 hours a day. Should it be left on continuously or is it better to turn the radio off every night? ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
I did this for the same reason with one R-4B. The one problem was when i heard a loud bang. Thinking something had fallen on the floor, I found that an electrolytic cap under the chassis had gone off like a bomb. I removed the mess, replaced the cap, and all was well. On 9/9/2011 1821, Garey Barrell wrote: I'm not as paranoid (or as 'safe', I still have equipment with 2-Wire line cords!,) as Jim. I DO verify that each piece of equipment has the CORRECT fuse. My rule is that I turn on whatever I want to use in the morning. If I 'think' I'll use it again during the day, I leave it on until I'm ready to quit for the day. Back in the 70's, I ran three Drake 4-Lines 24/7 for autostart RTTY. They ran 24/7 for almost three years with only one failure, a 12BY7 Driver tube filament opened up. ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
On 09/09/2011 05:55 PM, Jim Shorney wrote: I use my R4A about 4 hours a day. Should it be left on continuously or is it better to turn the radio off every night? gee, I wonder how our grandparents would answer that question?? Ron, wb1hga ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
MY Grandparents had a battery radio Haul that A battery into town for a recharge made you turn down the filament rheostat as much as possible! 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com ron wrote: On 09/09/2011 05:55 PM, Jim Shorney wrote: I use my R4A about 4 hours a day. Should it be left on continuously or is it better to turn the radio off every night? gee, I wonder how our grandparents would answer that question?? Ron, wb1hga ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
Good point, although turn-on current surge is what blows most components. Ever had a light bulb 'just go out' while you were using it?? Listen to the power transformer 'clunk' at turn on in just about any AC powered equipment. And your point about 'heat and reheat' is actually as much an argument for leaving them on, with proper cooling, than the thermal cycling. We tried out best at NASA back in the 60's to kill gear with temperature cycling. All my 4-Line radios in the RTTY station had small fans either on or behind them and you could rest your hand on top of the cabinet over the T-4X PA after a 30 minute+ transmission at full power. I think if you use a radio for an hour after dinner, then yeah, turn it off when you go in to watch 'American Idol' or whatever. But if you're in and out of the shack during the day and evening, leaving the gear (especially tube gear) on is probably easier on everything. But the power bill!! When I was running my autostart RTTY stations, TVA electricity was about 0.75 CENTS a kWH! And yes, Evan. A CORRECT fuse (or 'A' fuse!) is a necessity!! Even if it's in the twin fuse wall plug :-) Interesting discussion... 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com David wrote: I essentially turn it on for use. I see no need to heat and reheat components. Heat is a major Drake killer. Use and enjoy them, when done turn them off. David Assaf, III W5XU -Original Message- From: drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net [mailto:drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net] On Behalf Of Garey Barrell Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 5:22 PM To: Neil M Califano Cc: Drakelist@zerobeat.net Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on I'm not as paranoid (or as 'safe', I still have equipment with 2-Wire line cords!,) as Jim. I DO verify that each piece of equipment has the CORRECT fuse. My rule is that I turn on whatever I want to use in the morning. If I 'think' I'll use it again during the day, I leave it on until I'm ready to quit for the day. Back in the 70's, I ran three Drake 4-Lines 24/7 for autostart RTTY. They ran 24/7 for almost three years with only one failure, a 12BY7 Driver tube filament opened up. 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs www.k4oah.com Neil M Califano wrote: I use my R4A about 4 hours a day. Should it be left on continuously or is it better to turn the radio off every night? ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
On Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:21:48 -0400, Garey Barrell wrote: I still have equipment with 2-Wire line cords! And there's a school of thought that says that 3-wire line cords aren't such a peacy idea for RF systems. And I'm not as paranoid as Garey about them either. :) 73 -Jim -- Ham Radio NU0C Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.S.A. TR7/RV7/R7A/L7, TR6/RV6, T4XC/R4C/L4B, NCL2000, SB104A, R390A, GT550A/RV550A, HyGain 3750, IBM PS/2 - all vintage, all the time! Give a man a URL, and he will learn for an hour; teach him to Google, and he will learn for a lifetime. HyGain 3750 User's Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HyGain_3750/ http://incolor.inetnebr.com/jshorney http://www.nebraskaghosts.org ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
On Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:48:44 -0400, Garey Barrell wrote: And yes, Evan. A CORRECT fuse (or 'A' fuse!) is a necessity!! One place where I will admit being paranoid is regarding fuses. I've heard horror stories about poorly made fuses that don't blow when they are expected to, and even properly made fuses can hold long enough for collateral damage to occur under slight overload conditions. A case in point is the HyGain 3750, which can suffer power transformer failure even though properly fused. Granted, the reason for this is, IMO, a major design screwup by the engineer(s), but it doesn't change the fact. 73 -Jim -- Ham Radio NU0C Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.S.A. TR7/RV7/R7A/L7, TR6/RV6, T4XC/R4C/L4B, NCL2000, SB104A, R390A, GT550A/RV550A, HyGain 3750, IBM PS/2 - all vintage, all the time! Give a man a URL, and he will learn for an hour; teach him to Google, and he will learn for a lifetime. HyGain 3750 User's Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HyGain_3750/ http://incolor.inetnebr.com/jshorney http://www.nebraskaghosts.org ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Leaving tube radio on
Sorry if this is dumb, but doesn't a tube that is on and the filament on degrade the tube just by being hot and glowing??? Bud W0HG ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
