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Re: [Amps] Requesting opinions on a Drake L-4b's tubes

To: amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] Requesting opinions on a Drake L-4b's tubes
From: John Lyles <jtml@losalamos.com>
Reply-to: jtml@losalamos.com
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2022 21:15:57 -0700
List-post: <mailto:amps@contesting.com>
The author originating this discussion said that they had one 3-500Z that was the vertical thin fin plate, Eimac original, and one 3-500G that has the graphite anode presumably with the horizontal heat radiating structure. This would look like the Amperex/Covimag tubes that are no longer made, but are cloned in China. For that matter, the original 3-500Z from Eimac is long out of production as well.

I think it would be more risky to pair these two tubes together as they come from different manufacture with different plate physical design. There is no guarantee that the cutoff bias voltage is identical and that the mu is the same or within a tolerance. Operating this way might cause one tube to hog more current, have higher dissipation due to the idling current (Zsac), if they both share the same cathode bias setting.

It would be optimal to put the older style NOS tube into the amplifier with one of the original (weak?) tubes to see if it works better. Then try it with the other original tube. If the two tests show large difference in power capability, then I would suspect just one of the old tubes. At least start with this plan, and see how it works, report back here.

If anyone is interested in Amperex/Covimag 3-400Z or chimneys for either triode, get in touch.

73 and Happy Holidays

John

K5PRO

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