Greetings everyone,
As I mentioned in one of my previous comments in an earlier thread, I am considering building my first VTTC. I have already built a couple of small SGTCs and a DRSSTC, so I think it's high time to try a different route. I have always loved the look of VTTCs and figured now is as good a time as any to give it a go. Unfortunately I have not had much experience with vacuum tubes, with the exception of replacing a damaged rectifier tube in an old oscilloscope to get it running again. Everything I know has been gleaned from different websites around the web. So far I have found Steve Ward's VTTC FAQ page very helpful:
https://www.stevehv.4hv.org/VTTCfaq.htm
As I am in the very beginning stages of this design, not much has been decided with regards to specifications. The only thing I'd like to state off the bat is that I'd prefer to use a small MOT as my plate supply, potentially with a voltage doubler (using a MOC and diode like the microwave oven usually uses, but with the diode flipped around to give me a +HV supply). Beyond that I haven't decided much.
I figured the first place to start would be finding a suitable vacuum tube. Considering I'm completely new at this, I'd like to keep things as cheap as possible. If I blow a tube I don't want to lose a couple hundred bucks. For the past few hours I've been searching eBay for tubes that might work that are within my budget. On Steve's page he says that a variety of tubes will work provided their plate voltage is >1kV or so and are capable of some 10s of watts of plate dissipation. Using these parameters I have found four tubes that I wanted to ask about. Some of them I've never seen used in VTTCs and I'm sure there's probably a reason. I am hoping someone here could give me these reasons as you review the list - I'm looking to learn as much as I can at this point.
Here are the tubes I found:
Eimac 35TG: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Eimac-35TG-Vacuum-Tube-Untested/401670797203At less than $15 delivered this is by far the cheapest I found so far. In Class C operation the specs are as follows:Plate Voltage - 2000V MAX (Key-down conditions. Should I be looking at the Carrier conditions instead?)Plate Dissipation - 50WDatasheet: http://www.tubecollectors.org/eimac/archives/35tg(51).pdf
RCA 6161: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-USN-RCA-CRC-6161-Untested-BUT-Brand-New-Power-Transmitting-Triode/352433703731
This is the next step up in price, at about $30 delivered. It's a goofy-looking tube to me, and I've never seen this type used in VTTC designs. I'm sure there is probably a reason that hopefully someone could explain to me. In Class C operation the specs are as follows:
Plate Voltage - 1600V MAXPlate Dissipation - 250WDatasheet: https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/079/6/6161.pdf
RCA 845: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-VINTAGE-FOTON-GM70-RSA-845-HI-END-POWER-TRIODE-USED-TESTED-100-60-s/302964678385This is the third cheapest option, at about $40 delivered. Datasheet specs Class A and Class AB operation, but no Class C. Does this make it unsuitable for a VTTC?Plate Voltage - 1250V MAXPlate Dissipation - 100WDatasheet: https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/049/8/845.pdf
Amperex 5868: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Used-Amperex-5868-RF-Power-Triode-Tube-for-Modulator-Oscillator-or-Amplifier/372542462646This is by far the most expensive, at about $100 delivered. This is pretty much blowing my budget, but is also probably the most promising. Considering the specs I expect this one would be able to take quite a bit of abuse, assuming the rest of the ratings are acceptable for a VTTC. In Class C operation the specs are as follows:Plate Voltage - 4000V MAXPlate Dissipation - 450WDatasheet: https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/089/t/TB4-1250.pdf
So these are the tubes I'm looking at currently. If anyone has thoughts or recommendations for any of the above tubes, or good sources for other cheap tubes, please let me know. Once again I'm in the learning stage, so the more information you can provide, the better!
By the way, a great resource for tube datasheets is https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets0.html , if anyone is interested. It has been immensely helpful to me so far.
Thanks,
Matt LewisFairlee, VT
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