[neonixie-l] Re: Restoring tube which will not light up

[Robert L]

I've been conditioning a batch of ZM 1350 with varying amounts of cathode 
poisoning... Also some rather high initial strike voltages... The log 
extracts below are from one moderately poisoned tube and may give you an 
idea of what to expect. Several cathodes on this tube are still not fully 
recovered, but getting close!

Decoder key for the strike test records that follow:
Strike, Cathode, prevVanode, prevHV, Vanode, Vhv, Ianode (mA), sweep, 
pairs, [Ianode (mA), Vanode], cond, seconds

Cathode: cathode number on my tester... NOT the Telefunken cathode number. 

prevVanode, prevHV: voltage on anode before current was flowing... HV 
supply before current was flowing.

Vanode, Vhv, Ianode (mA): Anode voltage and HV supply voltage once current 
began to flow... "Ianode (mA) is the current once the tube struck subject 
to a programmed current limit equal to the rated cathode current for the 
cathode under test.

Sweep,  []



Strike test records - first power up of the tube since I received it:

Strike, 0, 192.62, 191.79, 151.72, 195.66,   0.68, sweep, 5,   0.68, 
154.76,   0.56, 153.93,   0.52, 154.48,   0.36, 153.93,   0.36, 153.93, 
cond, 0
Strike, 1, 168.58, 168.30, 151.72, 170.51,   1.32, sweep, 5,   1.32, 
155.86,   1.16, 155.86,   1.10, 155.59,   0.90, 155.31,   0.68, 155.59, 
cond, 0
Strike, 2, 173.35, 172.79, 152.09, 175.00,   1.00, sweep, 5,   1.00, 
154.85,   0.84, 154.58,   0.84, 154.85,   0.72, 154.02,   0.52, 154.30, 
cond, 0
Strike, 3, 178.80, 178.52, 151.44, 181.01,   1.00, sweep, 5,   1.00, 
155.31,   0.84, 155.03,   0.68, 154.76,   0.58, 155.03,   0.52, 155.03, 
cond, 0
Strike, 4, 178.59, 178.31, 144.91, 181.35,   1.32, sweep, 5,   1.32, 
146.02,   1.22, 146.57,   1.00, 144.91,   0.84, 142.98,   0.74, 140.77, 
cond, 0
Strike, 5, 181.84, 181.56, 150.61, 185.16,   1.00, sweep, 5,   1.00, 
155.59,   0.88, 155.59,   0.84, 156.14,   0.68, 155.59,   0.58, 155.59, 
cond, 0
Strike, 6, 178.80, 178.80, 150.34, 181.01,   1.00, sweep, 5,   1.00, 
154.48,   0.92, 153.93,   0.72, 153.38,   0.52, 153.38,   0.52, 153.38, 
cond, 0
Strike, 7, 184.94, 184.66, 149.61, 187.70,   0.66, sweep, 5,   1.16, 
154.58,   1.08, 154.30,   0.88, 153.75,   0.68, 154.02,   0.52, 154.02, 
cond, 0
Strike, 8, 156.97, 156.97, 152.55, 158.35,   1.00, sweep, 5,   1.00, 
155.31,   0.94, 154.76,   0.84, 154.76,   0.68, 154.48,   0.52, 153.93, 
cond, 0
Strike, 9, 160.29, 160.29, 153.65, 162.22,   1.16, sweep, 5,   1.16, 
155.59,   1.04, 155.31,   0.84, 154.48,   0.78, 153.93,   0.56, 153.93, 
cond, 0
Strike, 10, 173.55, 173.00, 150.89, 175.48,   0.72, sweep, 5,   1.32, 
155.03,   1.24, 154.76,   1.04, 154.21,   0.68, 153.38,   0.52, 153.38, 
cond, 0
Strike, 11, 164.15, 163.88, 151.17, 166.09,   1.00, sweep, 5,   1.00, 
153.38,   0.84, 152.82,   0.84, 152.82,   0.70, 152.27,   0.52, 152.27, 
cond, 0
Strike, 12, 149.78, 162.50, 152.82, 163.88,   1.16, sweep, 5,   1.16, 
154.48,   1.00, 153.93,   0.84, 153.38,   0.74, 152.82,   0.52, 152.82, 
cond, 0
Strike, 13, 160.29, 160.29, 153.10, 162.22,   0.58, sweep, 5,   0.68, 
155.59,   0.52, 154.21,   0.52, 154.48,   0.38, 153.65,   0.36, 153.65, 
cond, 0
Strike, 14, 217.21, 216.94, 151.44, 222.47,   0.36, sweep, 5,   0.36, 
154.48,   0.24, 152.27,   0.20, 151.99,   0.20, 152.55,   0.20, 152.82, 
cond, 0
Strike, 15, 176.04, 175.21, 147.85, 177.97,   0.52, sweep, 5,   0.52, 
151.44,   0.52, 152.27,   0.38, 152.27,   0.36, 152.82,   0.20, 152.82, 
cond, 0

