Re: magnetrons as diodes

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: HomerLea@xxxxxxx 

I couldn't pass this one up. 40+ years I built a Cockroft-Walton 
voltage multiplier using 8020 and 705A tubes. At one point testing it 
the plates on the 8020s turned red so I thought "oops, better turn it 
off". Nothing was damaged; don't get a second chance like that with 
solid state. The tubes also make for a lot more interesting looking 
device. I still have piles of the tubes so if I live long enough I 
hope to construct another CW multiplier.
Jim Heagy, old fashion fan of tubes

In a message dated 1/5/2007 9:59:11 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:

> Might be a lot more robust than the semiconductor string.  One
> advantage of old standard rectifier tubes like the 8020A is that
> they'll tolerate oopsies a lot better than a string of 50 1n4007s.
>
> Given the basic design of the magnetron is as a moderate efficiency
> power oscillator, I'll bet it would handle the odd flashover or
> overcurrent or spike pretty well. The reverse voltage breakdown is
> probably in the 10 kV range, too. And, cheap to replace (as compared
> to the 8020As, which pretty pricey).