Strike test records after varying amounts of conditioning... End of each 
record is number of seconds conditioning performed. Some cathodes were 
looking good after just 30 minutes conditioning, other have needed more 
time.
Strike, 0, 155.03, 165.54, 155.86, 167.47,   0.52, sweep, 5,   0.52, 
155.86,   0.52, 156.14,   0.40, 153.93,   0.36, 153.65,   0.36, 154.76, 
cond, 1800
Strike, 1, 156.69, 156.69, 157.52, 158.35,   1.34, sweep, 5,   1.34, 
157.80,   1.18, 156.97,   1.08, 156.14,   0.86, 155.03,   0.68, 154.21, 
cond, 1800
Strike, 2, 156.23, 156.23, 157.89, 158.16,   1.02, sweep, 5,   1.02, 
157.89,   0.86, 157.06,   0.84, 157.06,   0.76, 155.40,   0.54, 154.58, 
cond, 3600
Strike, 3, 156.97, 172.72, 157.52, 175.48,   1.02, sweep, 5,   1.02, 
157.80,   0.86, 156.42,   0.68, 155.03,   0.58, 153.93,   0.52, 154.21, 
cond, 1800
Strike, 4, 170.31, 170.03, 146.57, 172.24,   1.34, sweep, 5,   1.34, 
145.74,   1.18, 145.19,   1.02, 144.36,   0.90, 143.26,   0.70, 142.71, 
cond, 5400
Strike, 5, 158.16, 158.44, 158.44, 159.54,   0.52, sweep, 5,   1.02, 
158.99,   0.92, 157.89,   0.84, 157.89,   0.68, 156.51,   0.60, 155.68, 
cond, 1800
Strike, 6, 168.02, 168.02, 159.46, 170.79,   1.02, sweep, 5,   1.02, 
159.46,   0.92, 158.07,   0.70, 156.69,   0.52, 155.86,   0.52, 155.59, 
cond, 1800
Strike, 7, 160.29, 160.01, 158.35, 161.67,   0.50, sweep, 5,   1.18, 
158.90,   1.08, 157.80,   0.88, 156.69,   0.68, 155.59,   0.62, 155.03, 
cond, 1800
Strike, 8, 158.07, 159.73, 158.63, 161.39,   1.02, sweep, 5,   1.02, 
159.18,   0.84, 157.80,   0.84, 

[neonixie-l] Re: Restoring tube which will not light up

[Nick]

Could easily be partly outgassed. Bear in mind that panaplex displays run off 
very small currents, so use a high value anode current limiting resistor when 
winding the voltage up.

Good luck! 

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[neonixie-l] Re: Restoring tube which will not light up

[alex nolan]

To follow up, I found a plasma globe and held the tubes up to it. I was 
able get the pins to partially light by touching the glass to the plasma 
globe, and my finger to one of the pins. But it doesn't light up the tube 
like a ZM1040 I have on hand lights up (could it be partially outgassed?)

Still no luck getting it to light with a power supply though. I've varied 
through voltages from 170V to 230V. Anyone have any suggestions?

On Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 7:59:48 AM UTC-4, alex nolan wrote:
>
> I got this from Jan, in fact.
>
> I'll get a neon testing wand (or a plasma globe) and test if they are 
> outgassed. 
>
> Jan mentioned they were poisoned, so I was operating on that assumption, 
> but if they are indeed outgassed that will be quite unfortunate.
>
> On Friday, May 31, 2019 at 8:04:25 AM UTC-4, Nick wrote:
>>
>> A lot of ZM1350s are outgassed - they have a variable life.
>>
>> Out of the several 100 I have bought, probably 10% to 15% were completely 
>> dead.
>>
>> Jan (the main supplier) and I exchanged emails on this some years ago and 
>> he kindly replaced the dead ones that came from him - subsequently he 
>> tested all tubes before shipping with an amazing factory tester that he 
>> shows on his website.
>>
>> Your one may indeed be outgassed and completely dead.
>>
>> If you have a neon testing wand, that would show if there was a 
>> possibility of recovery.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Nick
>>
>>

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[neonixie-l] Re: Restoring tube which will not light up

[alex nolan]

I got this from Jan, in fact.

I'll get a neon testing wand (or a plasma globe) and test if they are 
outgassed. 

Jan mentioned they were poisoned, so I was operating on that assumption, 
but if they are indeed outgassed that will be quite unfortunate.

On Friday, May 31, 2019 at 8:04:25 AM UTC-4, Nick wrote:
>
> A lot of ZM1350s are outgassed - they have a variable life.
>
> Out of the several 100 I have bought, probably 10% to 15% were completely 
> dead.
>
> Jan (the main supplier) and I exchanged emails on this some years ago and 
> he kindly replaced the dead ones that came from him - subsequently he 
> tested all tubes before shipping with an amazing factory tester that he 
> shows on his website.
>
> Your one may indeed be outgassed and completely dead.
>
> If you have a neon testing wand, that would show if there was a 
> possibility of recovery.
>
> Cheers
>
> Nick
>
>

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